It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and as the cold sets in, the property market goes into complete shutdown.At least that was what I was told by a nice young couple I got chatting to at the Manchester Christmas Markets last weekend who are considering putting their three bedroom terrace in Bredbury up for sale in order to upsize. They heard the myths that nothing happens over the holidays, and were planning on waiting until the New Year to start the ball rolling.
But the reality is that the housing market is still incredibly active at this time of year because of a number of unique advantages that the winter months bring:
Buyers don’t simply fly south for the winter!
With dark nights rolling in and people having more time off during the holidays, both Rightmove and the Edward Mellor website experience a massive spike in web traffic from buyers searching for new properties from the comfort of their home.
It’s cold. It’s wet. This means that only potential buyers who are serious and motivated about buying your property are willing to book a viewing and take the time to take a closer look.
In the winter months, buyers are definitely a case of quality over quantity.
If you are considering waiting until the New Year to put your property on the market, the odds are that many other sellers have the same idea.
Go up for sale in the January market you will be competing against hundreds of new houses in your area for buyers’ attention – which could even mean having to drop your asking price to stand out.
At this time of year, there are fewer houses available for you to compete with, meaning you’re more likely to be seen by potential buyers.
You could even negotiate a better price for your home as a result!
After explaining these reasons to the couple and handing them a business card in case they needed any further help, I was delighted to receive a text message from them earlier this week to say they have booked a valuation with Edward Mellor’s Woodley office.
