Nicola McCarthy listed her home in Cheshunt, a 20-minute commute from central London, for sale at 6 p.m. on June 2. A prospective buyer was through the door by 8 p.m. Eight days and 10 viewings later, she accepted a bid slightly under her asking price.

Ms. McCarthy was in a hurry to take advantage of a jump in interest. The coronavirus pandemic, which forced real estate agents to hit pause on home viewings in England for some two months until May 13, created pent-up demand for properties that is now driving up prices, according to analysts. But Ms. McCarthy had a hunch it wouldn’t last.