Sell in summer for a new home by Christmas

As we write this blog, the temperatures are rising to the mid 20°C, the air is filled with the scent of barbeques and sales of sunscreen are soaring. We are, however, about to break the early summer spell by mentioning the C word. Christmas.  

It may be hard to conjure up images of snowmen and Santa in June but the midpoint of the year represents a very important deadline in the property industry. Being ‘moved in time for Christmas’ is the end goal for many buyers and sellers but the process has to start much earlier than people think.  

In fact, new research by My Home Move Conveyancing has pinpointed the exact dates when sellers should aim to have their property listing live on the portals. The timing? Pretty much now!  

The deadlines were worked out using the average time it takes to sell a property across the country, and taking into account a home movers’ desire to be settled in a property before Christmas Day. Therefore, the following deadlines have been drawn up with a completion date of 11th December in mind.  

Generally, sellers hoping to have moved in before Christmas need to have their property on the market by 18th July. This date does, however, slightly vary depending on where in the country you live.  

Those in Wales hoping to put a Christmas tree up in a totally new property are under the most pressure. The research suggests Welsh sellers need a ‘for sale’ sign up and a listing live by 27th June in order to stand the best chance of meeting the 11th December deadline.  

Sellers in London and the East Midlands should be looking to instruct an estate agent in early July – the 1st and the 3rd, respectively. Those in the East and the South East can’t afford to delay their sale either, as they need to be on the market by 7th July.  

Those in The North East have a little more time to think about their sale. Still, the 1st August deadline falls right in the middle of the school holidays, so it is wise to get a property on the market earlier so no time is wasted. 

There is the least amount of sales pressure in Scotland as it is proving to be a quicker place to sell a property and complete the conveyancing. Scots should have their property on the market by 8th September for an 11th December moving date.     

If you’re reading this after the deadlines, don’t panic! With the right pricing, presentation and promotion, it is possible to exchange and complete on a new property before Christmas and outside of these deadlines.  

Start your sale this summer by contacting us and booking a valuation.