Should you sell before or after Christmas? I The Property Fox Leicester

Should You Sell Your House Before or After Christmas? 

 

 

Estate agents agree that it's nearly impossible to predict when is the best time to sell your house, but they do say that there are a few things you can do to increase its chances of selling quickly or for more money. 

 

When is the best time to sell? 

Some estate agents will tell you that the best time to sell your house is in January. 

 

Others advise selling before Christmas because typically, prices decrease over time. One way around this (though it might not always work) is by setting your asking price higher than what you feel comfortable charging. 

But make sure you don't go too high or potential buyers might not even bother looking at your house. 

The risk in waiting is that if the housing market does take a turn for the worse, you may have to lower your asking price and it takes time for homes to sell in both good and bad markets. So you need to decide whether you think you'll be able to sell your house quickly in a bad market or if you are willing to take the risk. 

 

If you live in an area where there are many people looking for houses year-round, it would probably be best to sell before Christmas as you will likely have a monopoly on the market. 

If you need some advice on which time period is best for your situation, more than likely you can find a estate agent who will give you their opinion (for free if they're experienced).  

Just make sure they've been selling homes in your area for at least a couple of years and they know the market well. 

 

What kind of buyer you want? 

 

If you are set on selling your house before Christmas, make sure to target specific buyers.  

For example, decide if you want to sell to home buyers who are looking for a house just like yours or someone who is not picky about the area or size of the plot.  

Putting yourself in the position of potential buyer will help you figure out what you are willing to pay for your house. 

 

The best time to sell your home depends on whether you are looking for a quick sale or if you want the most money out of it.  

If you live in an area where people are always looking for homes, then selling before Christmas will be best because there will probably only be one other house up for sale and it may not even get sold at all. If you're willing to take more risks than usual with your asking price, then waiting until January might work better.  

 

However, this is true unless housing markets start declining which would put sellers at risk of losing their asking price during negotiations. One way around this is by targeting specific buyers who have been prequalified so they know what kind of property they need and how much they are willing to pay. 

 

As always, if you would like any further advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch!