Should I leave my property on the market this winter in Harborne?

Should I keep my property on the market this winter in Harborne?

We are coming to the end of another crazy year, and although you have already made the decision to move, you might be thinking, do I really need the hassle over the next few weeks? 

You may be disheartened having not sold so far?!

With Christmas plans in full swing after the lack of festive activities with last year’s lockdown, it is no surprise that I am being asked by sellers: “should I keep my property on the market this winter?”

Let’s get straight to the point, the answer is 100% YES! Don’t wait to freshen up the marketing this November and December in what is a key selling time….

Why?

Here are the facts

38% of properties marketed in Harborne currently are unsold. A higher proportion than neighbouring areas and in a heated market a surprising figure. Winter has bucked seasonal trends over most recent years though as Rightmove statistics show 150 million (yes million) visits to their portal in January 2021.

Even previous years stats that show in the period between Boxing Day 2019 and New Year’s Eve, there was a 231% increase of property views on their website!  The number of views in that period rose from 10 million to around 30 million.

So whilst we were overdosing on turkey, watching a Christmas special, and enjoying new gifts, we were also on our phones and other devices looking at properties on the market in the local area.

It may be hard to imagine, but every year Rightmove declare this to be one of, if not the, busiest days of the year for property views on their website.

Indeed recording breaking days year on year are reported since for January in 2020 and 2021 with the record 5.7 million visits on Rightmove on 29^th January 2020, up 9% on the previous record set back on 24^th April 2019. 

What does that mean?

It may seem logical and less stressful to take your home off the market, but before you rush into taking the ‘For Sale’ sign down, think about why you’re selling.  You have made the decision to move – lockdown may have given you time to reassess what you want out of a home, or maybe the time just felt right.  With that in mind, what you really want for Christmas is a buyer ­– but how can a buyer find you if your home isn’t being marketed?

Why would you want to miss out on the busiest time of year, your home being viewed by millions – yours could be their Ferrero Rocher amongst a tray of treats.  If your home isn’t seen to be available, buyers won’t know to wait until you list it again in the Spring, they will be viewing other properties, eager to get a virtual or physical viewing before anyone else so they can quickly and happily secure their new home as soon as possible and have themselves a merry little Christmas.

This is an ideal time to ensure a final push of the property, and whilst I hear “its ok I am not pushing the sale as I haven’t found anywhere to move to” there will be new properties come available for you, with the new year new home rush.

Maybe your current agent haven’t pushed it, that’s more the worry, surely. Before you decorate the house in December with tinsel you may want to consider saving an hour in November for new photos, video tour and measure up from a new agent, who shares your same motivation to sell your property and create maximum exposure to find you potential buyers.

Last Christmas

As this will hopefully be your last Christmas in your new home, you want it to be a special one, and we want to ensure that any precious time within family whilst not being disturbed. Should you not wish to have any physical viewings, we can ensure that any potential buyer has the opportunity to attend a virtual viewing instead. One of the best ways to do this is to conduct a live stream from your home; this means that many potential buyers can view your property at the same time.  They will still have the ability to ask questions, revisit rooms, and experience everything they would normally, but without physically being there.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

Selling you home pre or post Christmas should be a reason for cheer; let us do the hard work, so you can celebrate 2022 in your new Harborne home.

Let’s get your Christmas selling strategy together, call me 0121 5170251.

Andy McHugo.