NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL.

Summer holidays have finally hit! Millions of people are already packing, in the air, on the road, all hyper as they start their traditional 2-week holiday. Excited to have a break from the normal repetitive day to day routine, for many people that includes selling their home. Most people think “why would I want to put my house on the market now?” No one will be here, there are far more fun ways to spend my time. Wrong! NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL and I am going to tell you why. But first let me explain how a year can impact the market.

The housing market goes in cycles that are generally dictated by seasons. In case you didn’t already know this – the British public like routine. January through to spring its normally cold and miserable, the nights are still dark, and the average person just wants to snuggle up in front of the TV with their family rather than have a parade of people leave icy footprints in their house.

Spring has now hit, daffodils start to appear, trees are covered in blossom and the nights are getting lighter. This is a light bulb moment for most people who suddenly think “this is a great time to sell our home”, there is a good chance the weather will be okay for pictures, people start to come out of hibernation and all at once Estate Agents are inundated with requests for valuations from people looking to sell their home.

Before you know it, May half term is over and there is only 6 weeks left until schools finish for the summer when as already said there is a mass exodus. I don’t know about you, but I can already hear the beach calling…

Just as quick as the 6-week break comes it goes! September has arrived, the kids are back at school and routine is calling and we are all in free-fall heading towards October half term with winter and Christmas hot on its heels. For most home owners this means that the only time they will even consider selling is that short time frame between the end of the summer holidays and October half term. By the time November has arrived the nights have already drawn in again, people are starting to buy presents, and secretly trying to work out just how early they can get away with putting their Christmas decorations up. Let’s be honest no one wants potential buyers looking round their homes, destroying the tree and generally interrupting what little free time most families have at this time of year.

As you can see, general trends show that in the cycle of a year there are few optimum times to sell and one of the best is coming around rapidly – SEPTEMBER! I promise I’m not trying to wish your holiday away before its even started. I know your next question is going to be why not wait till September to take that first step? Here is why.

Nothing happens over night and when done properly it can take time from initial valuation to your property “going live”. Contracts have to be signed, photos taken whether it’s the Estate Agent themselves or a professional photographer, EPCs, floor plans etc all need to be done. Depending on how quick all this can be arranged will impact how quickly it actually goes on the market. For example, if you called an Estate Agent on September 1st and the earliest appointment you can get is 4 days later – that’s almost one week gone. Then you need to arrange another appointment for photos etc that is convenient for photographers, the Estate Agent and yourself. This might mean nothing happens for a week, then everything has to be put into place ready for it to go live. Without even realising it you are looking at nearly 3 weeks from making that first phone call to applicants seeing your home on Rightmove. 3 weeks in my world is a long time especially if you’re impatient like me.

What does all this mean? In short that is half of the 6-week period from the end of the school summer holidays through to October half term lost and guess what winter is well and truly on its way…. A scary thought unless you happen to love winter.

My advice is make that phone call today! Most Estate Agents are quiet in August and will have the time to come and give you their undivided attention. You will have the luxury of time on your side to get everything ready to market your house by September and in turn be one step ahead of your competition – or put more bluntly the neighbour across the street who has had the same idea as you. However, because you have been clever you are one step ahead of the game and will blow any competition out of the water. Yes, you are allowed to indulge in a smug little smile at this point.

I agree it does seem tedious and there is a lot to think about and plan, but ultimately if you want to have a “Sold” board outside your house sooner rather than later, then there is no better time to act! So, what are you waiting for make that call today and feel safe in the knowledge that you have done absolutely everything you can to get that “Sold” board up as soon as possible. I can guarantee you won’t regret it.

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