Properties listed for sale in February find a buyer quicker than in any other month.

That is according to Rightmove, which says a house listed on the market in February takes an average of 51 days to find a buyer. It says homes put on the market in February also sell subject to contract faster than in any other month.

February narrowly beats March, which takes an averge of 52 days to find a buyer. Around two-thirds (66.4%) of homes listed in February have gone on to find a buyer, again just pipping March at 66.3%.

The analysis looked at millions of properties listed for sale since 2012 and the trends linked to the month of listing, excluding 2020 due to the distorting impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the other end of the spectrum, October was found to the the least advantageous time of year to list a home. Homes listed in October have taken an average of 63 days to find a buyer, and 63.6% of homes listed during that month have gone on to find a buyer.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert said: “The best time to get moving is the time that’s right for you – we can’t always plan or predict when a life move is needed. However, for those who are able to be a bit more flexible about when they decide to sell, the data shows typically the start of the year has been particularly strong.

“It’s also when we’ve historically seen the most buyers sending inquiries to agents, so it’s a great time for those looking to sell to make sure they are listed, their marketing is strong and they’re pricing attractively enough against other sellers.”