Rightmove reveals why now is the perfect time to sell your home

The latest Rightmove House Price Index had a very clear message

The Rightmove House Price Index is reporting yet another odds-defying house price hike this month – and the strongest seller's market in a decade.

Related: House hunting? These are the postcodes with the fastest growing house prices this year

The Rightmove House Price Index contradicts all predictions of a housing market slowdown, the property experts at Rightmove have a very clear message for anyone planning to sell their home this year: now is the perfect time.

While the month-on-month house price increase is fairly modest – 0.8 per cent (an average increase of £2,484) – it's the demand for a limited housing stock that continues to defy imagination. Demand for property was 34 per cent higher in the period leading up to the first week of March than a year ago, when the market was active and before any of the Covid lockdowns even began.

house exterior with brick wall and plant

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Merewether)

This is an extraordinary level of demand that is continuing to push up house prices and the level of house sales, which was 12 per cent higher in early March 2021 than last year.

Meanwhile, the shortage of available houses for sale is showing signs of easing. The number of new listings down only five per cent year-on-year in March in contrast with the dire situation back in February, when the number of new listings plummeted by 20 per cent year-on year.

hallway with stairs and carpet

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Merewether)

This is welcome news, as Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data, predicts, demand will continue growing this spring as government measures make borrowing for a mortgage easier: 'demand will be further boosted from April by the new Government guarantees enabling lenders to bring back five-per-cent deposit mortgages.'

If you are a seller, rejoice: 'this could be one of the best ever Easters to sell.' If you're a buyer, the situation is a bit trickier with the competition remaining high, but historically low interest rates and the return of sellers to the market will still make this spring 'the right time [to buy] for many'.

kitchen with yellow stool and flowers

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Merewether)

'Blossoming buyer demand coinciding with blossoming gardens should put a spring in the steps of sellers, and more of them coming to market will provide a much-needed increase in the choice of property for the many who are looking to buy,' he adds.

Related: Rightmove reveals a proven selling tactic to help sell your house quickly

The upward trajectory in new listings is certainly encouraging. It is likely that if you start your house search in April, you'll have more choice – and a better chance of securing a low-deposit mortgage thanks to the government mortgage guarantee scheme.

Rebecca Knight
Deputy Editor, Digital

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.