There’s something about this time of year which makes us all a bit reflective. Maybe it’s the annual showing of It’s a Wonderful Life, or perhaps the dread of heading into another year and not feeling like we’ve progressed. It’s definitely a good month if you own a gym, but is it a good time to think about selling up and buying a new home?
When you choose to put your property on the market can make a big difference to how quickly it will sell – and how much it will sell for. So while you may have big dreams of a new home, it’s important to think about whether you really want to move right now, and how much money you’re willing to pay (or lose) to do that.
If it’s a quiet time of year then your home will be less likely to sell quickly and may end up stagnating on property listings – with people coming across your home and wondering what’s wrong with it to have not sold already. Unfortunately agents can also lose their enthusiasm for your home, if it’s on their books for a while.
When it comes to selling properties, we’re seeing two trends for January.
On the one hand, it’s best to wait
As we go into the New Year, it’s a great time to spring clean and get your home ready to put it on the market, as traditionally January isn’t the best time to get it listed – for most properties, popular opinion says it’s best to hold off until February. This has a lot to do with seasonal differences in terms of weather and how it affects people’s moods, as well as how good your property will look with a blooming garden and without lots of grey clouds for a backdrop. The lighter, warmer days bring a welcome, positive contrast to many people, which can make them feel more positive about the future and more open to big changes, such as moving home.
But trends suggest you could be missing out
If we go by activity on Rightmove and other property sites, trends suggest that January is a big one if you would like to have your property seen, as so many people are heading to the websites and thinking about making the big leap to move home. However, it doesn’t mean that you will make a sale in January, and this is where it becomes a gamble – if your home gets the viewings it needs it may make the sale in spring, if it doesn’t, then it may get buried behind the fresher properties heading to the market in the more popular months.
Of course, you could always look at this another way – most people know that spring is when more properties will be listed, so there are less to choose from in January, so if you did list now, then your home is more likely to stand out and demand a higher price due to lack of other options available. Getting your property listed now won’t guarantee that it will sell in January, but it has the potential to reach a bigger audience and make a sale in spring.
Of course, no matter when you move, we are always on hand to help. If you would like any more information or advice, please get in touch.