Is January a good time to sell?
In the UK, the busiest time of year in the property market used to be spring-time. January and winter were quiet periods but this is no longer the case. The high level of demand for property and the emergence of online property portals have helped to create a year round demand for property in the UK. The volume of potential buyers looking at homes over the festive period, dubbed “The Boxing Day Bounce” suggests that this is an important time of year in the property market, there were over 127 million visits on rightmove website last January so YES JANUARY IS A GOOD TIME TO SELL.
It is possible to sell your home in winter but it is important that you make a good impression. The tips that are provided all year round are still relevant in winter, so use these as your starting point but when it comes to making a positive impression in winter, there are other things you need to consider.
Price competitively
While the winter property market is busier than it has been in previous years, this isn’t a time to inflate prices and hope for a keen buyer. This is a time of year when you should look to be realistic. By all means charge a fair price for your house, and have it valued, but if you offer an inflated price, you will find that savvy buyers will overlook your property.
Appeal to savvy First time buyers
Having all the change in law, more stamp duties to pay on second house, new landlord taxation; pushed out the investors and open the door to first time buyers. BUT – first time buyers have no experience in renovations or refurbishment and most of them fear the work because simply they do not know how much would cost them to do-up the house, what they need to do, what are the hidden issues that they might have to deal with.
At this time of year, there are a number of challenges that your home has to face. In the summer when the temperature is high and the sunlight is an almost permanent feature, homes look and feel good. This is why many first time buyers would rather view a home in winter than in summer, because the flaws are more apparent.
If your home is in great condition in winter, it is likely to be in fantastic condition all year round. Therefore, if your home appeals to savvy buyers at this time of year, they will be confident in its capabilities and more likely to make an offer.
First time buyers are looking to get a house that will make the impression on them and is ready to move in straightaway. So make sure you do necessary improvements before you put the house on the market.
Offer a range of images
Photos taken by phone or bad camera whereas poorly lit, wonky pictures are off-putting and do not work! You want to create a great first impression, you want to have your house stand out from the others correct? Why would you in that case take a bad photos?
You only have a brief amount of time to grab people’s attention on online property portals and images have a massive role to play. If you can offer a seasonal flourish, you might grab attention but from my experience best results will be achieved with neutral photos. I have seen properties advertised in summer with Christmas Tree, or I have seen properties advertised in winter with an inflatable pool in the garden, what message do you think is given out this way? You are telling people that your property is on the market for at least half of the year, this might put off the potential buyer, and this might make them think something is wrong with the house.
A good photos of a property will catch the eye of buyers and make them to book the viewing.
Create a path
If there is snow, wind or rain, you may find that the standard pathway into your home is blocked or covered in debris. Before you welcome visitors, be sure to clear a path and make sure that people can get into your home safely.
Set up a clean area by the door
One challenge you face when presenting a property in winter is that your home is likelier to be dirtier. Bad weather conditions can be traipsed indoors via mud, puddles and snow, sleet or hail falling off of your clothes.
Placing a rubber mat down by the door and setting up an area or stand where coats, hats, gloves, scarves, umbrellas, shoes and anything else which may be damp, cold or messy can be placed will help to keep your house clean while ensuring guests can relax when stepping into your home.
Another tip to remember is that homes look better in the daylight so if you can, arrange daytime viewings. Offering weekend daytime viewings would be preferable and if you can arrange an open viewing, this may help to encourage people to make an offer. After all, if you have a few interested parties in attendance, the thought that someone else may come in and make an offer could be the spur for someone to take action!
These tips will help you to prepare your home as best as you can for a winter sale. It is understandable that many homeowners have concerns about trying to sell their home in winter but there are positive reasons to do so. The fact that there are many interested buyers taking action at this time of year, there is a genuine opportunity for good homes to attract attention and be in great demand.
