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List Your Home In Time To Sell For Christmas

Posted 6 October 2021 by Helen Christie

If you want to sell your home before Christmas, there is still time – just...

Prospective home sellers will need to have their property on the market by Wednesday 20 October in order to sell their home before Christmas, according to a new study.

Data from estate agent comparison website estateagent4me offers insight into the time it takes to sell a residential property. Over the past six years, homes listed in October have taken an average of 64 days or just over 9 weeks to sell. This means that homeowners who want a sale agreed this side of Christmas should be looking to list their house for sale by Wednesday 20 October at the latest. 

On average since 2015, properties in the UK have stayed on the market for 58 to 73 days. Despite the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the data shows the average length of time to sell a property has remained relatively constant over the past 6 years. Overall the speed of sale was slower last year because of the slowdown caused by the pandemic between April and July but the speed of sale accelerated towards the end of 2020 once the housing market reopened and the time-limited stamp duty holiday was introduced.

The New Year remains the best time to list your property for a speedy sale, with homes listed in January selling the fastest.  

Commenting on the data, Paula Higgins, chief executive of HomeOwners Alliance, which runs the estateagent4me website, says: “2021 has been a chaotic year for buying and selling homes. The rush to buy before the end of the stamp duty holiday deadline in June congested and slowed the home buying process. This wasn’t helped by the “pingdemic” which caused further disruption across the sector.  Thankfully, this Autumn will see things return to normal for home movers. Looking back on six years of data, we can see that if you want to sell by Christmas, then you need to get on and do so before 20 October.“

Five tips for selling before Christmas:

  • Appoint a great estate agent. 
  • Instruct a conveyancing solicitor early and start pulling paperwork together now if you want to secure a quick sale.
  • Get your house ready for sale. If there are any issues that might come up in a survey and delay the move, consider fixing them now. And as the winter months approach, make sure your home doesn’t look too dark – it is vital to let in light with lamps, candles and mirrors. 
  • Let your estate agent take the lead at viewings and tackle any tricky questions, and let them advise on negotiations; going to sealed bids to secure the best price is a popular option in today’s sellers’ market.
  • Choose the right buyer - everyone wants to get the best price, but if you want to sell quickly as well then opt for a chain-free buyer who isn’t relying on selling their home to buy yours. 

 

 

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