Selling a flat in Zone 2/3

[IAmFourEels]

We would really like to sell our flat (London, Zone 2/3) and move to a house by April next year. Apparently the flat market is pretty slow at the moment, any idea how long flats are taking to shift?

Should we put it up for sale now, or wait a bit?

Reason for waiting is that we're expecting a salary increase in December, but maybe that's too long to wait? Also a terrible time to be buying/selling - but maybe it'll only get worse?!

Top floor 2-bed flat with a balcony, EWS1 in place, 5min walk to the tube.

The whole process from initial looking to getting keys apparently takes about a year, so I'd start now if I were you.

Our zone 2 flat has been on the market since Sept. We had one offer in that time which we accepted but which finally fell apart last year so we're back on the market again. We don't expect anything to happen until the Autumn and it to be another 6 months after that until we get to exchange.

I would get ready now and put it on in September.

If you are buying and selling, then it really doesn't matter when you do it. There is no terrible time ... any disadvantages you feel you currently face as a seller must, by simple logic alone, be an advantage for you as a buyer. And vice versa. It really is a zero sum game.

Bottom line is you are making two independent commercial transactions. They aren't linked in any way, except in your own mind. Your buyer doesn't care about your onward purchase, and the vendor of that house doesn't care about how you raise the necessary funds, so long as you are able to complete at a time convenient to them. Negotiate well and you can score a win on both deals. Get overcome by nagging fears and doubt and second guessing and you could lose on both deals. The state of the market at the time has nothing to do with it.