When do houses start coming on the market then?

[Mendi]

Is it quiet now till the new year? I've been looking to buy since the start of this year and, while there was a steady flow of new houses coming on between Jan-May, since then it's really died back and there is almost nothing. I thought it was just the effect of summer holidays but am now wondering if it will stay like this till after Christmas, as who wants to move around Christmas?

Thoughts? Is there a "season" for selling houses?

[MobileKeysPurse]

I think there is a bit of a surge September to October, then it calms down again until January with a peak around Spring.

[Flossiechops]

Well from a sellers point of view I think a lot of people will now wait until spring time. This is exactly what we are doing. We are ready to go on the market but I've kept a very close eye on the market and houses round here are not going under offer as quickly as they were through the spring/summer. We are debating whether to do it earlier ie the end of Jan/Feb but then the issue with that is the gardens do not look as good as they do in the spring and we are quite overlooked from the back in the winter.

[Mendi]

Hoping for a Sept/Oct surge then...

Flossiechops unless you are in an area where houses sell really quickly, I'd say put it on in Jan. I put my house on at start of April last year and feel I missed the spring rush. It was very slow and in the end I ended up renting it out instead. I think if I'd put it on in Jan/Feb I would have had more interest. Tbh I don't think a garden in flower sells a property particularly - I think it's the house itself, location etc.

[Flossiechops]

Thanks mendi. We have a tie in on our mortgage and can't complete until the end of Jan which is why we have held off. It's interesting what you say about the garden, I have taken some photos of it in full bloom at the height of the summer so at least buyers can see it at its best. One of the houses most outstanding features is the drive (over 150ft) and it looks so much better in the summer months but I take on board that it may not put buyers off. Just got a few months then to finish off jobs that we have put off for ages!

We aren't in London but the market here has been pretty buoyant but not crazy so iyswim. We are lucky to live well within the catchment for the dc school which has been very over subscribed the past couple of years and I'm hoping this may help with a swift sale. I feel stressed already and it's not even on the market yet!

[bimbabirba]

It really depends where you live. In my area, it's mid-May up until mid July for selling. I would not put on my house on the market outside these months.