House sale over Christmas
Discussion
We're in the same position for my MIL's house. I spoke to an estate agent mate and his view is that nothing happens between now and the end of January, and we should probably delay listing until the last week of January. We may move quickly anyway because the house has a view that I reckon is in the top 10 in the UK and if we can reach the right buyer they will probably jump on it in a flash despite Christmas getting in the way. We're going to decorate it to make it feel a bit more lived-in if that helps with your decision. This may be an irrelevance as there is already a queue of people trying to get in early and get it immediately. Location is west coast Scotland.
I’d not list until early in the new year.
1) If you have decorations up it will look stupid in the listings in February!
2) There is often a furry of interest in the new year because people realise that they need more space for the family (nothing makes your house feel smaller thsn filling it with trees & people!).
3) Sometimes, sadly, Christmas is the final straw for some relationships so people who previously lived in one house together now want one each.
1) If you have decorations up it will look stupid in the listings in February!
2) There is often a furry of interest in the new year because people realise that they need more space for the family (nothing makes your house feel smaller thsn filling it with trees & people!).
3) Sometimes, sadly, Christmas is the final straw for some relationships so people who previously lived in one house together now want one each.
I'd wait - as said before use the time constructively, declutter, touch up and damage to decor, clear up fallen leaves in the garden etc.
People are going to be busier on the run up to the festive season. I've just helped my sister move on the weekend - that's probably as close to Christmas as I'd want to get to be honest.
If you list now and get no interest, you'll be lost amongst the new listings people haven't seen before on the new year, and priority for viewing yours will be lower.
Obviously you could list now and be exactly what someone wants and get a sale immediately - but that would put exchange/completion potentially right in the festive period or the new year anyway.
People are going to be busier on the run up to the festive season. I've just helped my sister move on the weekend - that's probably as close to Christmas as I'd want to get to be honest.
If you list now and get no interest, you'll be lost amongst the new listings people haven't seen before on the new year, and priority for viewing yours will be lower.
Obviously you could list now and be exactly what someone wants and get a sale immediately - but that would put exchange/completion potentially right in the festive period or the new year anyway.
surely the agents will be closed, skeleton staffed and/or can't be arsed over Christmas so who will take the calls for the viewings for you? Solicitors too will be pretty much unavailable for submitting offers.
Plus as said Christmas decorations will look odd.
UNLESS folks will be on holiday in that location for Christmas themselves and be looking for that second home or retirement dream home. If so sell it yourself .
Plus as said Christmas decorations will look odd.
UNLESS folks will be on holiday in that location for Christmas themselves and be looking for that second home or retirement dream home. If so sell it yourself .
Edited by loskie on Sunday 1st December 16:14
It tends to take a while to put a house onthe market these days.
They want photos to be done, a floorplan and a EPC.
Unless you got these already, I reckon it's fairly tight to get the house on Rightmove by xmas already.
It may even take you a while to choose between estate agents?
They offer different details and may send you contracts that need revising.
Estate agents take holiday too.
Personally, I would get it on the market ASAP, even if you don't accept any viewing until Jan 2 or whenever.
Or, go with the advice of your chosen agent, they may like to launch it in a particular way at a particular time.
For one thing, vendors' agents may not take you seriously until yours in the pipeline, and for another there may just be a buyer out there who is about to commit elesewhere.
They want photos to be done, a floorplan and a EPC.
Unless you got these already, I reckon it's fairly tight to get the house on Rightmove by xmas already.
It may even take you a while to choose between estate agents?
They offer different details and may send you contracts that need revising.
Estate agents take holiday too.
Personally, I would get it on the market ASAP, even if you don't accept any viewing until Jan 2 or whenever.
Or, go with the advice of your chosen agent, they may like to launch it in a particular way at a particular time.
For one thing, vendors' agents may not take you seriously until yours in the pipeline, and for another there may just be a buyer out there who is about to commit elesewhere.
I'd agree with Boxing day being a busy time for agents, I was told that by my agent too. My son sold his house last week and is now actively looking. Even if he finds somewhere now he clearly won't be moving before Xmas, the searches, surveys and contracts all take time to arrange.
You may want to consider the SDLT (stamp duty) relief is halving this April, that may add a bit of a stimulus to the market this year. It'll make £6250 difference to the cost of buying on properties over £250k. 3 months isn't unusual to complete a property sale so if you're selling I'd list it now.
You may want to consider the SDLT (stamp duty) relief is halving this April, that may add a bit of a stimulus to the market this year. It'll make £6250 difference to the cost of buying on properties over £250k. 3 months isn't unusual to complete a property sale so if you're selling I'd list it now.
The busiest day of the year on Rightmove is the 26th Dec. Get the photos done and get it on the week before Christmas with viewings in the new year.
2 reasons,
Houses feel small during Christmas and people want to move up.
People split up....
2 reasons,
Houses feel small during Christmas and people want to move up.
People split up....
Edited by pacenotes on Sunday 1st December 21:52
Very few reasons not to in my opinion.
Get the EA to photograph it before the decorations are up, and then again after Christmas if it hasn't sold.
Out there, right now, might be someone who would love to buy your house, and they really won't give a toss about whether there are decorations up.
Get the EA to photograph it before the decorations are up, and then again after Christmas if it hasn't sold.
Out there, right now, might be someone who would love to buy your house, and they really won't give a toss about whether there are decorations up.
mike_e said:
You may want to consider the SDLT (stamp duty) relief is halving this April, that may add a bit of a stimulus to the market this year. It'll make £6250 difference to the cost of buying on properties over £250k.
£2500 difference, not £6250, because only 2% is payable on amounts between £125k and £250kWe’re doing it.
Going up this week. Photographed a few days back.
The house we want to buy is available and we need to be sold stc to progress so only one way to go.
But once we’ve got an offer, the occupiers of the place we’re buying will need to find somewhere too so I assume the chain will slow stuff down to the point we won’t be exchanging/completing until way into Jan/Feb.
Plus stamp duty changing might be a kicker.
And mortgage rates possibly going up.
Spring might be a bit of a rough time if demand is low despite more supply.
Going up this week. Photographed a few days back.
The house we want to buy is available and we need to be sold stc to progress so only one way to go.
But once we’ve got an offer, the occupiers of the place we’re buying will need to find somewhere too so I assume the chain will slow stuff down to the point we won’t be exchanging/completing until way into Jan/Feb.
Plus stamp duty changing might be a kicker.
And mortgage rates possibly going up.
Spring might be a bit of a rough time if demand is low despite more supply.
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