With the looming uncertainty of Brexit, it’s hard to predict what will happen to the housing market, but in general, there doesn’t seem to be a handy guide which tells you exactly when to sell your home. If you’re contemplating selling your property, then it’s good to know when the right time is to get it on the market to potential buyers. Here are some tips to help you make a decision on whether now is the right time for you.
Factor In The Season
Yes, surprisingly the seasons play a part in the sale of your home. Spring comes out on top because it’s likely to be the lesser of busy points in the year, so there will be more free time to property hunt. Not only that but Spring is the time of the year where most gardens are in bloom so if you’ve taken care in your outdoor appearance, this season is certainly one to take advantage of. Winter and Summer are both particularly bad months for selling. Potential buyers will either be warming their bodies under mountains of throws with hot chocolate in hand or taking advantage of any sunshine with something a little stronger than a hot beverage.
Autumn is a close contender with Spring as the weather is still mild enough and it’s not quite hit the period of intense chaos that is Christmas. So when it comes to selling your property, think about where you are in the year currently and whether it’s worth maybe hanging on for a few more months before putting it up for sale.
You Can Afford To Move
Moving is expensive, and it only gets more costly, the more contents you have in your home. It’s horrifying just how much we hoard, and that alone can be the difference between the type of transport you need to move your whole life from one place to the other. Selling your property and securing a new one also costs money through legal costs that are necessary in order to make it happen. This can often be a big expense and one that’s not always going to be feasible depending on what’s happening in life at that moment. Even if the market is at the peak opportunity, you might not be ready to financially move, so always consider the funds available.
Pay Attention To Your Neighbours
If there was ever a time to be a nosy neighbour, then selling your property is the perfect excuse. It’s always good to pay attention to the surrounding area that you live in whether that’s driving or taking a stroll through your local town or roaming the online pages of Rightmove. Look at what’s on the market currently and see if there are currently any properties that are similar to your own. Think about the condition of it and how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has. Then keep an eye on it by bookmarking it and timing how long it takes before it sells. Make note of the prices and then eventually when you decide to sell, you have a rough figure of what you’d like to sell it for when talking to your estate agent. The estate agent is likely to give the best price, but it’s always worth throwing in your two cents to make sure the price it goes on for is financially beneficial to you.
Check sold house prices regularly too as this can give you a good indication of what your area’s price range is in general.
You’ve Outgrown Your Home
Perhaps it’s not all about the money, but instead, you’ve simply outgrown your home. Whether you need to downsize after the kids have flown the nest or need a bigger home for those little ones who haven’t arrived yet. There’s a lot of reasons that contribute to outgrowing your surroundings. Your local area might not be offering all that you need either. If you live in the city, the lack of greenery may be sparse and that for some can end up being too much after a while. Every village, town and city is different too, and you may find that this quiet neighbourhood you loved for so long has now become stale and boring. Your preferences change throughout your life so even though it might not be the ideal time financially, your current lifestyle might be the deciding factor in putting it on the market.
If you do decide to move then using van companies in Lincoln UK is a great way to save you time and money.
Home Improvements Have Been Completed
Any home could do with some minor or major home improvements, and from a buyer’s perspective, unless it appeals to those for a love of DIY, some may not like the idea of having broken or old appliances, fixtures and fixings in a property that they’ll have to end up fixing. If you’re planning ahead and want to sell up in a few years, take your time with home improvements and prioritise certain fixes above others. You may want to leave certain things for closer to the time if it’s something you use on a daily basis and is prone to general wear and tear. If you want to sell soon, then do what you can with the time you have and never underestimate the smaller things. A fresh lick of paint on the walls for example or cutting the grass in your garden. They may be cheap and easy fixes, but they can really contribute to the buyer’s thoughts on whether to say yes or no.
So with all this in mind, perhaps right now is a good time to sell or maybe you want to hold on for a few more months before putting your property on the market. Remember that it’s a seller’s market and you hold a lot of power so don’t rush into decisions lightly and don’t jump at the first offer you have, especially if it’s well below your asking price. It’s all about biding your time and waiting for the right one to bite. Slow and steady wins the race.