Should I Sell Before or After Christmas?
As the clocks change and the evenings draw in, it can be tempting to start thinking about Christmas. But while it’s still too early to contemplate putting up the tree, it’s worth considering how the festive season might influence your decision to sell a property.
One of our most asked questions from homeowners at this time of year is whether they should launch their property before or after the Christmas period. We will always answer this question based on individual circumstances and objectives, but as we get closer to Christmas, there will inevitably be less property coming onto the market. That said, with less competition compared with the New Year, properties launching now should have more chance of standing out and maximising their selling potential.
For most, the main benefit of waiting until the New Year is to ensure there’s enough choice for an onward purchase. However, if a sale is not dependent on finding a new home, then this isn’t necessary. Our experience shows that the market is still very active in the pre-holiday season and while some agents are winding down, we’ll be conducting viewings and negotiating sales right up until Friday 22 December.
With DOMVS, all homes benefit from a personalised, clearly defined marketing and sales strategy before being launched to the market, and timings are an important aspect. For those who don’t want the distraction of putting their property on the market in the run-up to Christmas, it’s worth finding out more about the Whisper List. This is an exclusive list of local properties, not yet on the market, with vendors who intend to sell when either the timing is more suitable or once they have found their next home. In some cases, these properties never actually make it onto the open market as their sale is negotiated off-line with other Whisper List members. This is proving to be a great solution for those hesitant about their next move and also provides us with a greater opportunity to strategise their sale and prepare the marketing in advance so we can quickly launch the property when the timing’s right.
Whether you decide to put your property on the market before or after Christmas, we believe the market will remain stable throughout this period. Right now, there’s plenty to be positive about – mortgages are more attractive, first-time buyers are gaining confidence, which in turn is filtering up to the higher-end of the market, and most reassuringly, homes located in this beautiful corner of the UK will always be appealing to buyers far and wide.
If you’re considering a sale or would simply like to discuss the property market in more detail, I’m always available to take your call.
