Top Tips – Selling your home at Christmas
If you’re selling your home at Christmas as the tinsel’s going up, there are some advantages to selling at this time of year. Although many agents shut down, while people are generally distracted with presents and parties, there are still options available to sell your home.
You just need to know where your advantages are in selling through an agent or to a private buyer.
1. Right agent
A good agent will communicate with you often, give honest feedback from each viewing and be proactive in their approach, which is essential for a speedy sale. Agents that can offer marketing and advertising or access to investor contacts will be able to increase exposure through those avenues, therefore chance of a sale. Private investors can ensure a sale in a time to suit you without agents fees…
2. Realistically Pricing
Un-realistic pricing puts buyers off, but if a competitive price is set you are likely to get buyers competing which often results in offers above the asking price.
3. Tidy-up
If selling on the open market it’s advisable to touch up paintwork and de-clutter. Move around furniture to define spaces and function in open-planned areas and in small rooms to make more light are airy. If selling to a private investor these updates may not be necessary.
4. Paperwork
Make sure you include a fittings and fixtures list, the energy performance certificate which is legally required, and details of anything you are not including in the sale. If you’re not selling on the open market, that is selling to a private buyer, then an EPC isn’t required as part of the sale.
5. Timeframe
This time of year can be a good time to sell as those searching at this time of year are typically more serious about the house hunt. They may include families relocating for job changes and those who’ve recently sold and are urgently on the lookout for a new home. You may have fewer viewings, but they will probably be more genuine.
6. Christmas Decorations
For open market sales you should avoid going too many decorations as it’s likely to detract from the house itself. A Christmas tree and subtle festive decorations are fine. This is not an issue for private buyers such as us.
7. Solicitor
Selecting the wrong solicitor for an open market sale, who is slow can frustrate both buyer and seller and could even scupper a sale. With a private buyer we can recommend a fast efficient solicitor or you can select your own…
8. Less Competition
With many sellers deterred from putting their house on the market so close to Christmas, there can be less competition. An accommodating vendor, who allows for viewings at irregular hours for example, could help clinch a sale. Not so important with a private buyer, we tend to view when it suits you…
9. Target market
A good agent will consult with you about your target market. If you are attracting interest from young families for example, it may be worth turning a study into a bedroom so they can see the value of the space. Again this is unnecessary if your are dealing with a private buyer…
10. Moving day
Generally a quick sale often mean exchange of contracts in the same week or even the same day. Again we can exchange and complete in a time frame to suit you, so no pressure with arranging a removals firm etc…
If you would like further information on how you can achieve a private property sale contact us