If you're thinking of selling your home, now is not the time to delay. In fact, now is certainly the time to list your property ahead of one of the housing market's busiest times of the year.
It's well-known that January is one of the best times to sell a home due to a combination of factors encouraging people to make a move. And it's become a trend in recent years for the number of people searching for their next home to spike over the festive period.
According to data from the UK's largest property website, Rightmove, it received over 25 million page views on Boxing Day 2016 and some 38 million on New Year's Day 2017.
A rise in the number of buyers means more people competing for available properties. This increases a seller's chances of achieving their asking price or above as well as selling in the shortest possible timeframe.
All of this is why here at Kings Group, unlike many other estate agents, we won't be closing down early for Christmas. Instead, we'll be working around the clock to make sure our clients' properties are ready for the festive rush.
Why is the festive season so popular with prospective property buyers?
Many prospective buyers who are active in the summer and early autumn, particularly those with young families, are likely to cool off their search in the busy run-up to Christmas. However, once the big day is over they may be encouraged to start looking again to get the ball rolling for a New Year relocation.
Christmas is a time of giving and smartphones and tablets are top of many people’s lists each year. This means lots of potential movers will be itching to use their new devices over the festive period and the major property portals will be one of the first places they look.
What’s more, the New Year is a time associated with fresh starts and that’s why many people will be taking their property search seriously over the festive period. There’s also the benefit of people having time off work and therefore more opportunities to look for properties and organise viewings.
This year, there is the added condition of Brexit and the uncertainty surrounding it. With the UK set to begin the process of formally leaving the EU in March, many people will want to get their move sorted while question marks remain about what sort of Brexit deal will be agreed.
Why should you list now to benefit from the Christmas market surge?
It's important to give yourself the best opportunity to attract as many buyers as possible over the festive break. By listing your property now, you can beat the selling competition and grab the attention of serious, eager buyers before anyone else.
Getting your property on the market early also means you have time to do some trial viewings and get your asking price spot on before activity rises sharply in January. It also means you can dedicate time to making sure your property looks its best by decluttering and completing odd jobs so that buyers are given the best possible first impression.
‘Do Not Disturb’ marketing
We provide our sellers with the chance to benefit from an innovative ‘Do Not Disturb’ marketing campaign over the festive period. This entails listing your property online with us on Christmas Day but delaying viewings at your home until January 2nd.
You can therefore continue to relax over Christmas and New Year, safe in the knowledge that you are benefitting from the spike in online property hunters and that eager buyers will be scheduling bookings for early January.
This hassle-free option also has plenty of marketing advantages. As the selling agent, we can use the delayed viewing date to build suspense and competition among prospective buyers. They’ll all want to be the first to come around and view the property, which can improve your chances of selling quickly and for the best possible price.
As you can see, now really is a perfect time to get your home on the market and take advantage of increased demand for properties over the coming weeks and months. For more advice on getting your home sold in North London, East London, Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas, contact your local Kings Group branch today.
To see how much your home could be worth on the current market, you can request a free instant online valuation.
