Despite popular belief that December is a bad time for the property market, winter can actually be a great time to plan a move. With less competition and more serious buyers, your property may well sell quicker than at other times of the year.
At Charters, we support our customers throughout the year and think that winter is really underrated when it comes to moving. Here are a few reasons why the colder months could be the ideal time for buying or selling a house…
It’s true that the housing market really picks up in the spring and lots of people choose this season when selling a house. However, a real bonus of selling in winter is you face far less competition. With less houses on the market, your house will really catch buyers’ eyes.
You’ll also face less competition for essential moving services such as solicitors, estate agents and removals companies. This can help get sales moving which is always a great thing for both sides of the transaction.
If you like the sound of avoiding the spring crush then a winter move could be the perfect choice.
In spring, the mood of the market is drastically different to winter. Lots of people half-heartedly consider moving which means your property may attract people who aren’t necessarily committed.
It’s great to have plenty of interest, but the real goal is selling. One serious buyer in winter is far better than a dozen who are unpredictable in spring.
In December, there’s a real motivation to be ‘in for Christmas’ and this can mean house sales move at a pace.
Christmas is a real highlight of the winter months and, for most, marks the year drawing to a close. Lots of people moving at this time of year are keen to be in their new home and settled for ‘the big day’. They like to have all the admin finished so they can properly relax and celebrate before starting the New Year with a fresh start in a new home. This can speed up the whole process considerably which is great for everyone involved.
The gloomy weather and early nights are not ideal for presenting a house to its full potential, but there’s an opportunity here to wow visitors. Create a warm, inviting respite from the elements and potential buyers will really picture themselves settling in.
Although the cost of selling a house doesn’t change much throughout the year, with less demand on services such as removals companies and storage, you may find some of those additional costs go down in the cooler months.
Whether it’s the depths of winter or the peak of summer: we’re here to help you whenever you’re planning a move. Winter is far from a write-off for the property market and if you’re thinking of buying or selling, we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to pop in or contact your local branch of Charters Estate Agents and we will be happy to answer all your questions.
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