Across the UK, just 53% of homes leaving estate agents’ books so far in 2026 have successfully sold. The remaining 47% were withdrawn unsold. That is a sobering reminder for anyone in Baldock and Letchworth who assumes that putting a property on the market and waiting will automatically result in a move.
Yet the figures vary considerably depending on the type of property. Semi-detached and terraced homes both have a 62% success rate, compared with 50% for detached homes and 41% for flats. These figures measure completed sales against withdrawals, rather than the proportion of all homes currently advertised that have found a buyer.
Geography matters too. Broadly speaking, success rates tend to increase the further north you travel, with Scotland exceeding 80%. However, Scotland operates a different selling system. Most sellers provide a Home Report upfront, including a survey and valuation, giving buyers more information before they offer. Those differences provide useful context, although they do not, on their own, explain the entire gap.
So what should homeowners in Baldock and Letchworth take from this?
Your property type and location influence the market you are selling into, but these averages do not decide your individual outcome. Presentation, marketing and the way your sale is handled all matter. Realistic pricing is the key to giving those things a chance to work.
Buyers compare your home with everything else available within their budget. An asking price needs to make sense against that competition and the evidence of what similar homes are actually selling for. Starting higher simply to “see what happens” risks losing the attention of buyers who could have helped you move. Realistic pricing does not mean selling cheaply. It means giving your home the strongest opportunity to attract interest, generate offers and secure the best price the market will support.
The best asking price is the one that helps you move, not the one that sounds nicest at the valuation.