As the year draws to a close many of us are thinking about what 2023 will bring. Making plans, setting goals and reflecting on the year before.
You may not know about the seasonal property market. If you are considering moving house in 2023, you would be wise to get involved sooner rather than later.
As the year draws to a close many of us are thinking about what 2023 will bring. Making plans, setting goals and reflecting on the year before.
You may not know about the seasonal property market. If you are considering moving house in 2023, you would be wise to get involved sooner rather than later.
One of the busiest periods in the estate agency calendar is January. It's so busy in the run-up to Christmas that many of us park our moving plans until the new year. Compartmentalising our plans for Christmas, everything else comes in January, including searching for a new home.
January is a time for new beginnings, a new diet or workout regime, and maybe even a new job! We all have a new year, new start mindset. We set resolutions for how we want to stick to positive changes to make us feel better or work towards a bigger goal.
If you are considering moving house, such a large undertaking is often parked until after the busy Christmas period has passed.
So, what should you do if you are considering making a move in 2023?
Timing - Timing is everything. To take advantage of a natural rise in the market and interest levels from buyers in the new year, you need to be on the market. But if you play it smart, you should be on the market before the new year. Waiting until the market heats up at the beginning of January will mean that you'll be competing with all the other homeowners in the same boat. Everyone flocks to put their home on the market in January, and buyers will search through the many available properties. You must be on the market at the very start of the season to make the most of it. Ideally, you would already be on the market before the busy season starts. Rightmove regularly reports that Boxing Day is the busiest day on their website for traffic and activity. Think about getting your property ready to market JUST before the world switches off for a few days for Christmas. Most would-be property buyers have eaten all of the turkey and all the chocolates. After watching one too many movies, their attention turns to property searches. Your home is there, on the market for them to find. And all of the other sellers thinking, "we'll do that in the new year", will have missed out.
Preparation - To have your property on the market in time for the Boxing day rush, you must be ready before boxing day. Working backwards, you ideally need to be prepared to go on the market NOW because you don't want to have the Christmas tree in the photographs. So you must be prepared for marketing before putting up the decorations. Have the photoshoots and approve the brochures, then wait until after Christmas for your for-sale board to go up and the viewings to start.
Just before the agent signs off for Christmas, they simply hit the button and launch your property to the market. Granted, this will be somewhat anti-climactic because there will be no fanfare and no rush of enquiries, but the property will be there for potential buyers to see when they start to browse.
Get in touch to arrange your valuation appointment so you can be prepared for marketing in time for the Boxing day rush. Our property experts know just what to do to make the most of a traditionally busy property market so that you can sit back and enjoy Christmas in peace.