7th December 2017
Rightmove sees around 500,000 visits on Christmas Day and a further 1.3 million on Boxing Day.
These stats could come as a surprise, as many estate agents advise against selling over winter. However, there are both pros and cons to buying and selling your property over the festive season.
Pros | Cons |
There aren’t as many buyers looking. This means you’ll have the pick of the bunch, and you won’t have to worry about competitors as much.
As it’s the festive season, you’ll potentially have some extra time off work which means more time for sorting out paperwork and house viewings.
Sellers who have properties up over Christmas are probably quite keen to sell, as they’ve committed to doing it at a busy time of year.
| There might be fewer people selling, and a limited selection of properties for you to choose from.
Estate agents, lawyers and solicitors might be taking extra holiday time. It could take longer for your sale to go through.
Christmas can be a busy time of year, full of visits to loved ones and festive days out. This might make it more difficult to secure viewings at properties you’ve got your eye on.
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Selling over the holidays
Pros | Cons |
With fewer houses on the market, the competition will be reduced. A trusted local estate agent will have a good knowledge of the market in that area, and be able to advise.
People buying over Christmas are usually quite serious and committed, which could lead to a much quicker sale.
Serious Christmas period buyers could not only lead to a quicker sale, but a better price - especially if they want to be in their new home by the new year.
| It may be inconvenient to have people viewing your home over the festive season when you have family or friends visiting.
Some buyers might be taking time off work to relax and spend time with loved ones, rather than focusing on finding a new property.
Consider planning ahead and book a professional photographer with your estate agent just before your Christmas decorations go up. After this, all that’s left to do is enjoy the festivities.
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As you can see, there are both benefits and downsides to a December and January sale. However, if you're looking for a Christmas or New Year’s Eve sale, there's no reason why you can't make it a success with the right estate agent. With offices in key locations around Brighton and Hove, we can offer expert advice on buying and selling during the festive season.
If you’re interested in finding out more, contact Maslen Estate Agents today.
