More homes up for sale as buyers and sellers aim to do deals before Christmas

The choice of properties available on the market increased to its widest levels in two and a half years in September according to estate agents, as buyers and sellers look to do deals before Christmas.

Across the UK, an average of 46 properties were available per branch in September.

This was the highest figure since March 2016 when an average of 54 properties were available per branch, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) Propertymark said.

The number of house hunters also increased in September compared with August – but remained lower than a year earlier, it said.

There were 338 house hunters registered with estate agents per branch on average in September compared with 394 in September 2017.

Mark Hayward, chief executive of NAEA Propertymark said: “Buyers and sellers always tend to flood the market in September with the hope of completing their transactions before the festive period kicks off.”