If you’re planning to buy a home soon, you might assume the best place to start is on the property portals, Rightmove, Zoopla, or OnTheMarket. But the truth is, the savviest buyers are seeing homes long before they ever appear online. Here’s why registering with an agent puts you one step ahead.

Autumn may not be the first season that comes to mind when people think about moving, but it can be a surprisingly strong time to sell. Buyers who are still active at this stage of the year tend to be serious about completing before Christmas or the new year. With the right preparation, your home can stand out and attract motivated buyers even as the nights draw in.

Some homes in Shepperton fly off the market within weeks. Others sit for months, attract only a handful of viewings, then quietly disappear from the portals, unsold. The difference isn’t luck, it’s sellability.

If your home has been sitting on the market with no progress, you’re not stuck. Switching estate agents is easier than you think, if you understand your contract and prepare properly. Here’s the truth, the timelines and the process to relaunch with impact.