Would you put your house on the market now or wait until next year?

[WhereWorthing]

For various family reasons we've been slower than we wanted to be getting our house ready to market. We'd aimed for spring this year but we're only really ready now. What are the pros and cons of getting it onto the market now or waiting until the new year?

Lots of houses that have been on the market for a couple of months, suddenly went under offer just before the start of half term - so if your quick you might be lucky.

Isn’t Boxing Day the busiest day on Rightmove?

I would consider getting an agent lined up and photos done - that way you can go live whenever you want to.

We sold for full asking price within a week, last month.

Only for browsing… I think a lot of people have time off work at Christmas and may be feeling a bit jaded on Boxing Day… dreaming of a new house to host relatives or get away from them. Doesn’t mean the Rightmove hits translates into a rush of sales in January.

As well as the size of the house etc

The market has picked up a lot here (south west). We were on for 4 months and sold last week, just as we were preparing to take our house off the market over Christmas. We’ve just had an offer accepted on a house that had 3 offers and went to best and final.

I’ve seen a house online I love, which rarely happens. If we go and view it and make an offer subject to sale, is that completely not the done thing? I think my house would sell quite quickly. It’s a long way to go to view too.

They won't accept that. We tried this last month and the seller refused because they can have another viewer come along the next day who is ready to go. They got a cash buyer the following week so he made the right decision.
And after we offered on the house we got ours ready and it's up on the market, in an area wanted area, 4 viewings, 3 no's, one couple like it but aren't on the market. No one has been on the market so as a seller I know that even if the folk like it, it could be another month before they get on. It just delays everything.
If you make a decision to move, just get your house on.

I've got this dilemma too about when to put up for sale

How do you get your house "sale ready" though?

What happens if you sell and you haven't found somewhere else though? I need to sell my 3 bed for a 4 bed but affordable 4 beds are rare - how long do buyers realistically expect to wait for you? (Moving into rented isn't practical - they cost 30% more than my mortgage for a start and I have pets)

We’re waiting until the spring. Mainly because houses just don’t seem to be shifting round here at the moment.

Most people think their house will sell quickly, but the reality is often different in a stagnant market.

I doubt the EA will allow you to view this house if your own isn't even on the market yet but you can ask? May be a bit of a pointless journey though as the Seller is unlikely to accept an offer from someone not in a position to proceed.

The stress of it all is which puts me off 😂

To get our house ready for sale we’ve just done (are still doing) a lot of the niggly jobs we’d been putting off, like replacing the mouldy sealant round the shower. I repainted the hall, stairs and landing because it was really scuffed and it’s the first thing you see when you walk in the door. We’ve made sure all basic maintenance jobs are done such as clearing out the gutters and cleaning the fascias. We’ve also ruthlessly declutted, which will make the actual moving easier too.

Are you buying as well as selling? So much more to choose from in Spring.
If I was selling and not buying I would get it on now and take any reasonable offer. Prices are deflating.

@WiserOlderElf

Thanks! I think I'm on top of most of those jobs - declutter is hard with 3 young kids but I don't think any of the rooms look like a hoarders house 😂

I think I'll just refresh all the paint work come feb half term then ready to put up for sale March time

It's still ridiculously fast in our village - sold in days - so it depends where you are. Id probably go for it as it's still 2 months to Christmas.

I sold a house in 3 days, 7 viewings and got 20k over asking price. little for sale in the area and i dont think xmas etc makes any difference these days if the house and price are right for the buyer.

I would agree with this. If a house is priced right, it will sell. The problem is that a lot come to the market with very ambitious pricing and therefore don't sell.

I thought this was interesting from otta property. They monitor the market monthly using Land Registry data. The data is therefore a good 6 months out of date. He's saying that detached houses in the South have fallen particularly badly in the last year, 10% or so. Devon and Cornwall look to have seen the biggest drops. On the other hand, parts of the Midlands and North rose overall between Spring 23-24. You have to subscribe to see the details. It's cheap so may be worth it if you are thinking of selling.

https://x.com/twallin_james/status/1850909642550824964

Just musing over it all. More choose from in New Year/Spring. But increased stamp duty for all from March.

I've seen some houses in my price range and what I need in terms of bedrooms - for once the agents have said I can view without being sold myself (a complete change to 2 years ago when wasn't allowed over the threshold and usually in a queue of 60 others waiting to view)

So I'm getting mine valued on Friday and going from there

Update on this. Of the 7 viewings DD had 6 offers all £350k or over. Asking price was £325k. DD wanted a quick sale and we think EA got the price just right. The house when fully renovated and modernised would be valued at £480k but needs a lot of work.

Maybe people are happy to have bought knowing they can relax and have a final Christmas in their old house before moving in the New Year. I'd be happy to time it that way.

The stamp duty means it’s worth listing it now.

There was a LOT of money released from pensions prior to the budget, which I believe is going to be used as gifted deposits. There’s no point hanging on to your pensions now, as when you die your family will be paying 40% inheritance tax. I think the lower end of the market is going to get very busy before the stamp duty change.

‘I’m a first-time buyer – I feel rushed to buy a home before stamp duty changes’
inews.co.uk/news/first-time-buyer-stamp-duty-change-budget-3353385