Timing is everything when it comes to selling or letting your property and understanding the fast and slow periods of the year can make all the difference. To help you get prepared, we discuss the best times of the year to sell or let your property.
January – March
When it comes to selling a property, the colder temperatures during winter require you to be a little more strategic about when you put your home onto the market. Avoid listing on the run up to Christmas, as attention is still on the holidays and funds are largely directed towards the festivities. January is a good time to start preparing your home for sale, as Christmas is in the rear view and people start looking towards the year ahead.
You can also apply this principle to letting a property, with February and March usually being two of the busiest periods for searches and enquiries. Professionals are looking for a new start and potentially a new place to live, so it is a good idea to have a property ready to capture this market.
April – June
Spring is typically one of the best times to sell your house. That’s because it’s a period where people are getting on with their day-to-day lives and aren’t preoccupied with thinking about a summer holiday yet. Another major plus is that the sun is out more regularly, which does wonders for people’s moods and for property presentation.
There will be more natural light, which is good for the interior of the property and the days are longer, which makes it easier for potential buyers to book viewings after work, rather than heading straight home in the dark during the winter. Bank Holidays during this period work well for both selling and letting, giving people more time to book viewings and even plan a move, if they have agreed a deal.
July – September
While the sun is out for longer and temperatures are higher, summer is not traditionally the best time to sell a home. If you are targeting families, you should bear in mind that they could be busy with their children during the holidays or they may have booked a trip abroad. Summer officially kicks in on June 22nd, making July and August peak summertime, so the market tends to slow down during these months.
The rental market tends to reach its peak during July and August as students scramble to secure rooms, flats and house shares in time for the new university year. If you have everything in place during this period and students fit your tenant profile, then the process should be straightforward.
October – December
The autumn months on the lead up to the end of the year can still be a good time to put your home on the market. Temperatures are relatively mild, and the sun hasn’t disappeared completely. The bonus is that kids are back at school and there are no major holidays to factor into your planning. It’s probably better to focus on the early part of this period, as things do tend to slow down as November develops and thoughts turn to Christmas.
This is also true of the rental market, as the prospect of starting afresh at the end of the year is not often on most people’s agenda if they can avoid it. The clocks go back at the end of October, making the day shorter and a little less enticing for people to book viewings after work.
Maximise the value of your property
Whether you are selling your home or letting a property in Borough, London Bridge or Shad Thames, Hastings International can guide you through the entire process step by step. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.
