Is summer really such a bad time to sell?

[CuddyMum]

We've had our property on the market for a few months - had a few viewers and a number of time wasters and still people who say they are interested once they have sold their own properties etc.

I'm wondering what the chances are of actually selling now it's the summer holidays. The houses we are interested in are still on the market too. Is summer really such a bad time to sell?

I was told on another thread, spring and Autumn are the best time.

I don't think the economic situation is helping as the lower housing ladder financial incentive ended in spring.

If you look at historical land registry data, summer is quieter than spring or autumn, but by no means dead. Estate Agents are blaming anything (weather, Olympics, summer etc) for little interest/no sales, and crossing their fingers for it picking up later in the year.

The reality I think it that selling will be very very slow for a long time to come, due to a combination of unsustainably high prices, reasonably tight lending, people being cautious in the light of all the negative economic/employment news etc.

Half the houses on my rightmove 'saved' list have been on for over twelve months, and a good chunk of those over 18 months. People that have been on that long need to realise that they need to slash their asking prices significantly to get a sale - but most seem to think that the next season/year will be better...

We're trying to buy and don't have children so summer is no different to normal for us, but nothing is coming on. I was moaning about this to one EA and she said "oh we've been advising everyone to wait until next year when they'll get more money" How they expect that to work I've no idea. It's like they think 'the market' is just something that happens to other people.

[end rant]]