If you’re planning on moving home, you may be wondering when is the best time to do so. Most moves are dependent on the time it takes to sell a property, but other factors include the time of year, region, the day of the month, and even the time.
Combining research from comparemymove.com with our own expertise, here at Kings Group we explore the most suitable times for home movers to relocate.
The best season to move
It’s widely documented that summer is the busiest season when it comes to moving home. With long, bright summer days and dependable weather during this period, it’s clear to see why. Some 29% of UK house moves took place in June, July and August this year, according to Compare My Move.
August saw the largest number of movers, making it the most popular month. This is most likely because those who are moving with children who are due to start at a new school tend to take advantage of the August summer holiday, as it will give them time to settle into their new home ahead of the new school year.
When are Londoners moving?
Despite summer being a popular season, house moving activity varied by season across the UK last year. However, true to form, the overall favourite month for movers in Greater and Central London, the east of England and the South East was August.
While winter is the least favoured season to move, there are still people who wish to move to a new property before Christmas.
In fact, with Christmas only 18 weeks away, those who wish to move before then should be active in the market right now, as the average time from agreeing a sale to moving now stands at 13 weeks, according to Rightmove.
The best time of month to move
Scheduling a move requires some thought, there are a number of important factors to consider before you can decide, such as the month and time of day.
For example, the first and last few days of each month is when rental leases usually expire and plenty of renters will look for new places to move into, making these busy periods for movers, estate agents and removals firms. This also means that you may not get any good deals from removal companies due to their increased workload. With this, it’s advisable to choose a day in the middle of the month instead if possible.
In terms of days, statistics show that the weekend is heavily favoured – especially Fridays and Saturdays – as people are typically off work. However, this leads to the work schedules of removal companies filling up during these times. As they are the less busy days, consider Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to relocate – preferably from 8 o’clock in the morning.
What does this mean for sellers?
We know the best time to move home, but when is the best time to sell? Generally, property sellers favour spring, as the good weather makes for attractive listing images, better lighting on viewings, and the chance to make your garden thrive in full bloom. Potential buyers are also more willing to house hunt when the weather is nice.
Autumn also proves to be a popular time for sellers, as buyers return from their summer holidays and will want to move in before Christmas while the weather is still dependable. With this knowledge, prospective sellers can choose the right time to put their home on the market.
Whenever you decide to sell your home, make sure you have plenty of time to do so. Timing is an all-important factor; you will want to list your home as early as possible, as it can take as long as three to six months between starting the selling process and actually moving from your home.
By taking these factors into account, you can choose the perfect time to market your property and attract some eager buyers before winter sets in.
If you would like any guidance on selling a property in Hertford, Walthamstow, Essex and surrounding areas, contact your local Kings Group branch today.
Also, to see how much your home could be worth on the current market, you can request a free instant online valuation.
