Should I take my house off the market in December?

Our research shows that if you hadn’t sold your home by the end of October, you’re unlikely to sell before Christmas. But that isn’t everyone’s main concern. If your house is already on the market, you might though be wondering if you should just take down the For Sale sign for the Christmas period. Is selling a house in December a good idea? Or should you call it quits, take your house off the market and start again in the New Year? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

The case for staying on the market in December

1. Do houses sell in December?

Yes! You might not get the same volumes of interest that you would at other times of year like the Spring. But arguably anyone who has time to go house hunting in December is going to be a more committed and motivated buyer. Serious buyers may see the festive period as the perfect time to look, while their competition are off wrapping presents.

2. The Boxing Day boom

Yes it’s a thing. Every year Rightmove sees more and more people searching their site straight after Christmas. Moving house or buying a first home becomes more pressing as people set their sights on the year ahead and make plans. In fact there were more than 51 million visits to Rightmove between Boxing Day and the first working day of the New Year. So it’s a great time to be seen by potential home buyers.

3. Reaching new potential buyers

The Christmas holidays see relatives and friends visiting unfamiliar parts of the country which gives an opportunity for prospective purchasers to check possible moves away from their present area. So by taking your house off the market you risk missing out when visitors start checking out the local area.

4. Do Not Disturb

If you don’t want the disruption of viewings over Christmas, there might be a middle ground. Why not keep your property on the market but ask the estate agent to operate a ‘Do Not Disturb’ policy, so you can get on with enjoying the festivities knowing viewings are being booked in for the New Year?

Selling your house in December: the cons

If you’re selling your house in December there are some things to beware of….

1. You’ll need to be extra organised

It’s not just you who is getting ready for Christmas. Other people you’ll rely on to help you with your sale will be too. So if you’re selling your house in December, make sure you find your conveyancer early. And find out if they’re planning to close over Christmas and for how long. Also, if you’re planning to buy a house as well, speak to a mortgage broker as soon as possible so you can explore your options and set the ball rolling.

2. Make the bad weather work for you

If you’re selling a house in December, bear in mind your home won’t necessarily look at its best on a cold and wet winter’s day compared to on a brighter day. So try to use the colder weather to your advantage by making your home feel cosy and warm. Also try to arrange any viewings in daylight so potential buyers can see the property and the garden properly.

Is December a good time to buy a house?

We’ve looked at the question of selling a house in December from a seller’s point of view but is December a good time to buy a house? There are lots of reasons why it might be right for you. There are likely to be fewer buyers around so you’ll have less competition and you may find it easier to negotiate a lower price too. For more information, read our article Is now a good time to buy a house?

Should you decorate for Christmas when selling your home?

In an ideal world, you’d get your professional photos organised through the estate agent before you put any decorations up.

That’s because your house is likely to still be on the market into the New Year. The photos will quickly look dated and may put some buyers off.

It’s also a rule of thumb that your home should be clutter free and clean to make it look more spacious in the marketing photos. Christmas decorations, no matter how tasteful, won’t help.

Christmas decorations are also a very personal thing. Most buyers want to be able to visualise themselves in your home, which becomes more difficult if you have the Christmas decorations up.

What are your plans this December? Tell us how you’re handling your house move in the comments below

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Angela Kerr Director, Editor

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