Here at Coleman Estates, we are fully aware that our success would be nothing without the customers who put their faith in our team members. That’s why we would first of all like to take this opportunity to thank you for trusting us with your properties, as well as our landlords and tenants for their continued support.
Now with December finally upon us once again, there’s one big question our sellers want answering; “Is December a good time to sell a house?” The honest answer is that this all depends on several different factors, including personal circumstances. Ultimately, if you need to sell out of necessity, then now is always going to be a good time.
However, if you have some flexibility and are debating whether to go to market in December, then we have found that the end of the year is actually becoming one of the better times to sell. This change in buyer behaviour could be because of the growth of online property marketing portals like Rightmove and Zoopla, which allow buyers to view properties without having to leave the comfort of their own homes.
As the days get shorter and the weather turns, it’s only natural for buyers to go into hibernation. This means you’re left with only the most serious of buyers, which benefits you because they don’t waste time. Potential buyers who come and view your property are there because they’re interested in buying and not just getting ideas for their own home. This means that all viewings have a greater potential of resulting in an offer.
Since they’re more serious, the sale is also more likely to go through. They genuinely want to purchase your property, so unless they uncover a potential issue during one of their surveys, they will be more inclined to try and complete the sale quicker.
Historically, winter might not be one of the best times to try and sell a property. However, recently savvy house sellers have clocked on to the benefits of selling your home in December. By opting to go to market during the quieter months, you’re not only filtering out the serious buyers, but you’re also cutting out half of your competition.
With fewer properties around, you also won’t need to worry as much about making your house look more attractive than the one down the road. With a much smaller crowd to contend with, you’ll have more chance of your marketing efforts paying off.
Less competition also means your estate agent will have more freedom to dedicate a larger portion of their time to finding you the right buyer. Then with fewer buyers around there are also fewer purchases, also giving your solicitor more time to push the sale through quicker.
Of course, a great estate agent should give every client their full dedication all year round. However, a quieter market gives you more of an advantage and can help with speeding up the process from all directions.
Although the number of buyers actively looking tends to take a dip at the start of the month as Christmas takes over, this will soon change once the festivities are over. Boxing Day is starting to gain a reputation as the busiest day in December, and last year, Zoopla saw traffic surge by an impressive 70.3%.
There are multiple reasons behind this sudden influx. Buyers distracted by Christmas are finally able to focus their efforts again, while families are inspired by the Christmas and New Year festivities to look for somewhere bigger. Then there are the first-time buyers and young couples eager to make this the year they finally get their own place.
So, is December a good time to sell? With careful preparation and an understanding of the current market, selling your home in December is as good a time as any to do it. There might not be as many buyers around, but those who are will be willing to make you a serious offer.
If you want to make the most of the online Boxing Day traffic, then now is the perfect time to start preparing your property. Get in touch with our friendly team and we’ll arrange a free valuation for you. By combining current market insights with years of experience handling properties in Shropshire and Telford, we have an eye for accurately valuing properties. In November, we were able to help our buyers achieve their property’s full potential, with 80% of sales going at asking price or above.
Once you have your valuation, we’ll pull together all the materials your property needs for a professional marketing strategy. Our team will draw up accurate floor plans, create a detailed write-up, and we’ll also get some professional photos taken of your property to show it off in its best light. With Christmas just around the corner, we suggest getting the photos done before putting any decorations up. That way, your brand new listing will look fresh and current for buyers in the new year.
With all your information ready and waiting, we’ll be able to time your listing and give it the best chances of being seen by the right buyers. This timing is essential more so than ever due to some recent changes on Rightmove.
When properties became stale, sellers were once able to remove their listing for just 2 weeks and then put it back up again as a new entry. This recently changed and properties must now be removed for at least 14 weeks to be considered new to the market.
So the key to a successful December sale is timing. If you list too early in the month, your property could become stale without much chance of being seen. On the other hand, if you list too late, this gives the competition a chance to get ahead of you. But by getting your property ready to list at just the right moment, you can make the most of December’s peak traffic and the upcoming wave of new-year buyers.
Overall, when asked “is December a good time to sell?” we say absolutely! Whether you’re looking at selling your home in December or just wanting to get your listing ready to sell in the new year now is the perfect time to get the ball rolling.
If you’re thinking about selling your property, get in touch for a free valuation. This will give you an idea of what your property is worth in the current market, and if you’re happy to proceed, we’ll make a start on preparing all your marketing materials. That way, you’ll be ready to list just in time for all the fresh traffic, avoiding any delays and putting you ahead of the competition.
Contact our team today to book your valuation. There really has been no better time to sell, so why not make the most of the potential that this thriving market has to offer?
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