The time in between placing your house on the market to getting an offer can feel agonising. Just how many viewings does it take to sell a house?

We thought we’d share some insight into how long a house should take to sell. While there’s no set number of viewings per house, there are averages worth knowing. Anticipating how many viewings can help inform your choice of estate agent and let you know if you’re still in the normal sales period.

How many viewings to sell a house?

The number of viewings to sell a house fluctuates with the market but it usually takes 10 viewings to sell a house. Markets are typically divided into ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ markets.

Hot markets

Hot markets are good for sellers: there are lots of buyers interested in the few properties available at a given time, driving the average number of viewings up due to the scarcity. In a hot market it takes 11 viewings on average to sell a house.

Cold markets

Cold markets, on the other hand, are the exact opposite: buyers are spoiled for choice and the average number of viewings dips as a result. In a cold market it takes 9 viewings on average to sell a house.

We’ve compiled survey data from TheAdvisory that found the following:

We can see that while hot markets are considerably more popular, some properties are roughly the same in terms of viewings at the lower end of the scale in either market.

Average number of viewings to sell a house

Across each type of market, the average number of viewings to sell a house is 10.

Note that this average will vary depending on what type of property you own and where.

For example, cities offer more choice, so your number of viewings may be higher than if you own a house in a more rural area.

How many viewings should you expect in the first week?

1-2 viewings in the first week is typical. Viewings are typically highest in the first few weeks. Property websites and estate agents tend to promote the most recent listings more as buyers are interested in what’s new on the market before they put in a definite offer elsewhere.

You can expect to get viewings on your home within the first few days, however, it may take as long as a week.

Not getting viewings? See if there are better estate agents who can sell your house.

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Is your house taking too long to sell?

How many viewings should you expect overall?

On average you should expect 10 viewings overall, but hot market sellers may see more than 20 viewings per property, while cold markets can peak at around 15. Averages don’t work for everyone: plenty of people sit outside the typical trend so this may vary.

How long after viewing can you expect an offer?

Data shows that the speed of sale is where the hot markets shine.

You should expect an offer within four to five weeks after a viewing. While cold markets tail behind at 14 — more than three times as long. If you house is at an acceptable price and is priced similarly to comparable properties you shouldn't have to wait too long before you get a reasonable offer.

Use our free tool to see if your house is selling as quickly as it should be:

How many house viewings is reasonable?

2 - 3 viewings is reasonable. A higher number of viewings can quickly become annoying since you need to show off a pristine home each time, but what is a reasonable amount of viewings per buyer?

Second viewings are a good sign, so it makes sense to accommodate repeat viewings. Ultimately, it’s a question of personal tolerance. Buyers are aware that it’s an imposition on sellers and may ask to see a property (at maximum) two to three times before placing an offer and maybe twice after placing the offer. After this many viewings you should expect to have a clear offer and successful sale.

How to get more house viewings

If you want to up your viewings, follow our expert advice:

• Get your initial listing right the first time: buyers examine properties online before booking viewings, so make a good impression by highlighting key features and sharing well-lit photographs of uncluttered rooms.
• Pick the right time: Winter and Summer can be poorer selling periods since buyers are often preoccupied with childcare and Christmas spending.
• Make sure the property market is in a good place
• Make sure your house is correctly priced
• Use the right estate agent
• Considering using two estate agents (or more)
• Ask potential buyers for their feedback so you can improve your staging

Estate agents with better local knowledge should ensure you are getting a good number of viewings.

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Reasons why you might not be getting offers

Are you finding you’re being overlooked? Make sure it’s not one of the following issues:

• Your estate agent: estate agents have a huge influence over your success, and you may find your current one isn’t doing all they can to help.
• Structural and cosmetic issues: buyers don’t want to buy a home only to funnel thousands more into it. If your energy rating is low or your house needs some TLC, try to make some quick win improvements to impress buyers.
• Location: some regions are more desirable than others (for various reasons) so try to go the extra mile to make it more attractive to buyers.
• Property chains: buyers can be hesitant to join a list of properties, each relying on the sale of another. Consider re-working your finances if you can to avoid relying on other buyers.
• You picked your agent based on the lowest fee not the best at selling

You can read more in depth about why you might not be getting offers or why your house isn't selling here.

How to get more offers

Ready to make a sale? Use these tips to get more offers from buyers:

• Be prepared to haggle: buyers want a lower price so be open to a price range.
• Work around your buyer: some buyers may ask for things to sweeten the deal (like including furniture or parking spots). Try to include additional selling points in your listing.
• Prepare your house for viewings: Make sure you're staging your house correctly.
• Add value to your home: See what buyers are looking for in a new house
• Adjust your price:
• Ask your agent to vet for time wasters