The decision to list your home during the festive season isn’t straightforward. Traditionally, listing a property in spring or early autumn tends to attract the most market activity, but there are unique advantages (and pitfalls) to selling over Christmas and New Year.
The Pros
1. Less Competition
During the Christmas period, many homeowners delay listing until the new year. That means fewer properties on the market, which can give a property more visibility to serious buyers. Reduced competition could mean your listing can stand out from the crowd.
2. Motivation
Buyers who are active during the festive season, tend to be more serious and have more intention to transact quickly. For example, they may be relocating for a new job and or keen to complete before the new year. As such, the Christmas period can drive quick sales.
3. New Year, New Move
A house or flat that has been tastefully dressed for the Christmas season is thought to help buyers emotionally connect with a property and imagine living there. Online surveys also suggest that as people have more free time over the holiday season, they have more time to browse online for a potential new home which boosts interest in viewings and potential sales come the new year. The "new year, new me" attitude can also boost house sales, as many people view the start of a new year as an ideal time for a fresh start. This mindset often motivates people to make significant life changes, such as moving to a new home.
The Cons
1. Weaker Market
Whilst some buyers may be more motivated, there are simply fewer of them. This means fewer viewings and a potential risk of a property lingering on the market for longer than anticipated until the market picks up.
2. Presentation Challenges
Keeping your home viewing ready during the festive season can be harder to manage. Decorations, gifts, visitors, and parties can make staging and spontaneous viewing more challenging. While Christmas decorations add warmth and charm, having decorations in your marketing photos will automatically date the property if it is still on the market in January. It is perfectly acceptable for your decorations to be up during viewings, but for the sake of longevity, it is better to remove them for your photography. Winter weather is also a factor to consider. Shorter daylight hours and less natural light can make some properties look less favourable than they would do in spring.
3. Professional Availability
Many professionals, such as solicitors, surveyors and lenders operate reduced hours around the holiday period. Some smaller law firms are known to not agree to exchange or complete a transaction after a certain date, which means that a transaction can be delayed until the near year, regardless of whether the parties to the transaction are ready, willing, and able to proceed.
Our Top Tips if you are selling at Christmas:
- If you are serious about selling, get the property on the market but be prepared for less demand as many will take a pause in their search to celebrate the festivities, or plan to start their search after Christmas.
- Decorate the property to impress potential buyers but make sure the photographs are seasonally neutral, by removing any decorations for the marketing photos.
- Expect committed buyers. For those who do venture into the market over the holidays, you are more likely to find a buyer thanks to the reduced number of homes for sale. It is a perfect time to capture serious house hunters.
