Buying and Selling a House in December

Conventional wisdom says buying or selling a house at Christmas time is impossible as vendors and buyers are too busy with their Christmas preparations. While the festive/holiday period is a quiet time in the property market in Wimbledon, Putney and Mayfair and buying or selling a house in December is not impossible, with some great deals to pick up if you can move quickly. 

Here’s how to buy a house or sell your home over the Christmas period. 

Will my house sell in December? 

You may be thinking, ‘do houses sell in December?’ or ‘do people buy houses in December?’ With celebrations to plan and shopping to do, you may not consider winter a good time to list your property. But selling a house around Christmas can hold advantages. 

Pros & cons of selling a house in December

Christmas can still be an excellent time to sell your property. There are a few reasons why we think selling a house in December could be a good idea. 

Pros 

• Genuine buyers – You may assume it’s hard to sell a house in December, but home buyers at this time of year are typically more serious about finding a home – e.g. those who’ve recently sold and are urgently on the lookout for a new property. 

• Less competition – Steal the limelight while other sellers have stepped back assuming Christmas is a bad time to sell a house. 

• Home staging – You are not just selling a home; you are marketing a lifestyle choice. What better time of year to promote your property as a perfect family home than Christmas? 

• Boxing Day boom – With time off during the holiday period, people are browsing homes for sale on the internet and scheduling viewings. 

Cons 

• Fewer buyers – People may wait until the Christmas festivities are over, so expect fewer viewings than in the spring and summer months  

• Wintry weather – Making your house appealing during shorter, greyer days can take more effort. Equally, the house may not look as good in the gloom!

Pros & cons of buying a house in December 

If you’re open to buying a house at Christmas time, there are potential advantages. 

Pros 

• Room to negotiate – Motivated sellers may be more willing to negotiate in order to get the sale out of the way. 

• Fewer buyers – Benefit from less competition for your dream home, unlike in the spring where thousands of buyers start perusing the market.

• Avoid the rush – Buy a house at Christmas time and you could be settling into your new home while other buyers are just starting their search. 

• Avoid being influenced by weather – You will get a realistic impression of the property at a time of year when it looks the most drab – and probably can’t be made to appear better than it really is.

Cons 

• Fewer options – As many people avoid selling a house at Christmas, there are fewer homes to choose from. 

• Organisation is crucial – You will need to make time between Christmas preparations, and consider the hours of estate agents, solicitors, mortgage advisors and others during this period. 

Guide for sellers 

What could be more welcoming than stepping out of the cold into a warm house? This is one of the reasons why winter is an easy time to make your home appealing to buyers. Here are a few tips for selling your home fast at Christmas time. 

1 Take marketing photos before putting up Christmas decorations 

Instruct your estate agent well in advance of the holidays and have them take the marketing photos before putting up your Christmas decorations. That way, you avoid your photos looking dated if your house is still on the market in the new year. 

2 List on all the major property portals 

According to Rightmove and Zoopla, house searches double over Christmas, with Boxing Day being the most popular day for online house hunting. Make sure your home is listed on all the major portals and that the advert shows your home in the best possible light. 

3 Christmas home staging tips 

All the usual home staging tips apply whatever time of year you put your home on the market. Find ten ways to make the best first impression in our article on ‘How to Boost Your Home’s Kerb Appeal’ blog article. 

If you are listing your home during the winter months, we recommend that you: 

• Keep Christmas decorations tasteful and subtle. While Christmas decorations make winter purchasers feel jolly, too many can detract from the house itself. A Christmas tree and some elegant festive decorations are fine – just don’t go overboard. 

• Make your home feel as warm and cosy as possible by putting fires on and turning on lights. 

• Consider adding some outside lighting. 

4 Arrange viewings in the daytime 

If possible, try to arrange viewings during daylight hours so that your potential buyers get to see your property at its best. This is especially important if you have a large garden as it will be difficult to explore outside space in the dark. 

5 Be ready to move quickly 

Although there are often fewer buyers house-hunting during the winter months, the active ones tend to be serious and committed to moving quickly. You are more likely to secure a quick sale for the best possible price if you are motivated to move. 

6 Choose the right estate agent 

Always choose the right estate agent for your circumstances. Good agents will have in-depth local knowledge to provide you with expert advice and be in close contact with you throughout the process, therefore, making the experience as stress-free as possible. 

A good tip is to look at online reviews and speak to the agents to see how their initial interaction with you is. 

Estate agents that are local to you have invaluable knowledge of the local area. This will help you to price your property at the correct market rate and reduce the chance of your house not getting many viewings or being downvalued. 

7 Realistic asking price 

Whilst prospective buyers around Christmas are generally looking to move more quickly, the asking price for your property should be realistic and not too high. 

Having a good estate agent on board who you trust, who knows the local market conditions and who can advise you on the appropriate asking price is key to achieving the right sale price. 

It’s worth getting a valuation from at least three estate agents and picking a middle ground. You should be wary of high valuations as some agents will overvalue your property to win your interest. 

8 Be patient 

Christmas and the festive season as a whole can still be good times to sell your house because prospective buyers are usually more serious at this time of the year. 

Whilst you may have less interest and fewer viewings, if you are patient, then you may find certain keen buyers e.g. families relocating for a specific job, who are more serious about an urgent move. 

Guide for buyers 

Buyers, here is some good information so that you are ready for buying a house over Christmas. 

1 Be prepared 

Before you start house searching, get a mortgage agreed in principle and find a conveyancer. People selling during the festive season generally want to move faster, and favour offers from buyers committed to doing the same. 

2 Negotiate with confidence 

Because many people postpone their house-hunting until the new year, sellers receive fewer property viewings than at other times of the year. With less competition, there is a better chance that you will find your dream home and put an offer in before someone else does. You are also in an excellent position to negotiate on price. 

3 Be flexible 

Naturally, sellers will have plans over the festive period, so be prepared to work around each other’s schedules. 

4 Avoid rushing 

Don’t buy a house without scrutinising it, just because it’s a good deal or you’re rushing to secure a home before Christmas. 

Contact Robert Holmes to discuss selling a house in November and December. We can help you to buy or sell a home in Wimbledon Village, Raynes Park, Battersea or Clapham no matter the season.