The mortgage experts at money.co.uk analysed data from Zoopla, looking at the number of days between a listing appearing and a sale being agreed upon, by month, to reveal the best (& worst) time of year to try and sell your home.
In May 2022, the average time to sell a house was 21 days. Interestingly, this is the quickest that the average house sale has been in the last five years. However, this is when the seller accepts an offer and could still be as much as three months before the transaction is complete and you can move in!
At the other end of the scale is January, averaging 54 days, or just under two months. December comes in a close second on 50 days along with February followed by November on 47.
So bearing all this in mind and you if still have your heart set on a Christmas move, Kellie Steed, Mortgage Expert at money.co.uk gives her expert tips on how to sell a house over the Christmas period:
Get online
If you’re wanting to sell over the Christmas period, a strong online presence is essential as this is when buyers will have the most downtime to browse through listings. Make sure your home is listed and visible on as many major property portals as possible such as Zoopla.
Arrange viewings in the morning
Despite your best efforts to make your home a comforting escape from the cold, dark winter weather, it is always best to show your house in daylight. This will allow buyers to get the true experience of the property and see any of the surrounding grounds and gardens.
Consider your Christmas decorations
Although it may be desirable to show off your colour-coordinated Christmas tree, it’s best for the pictures of your property to include day-to-day decor. This will help avoid your pictures looking outdated if your property doesn’t sell instantly. However, if showing your house in person throughout the festive period, potential buyers may feel a sense of comfort and joy if they’re welcomed by Christmas decorations.
Stay flexible
Due to people generally having a much busier schedule over the Christmas period, it’s good to ensure you can be as flexible as possible when it comes to arranging viewings to suit potential buyers. This will also allow you to build up a strong rapport with them, whilst being helpful and friendly.
Be patient
Estate agents and solicitors will likely have time off during the Christmas period, meaning that if you do receive an offer, it may not progress as quickly as normal until things pick up in the new year. Also, don’t panic if viewings drop off during this period as families with young children will be very preoccupied and may not have the time to fit in viewings until the new year.
New Year New Listing
If you’ve not been able to sell by the new year, bring your property to the market again in January so it appears as a completely new listing. This will get your house seen by those buyers who have made resolutions to start looking for a new house in the new year.
