What the latest figures mean for sellers
If you are selling a home this autumn, the market you are selling into has changed. According to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, sales agreed are 8% below their level a year earlier, and the number of homes available for sale remains at its highest for this time of year since 2014. Buyer enquiries are 9% lower than a year ago, while new listings coming to market are 3% higher. In plain terms: more sellers are competing for fewer active buyers.
The headline price figure needs careful reading. According to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, the average asking price of a newly listed home rose by 1% in the month to £371,015, up £3,575 from £367,440 in September — smaller than the typical October rise of 1.3%, and still 0.1% lower than a year earlier. Note that asking prices are not achieved sale prices: they show what sellers advertise for, not what buyers eventually pay.
Higher borrowing costs are a big part of the story. According to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, the average two-year fixed mortgage rate stood at 5.55% in October, up from 5.29% a month earlier and 4.25% in February. When rates rise, the same monthly payment supports a smaller loan, so stretched buyers may need to offer less or look at cheaper properties. Rightmove also reports that some buyers are uncertain ahead of the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, with some first-time buyers waiting for more detail on the Your First Home Scheme. This article was written before that Budget, so it makes no assumptions about what it will contain.
Homes have not stopped selling. But the sellers who succeed now are the ones who price sensibly, present well, choose the right agent and time decisions with their eyes open.
Price realistically from day one
In a buyer’s market, your asking price is your most important decision: buyers have plenty of choice, and an overpriced home is easy to skip. Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock calls rising mortgage costs “an early sign that higher mortgage costs are putting pressure on affordability even in markets with lower property prices.”
Sellers in more affordable areas are already adjusting. According to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, as reported by Mortgage Solutions, asking prices fell by 2% in the month in the North East to £195,977, by 0.6% in the North West to £273,222, and by 0.3% in Wales to £267,735, while Yorkshire and the Humber rose 0.3% to £260,019. London lifted the national figure, up 2.5% in the month, although the capital remained 1.7% below a year earlier.
Ask two or three agents for a valuation backed by evidence — recent sold prices for comparable homes nearby, not just other asking prices. Set a price that invites competition: a home priced just below a common search threshold appears in more buyers’ searches. And do not chase the market downwards in small steps — repeated small reductions make a listing look stale, while one meaningful reduction usually works better.
Presentation: make every viewing count
With buyer enquiries down, every viewing matters more. Presentation is not about expensive renovation; it is about removing reasons to say no.
Start outside: tidy the front garden, clear the path and driveway, clean the windows and smarten the front door — kerb appeal sets the tone before a buyer steps inside. Inside, aim for bright, clean and uncluttered: open curtains, switch lights on even during the day, and clear surfaces so rooms look as large as they are. Fix small faults such as dripping taps and scuffed paintwork, which can otherwise plant a doubt that bigger things have been neglected.
Take the photographs seriously: most buyers see your home online before visiting, so check they are bright, straight and taken in daylight. If they do not do your home justice, say so before the listing goes live.
Choosing an agent in a slower market
Ask each agent how many homes like yours they have sold locally in the past year, how long they took to sell, and what proportion achieved asking price — and how they follow up after viewings, since speed matters when enquiries are down. Be wary of a price far above everyone else’s without evidence: it may win the instruction but cost weeks on the market and a lower price after reductions. Agree the fee, contract length, notice period and switch terms in writing; a shorter tie-in gives you options if the relationship is not working.
Timing: should you sell now or wait?
There is no single right answer to timing. If you need to move, waiting for a better market can cost you in other ways — and if you are also buying, you are selling and buying in the same market, so a lower sale price may be partly offset by a lower purchase price.
If you can afford to wait, think about what you are waiting for. Rates and buyer confidence can move either way, and the Budget on 28 October 2026 may change the picture for buyers — but until its detail is known, it is not a basis for a pricing decision. Price for the market you can see today. Do not let a home sit empty and unsold while you hope for a change: a stale listing tends to attract lower offers, not higher ones, and if viewing feedback consistently says the price is too high, that is information, not insult.
Finally, work out your moving costs early so a sale price that looks acceptable on paper still works after fees and expenses. See Moving Costs Calculator and UK Home Buyer Toolkit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a bad time to sell a house in the UK?
It is a harder market than a year ago, not an impossible one. According to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, sales agreed are 8% lower than a year earlier and buyer choice is at its highest for this time of year since 2014, so realistic pricing and good presentation matter more than ever. Homes priced and presented well are still selling.
Should I drop my asking price if I get no viewings?
Low viewing numbers are usually a pricing or presentation signal. First check the photos, description and search placement; if those are sound and viewings are still thin, talk to your agent about a meaningful reduction rather than a token one.
How long will my home take to sell?
That depends on your area, price bracket and asking price — ask your agent for local evidence on homes like yours. Nationally, sales agreed are 8% down year on year, according to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, so expect a slower process than in a hot market, but no national figure can predict your individual sale.
Should I wait until after the Budget to sell?
That depends on your circumstances. Some buyers are waiting for Budget detail before committing, according to Rightmove’s October 2026 index, but the Budget’s contents are not yet known, so waiting is a gamble rather than a strategy. If you need to move, price for today’s market and review your position once the detail is published.
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