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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

When is the best time of year to sell?

18 replies

Fluffybubble · 02/01/2011 19:06

Hi

Firstly, I know that trying to sell now is not ideal anyway, but I really, really want to move!

My house was on the market from July to December last year and had lots of viewings and one offer (which then fell through). I took it off the market at the beginning of December, as there did not seem much point in keeping it on over Christmas.

When, ideally, is the best time to put it back on? Should I try asap to try to get ahead of the spring crowd, or should I wait and become part of the spring rush?!

Also, what is the consensus on using the same agent as before? I was pretty happy with them, but should I try somewhere new from a marketing pov?

Thank you!

OP posts:

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Mandy21 · 02/01/2011 19:11

We were told when we sold (in 2008) that Easter is officially the "start" of the moving season - people have done Christmas, tarted their homes up a little bit / done all the odd jobs that need finishing and then got the house on the market. The market had definitely slowed when we went on the market but we sold within about 3 weeks.

If it were me, I'd go with a different agent so that you start afresh - new photos, new description and probably a different set of eyes / new advice as to ways you can potentially improve it / dress it to get it moving. I know its a hard market but if it didn't sell within 6 months you need to be asking the agent why - were people just wary of the market conditions or are there more competitively priced properties available?

Good luck, hope it goes well.

Mandy

Fluffybubble · 02/01/2011 19:19

Thanks Mandy.

The agent wanted to reduce the price pretty significantly, and there were a few other similar properties available. I did reduce the price but maybe not enough .

What you say about the new agents makes sense, I think I will ask for some more valuations.

Re. Easter... Arrgghhh!! I thought that this was the case (lots of daffodils and sunshine around to help too!) I want to do it now...(impatient emoticon!). You make a lot of sense (boo!).

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Fiddledee · 02/01/2011 19:39

If you really really want to move there are always people looking, especially those of us that had chains break over christmas.

Most people do change agents when they haven't sold. You had your house on the market for 6 months and didn't sell, you need to decrease the price. Prices have fallen in the last 3 months, definitely 5-10% down on July and thats in london/south east.

Easter is very late this year I would say beginning of March is a good time. If you are in a hurry stick it on now but do you have somewhere to move to as there are only the remnants from autumn on the market now.

odetothewestwing · 02/01/2011 19:56

First six months of the year is the optimum time.

Fluffybubble · 02/01/2011 20:01

Thanks Fiddledee

Yes, I think the price is a problem. I did reduce by about 5% but others in the area reduced by more...

I am considering moving in with my parents, but am unsure whether a) we'll all survive this (!) and b) if vacant possession is a positive or a negative for buyers.

I've been keeping an eye on Rightmove and there is not a lot out there, but I want to be in a position to put in an offer if/when something comes up.

The other alternative is finding out about a part exchange scheme a on a local new build estate. This sounds too easy, though...! Need to find out more.

March is not too far away I guess...

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Fiddledee · 02/01/2011 20:42

Vacant possession negatve for buyers but saying you will go and live your parents and not have to buy in a chain is a plus.

Fluffybubble · 02/01/2011 20:46

Thanks again Fidledee.

That might be a good compromise then. I meant to say before that I'm sorry if it was your chain that broke down over Christmas, good luck with your hunting (would you like mine?!!)

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lalalonglegs · 02/01/2011 20:48

I thought January was the optimum time to sell: people who have split up over Christmas/NY are in market for new homes, plus those that want to be able to start the new school year at a particular school (plenty of time to move and sort out the application). In London and the hotspots there is also the bonus bounce at the beginning of the year.

lalalonglegs · 02/01/2011 20:49

Would have thought vacant possession was a very big plus.

Fluffybubble · 02/01/2011 21:08

Thanks lala

I know! My logic was that it only takes one buyer, and that someone somewhere must be looking. I also thought that if I wait until Spring then I will be competing with a few more properties.

Having said all that, the long dark days do not help to show a house well so....argghhh again!

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AlpinePony · 03/01/2011 12:34

I've just bought - signed on 23rd Dec I think so I'd definitely say that end dec is not a no-no! As for "vacant possession" - I was only interested in looking at those!

Fluffybubble · 03/01/2011 21:35

Thanks and well done on your move Alpine. Head is spinning now, think I may just go for it in Feb!

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AlpinePony · 04/01/2011 06:55

Good luck with it all! I wanted to expand on the vacant possession thing. Right now we're in rented and because of the way the market is, we didn't want to end up at the end of a chain with things falling through and dates being thrown around. This way we were able to say, "right, we want the keys in feb, let's go!". So for us it was a major positive!

Fiddledee · 04/01/2011 13:14

Vacant houses/flats can looked unloved and difficult to buyers to imagine living there if its been stripped bare.

treacletart · 07/01/2011 22:44

We lost our buyers in the summer and came off the market for a while as we were having zero luck finding anything to buy. Now have first dibbs on somewhere that'll work really well for us, so we're back on the bus.

We're asking 10k less than last time and went on Rightmove Christmas Eve. I'd been told by several agents Rightmove gets its best visitor figures over Christmas.

Keep your fingers crossed for us.. we've got eleven viewings booked for tomorrow and another 4 for next week.

DH and I have been cleaning and decluttering like demons!

Fluffybubble · 08/01/2011 20:27

Well done, Treacle!! Just saw your biscuit thread, congratulations on the offers! How did you get 11 viewings?!

I am seriously thinking of hiring a storage unit to put all of our clutter in, before asking another agent round to value. I am despairing of ever seeing my floor again, after Christmas and birthday present-fest!

Really hope it all goes smoothly for you, enjoy your new home!

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treacletart · 08/01/2011 23:41

Thanks FluffyB! Well we have a really great agent. It's her own business - and I really feel she cares. She's used brilliant photos, we're sensibly priced in a good area and to be honest I don't think in our price bracket there's very much interesting competition here at the moment.

But I daren't get excited yet. There's so many hoops to be jumped by everyone before the game finishes.

From today's experience id have to say jump back in now! And if you really felt you were getting a good service from your agent and want to stay with them, get them to take new photos to refresh the marketing. I also think trying to get as many of your viewings on Saturdays - even if it means asking a viewer to wait a few days is worthwhile - it's impossible to keep a family home viewer ready but for me even 24 hour standby messes with my sanity!

Pernickety · 09/01/2011 10:38

We sold our house last year - It went on the makret at the end of January and was completed by the end of March. It turned out to be a good time to sell as not alot else of that type of house was available. We were realistic with price though.

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