Would you sell now or wait till Spring?

[Hummingbirdtree]

We want to sell and move across the country.
EA has advised that it’s a family home so most buyers will be looking to buy in the Spring to fit in with new school term.

I would quite like to be in a position to offer on houses in the Spring but that would mean having the house on the market for months probably over the winter or having to go into rental. I’m so tired of living here and just want to move.
We are on holiday till last week in September so would list in October .
Advice needed.

@Nomorethan3
oh yes, just noticed that I missed the comma, you are right .

We…. Including children? Have they had to change school?

Not in my case.

Is it the money that drives you?

surely if you’ve made 16 moves and stayed for 2 years in each one… it means you’ve never really loved and settled?

I see, thanks. I didn't realise that agents charge for all additional services as well as a % commission. Hopefully the percentages are smaller. Is the market not moving well in your part of Scotland? Has there been a general down turn or do you really believe the agents that this is a seasonal thing?

Same here - we've only ever bought 'project' houses that have been lingering on the market as no-one else would touch them.

One such was let out as several flats/bedsits that had fallen into a hideous state as the owners had emigrated to the US/given up caring. We converted it back to a single dwelling and made a profit of over 450k - after SDLT/moving costs - when we sold.

We've owned our houses for between one and ten years. One child, now an adult and on his own renovation journey (he/partner/young DCs are on their third property having bought their first aged twenty-one, immediately after graduation thanks to inheritances).

I love property and the bringing of a wreck up to a livable standard. I do a lot of the work myself so enjoy the practical and physical side of the work. It's all a creative process. I love every house whilst I'm in it I always live in the property whilst I do it and the current one has been a two year project.

The properties have always been total dumps, the ones that languish on the market for months if not years and nobody else wants. I buy often at auction and pay a price that means I can make a bit of money but builders wouldn't find it worthwhile.

The money has been good. I don't buy to rent, I always sell. I reinvest and it's enabled me to have a roof over my head and get mortgage free quicker than if I'd stayed in one house.

I suppose to answer your question - no, I'm not a settler. I like the variety and challenge.

There has been a downturn . Obviously people sell all year round but Spring is definitely much more active. I was just advised that if I was looking for the best price that would be the time to market it. The garden doesn’t look great past July really either.

Are you me @SeaAndStars ?!? 😁

@Nomorethan3 We've also always lived in the houses/mostly DIYing the renovations and have never done them up to rent out. In fact, we haven't often intended to sell when finished, it's just that another enticing wreck has appeared so off we go again.

I think we'll only do this one (one year in, here) and maybe one more though, as I'm getting tired of building site living now!

OH and I (both have design backgrounds) say we're 'saving' the house in question and feel we're breathing life back into an unloved property. It's incredibly rewarding...and not just - or even always in our case - financially!

I think I might be you @LibertyLily . It's a great thing to do isn't it?

We should do a collaboration. I'm a gardener by trade so I'm happy to take the landscaping side of things.

Tricky decision. My personal opinion, which I have explained on here enough times to bore people, is that the housing market will continue to worsen. Most people seem to think that lower interest rates will cause the opposite to happen but I think the cuts will simply signal a recession. On this basis, I would tend to say to get on with it. However, I guess it depends on what you are selling and buying and how the two areas compare. I guess, if you aren't in a hurry at all, and are upsizing, there probably wouldn't be too much difference if you wait until March now.

This year it isn’t seasonal, there’s definately been a downturn, I suppose it depends on area by how much.
I’ve noticed alot of houses going on since last Monday, esp ones £500K plus.
I’d get it on OP it’s the pre Christmas rush.

I put my house up for sale last week.

I am back on the market after a break in the chain after 6 months - selling a family house. I have had interest and viewings since the conveyancing process typically takes the best part of 4 months, I would get the house on the market. If I sell within next couple of weeks - really can't see moving before the NY. I am managing my expectations this time around as having experienced how slow the process is and how frustrating it is - it takes a lot out of you.

We don’t want to move until after Xmas and if we have to move in Jan it will be hard to find an onward purchase. We are moving some distance

Friends of ours were planning to sell and downsize now their kids have grown up. With all the talk of CGT on primary residences above a certain threshold, they've decided to stay put as doubted they'd get a sale and a purchase through by the Budget. So if that rumour becomes true it could put the brakes on the top end of the market which will have a ripple effect. The people that rule us are morons ! Get out of the way and let people buy and sell their houses and the economy will get a boost

God yes, that will scupper the housing market for sure.

I'm in a similar boat but have decided to spend the autumn and winter decluttering and getting organised, and doing little jobs around the house, then get a valuation mid February and go from
there.

I'm potentially going to need to fit around term times for work reasons.

Put ours on market on dec 27th, sold in 2 days, sought after area with good schools etc, went to sealed bids even....got 840k, wouldnt get that price now. if the house and price is good then it will sell at any time of the year. most views on rightmove is actually boxing day !.

I mean surely the thing to do is try and then if it doesn't go well you can relist next year? We listed at various times throughout the year, January twice, March/April and September and found buyers each time.

If all 3 EAs said to wait until the Spring (which is not something EAs in England would say) then it suggests they know the market in your part of Scotland better than we do ... I would take their advice & list in early Spring.

A family member agreed a sale on their flat in December one year and offered on a 4 bedroom family home in December too. They had a young baby. People are always looking to move all year round. Put it on the market now.

Hope you sold your house....just put ours on before Christmas...only 2 viewings.
Both obviously hadn't looked at the floor plans 🙄. Desperate to move north