Selling your house is no easy task, and there’s a whole lot of thought that goes into doing it.
Sometimes, though, people selling their houses overlook one crucial detail: timing.
House sales are, a lot of the time, down to the time of year and the housing market and economy’s stability, yet this is forgotten by so many people selling their house.
Consequently, houses put on sale at the wrong time hang in estate agent windows for months on end, getting dusty and old while their owners grow weary and frustrated, often with the estate agents themselves.
To avoid the same-old pattern and routine, then, we thought we’d create this nifty guide on the best time to sell a house in the UK so that you’re a smarter seller than the rest.
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Best Time To Sell A UK House
First things first: are you ready?
The best time to sell a house in the UK (and anywhere, for that matter) is when you are ready to do so.
Forget the seasons and the housing market itself.
You have to be sure that everything in your house is as perfect as it possibly can be before you even consider putting it on the market.
Be sure to have all renovations done to your house before the estate agents take their photos, which includes minor bits of work like licks of paint and buying new cushions.
All of this is important when selling your house, so make sure you appreciate that when you’re planning to put your house up for sale.
Also, if you’re relying on the sale of your house to get a new one, make sure that you are actively looking for a house before and during the sale of yours.
The last thing you want is to feel pressured into finding a house because there are new people waiting to jump into yours.
Be prepared for all circumstances – especially if you plan to sell your house fast.
Seasons change
Just as the seasons change, so does the best time to sell a house market-wise.
It is just brute fact that some months are better than others for selling, and some months are just a no-go.
Figures from The Advisory show that mid-way through February to the end of June are the best time to sell your house, whereas August, December and January are the worst times.
If you want a quick sale, the figures point out March as the best month for that, and if your house is not ready to be sold in springtime, you can still work with that.
From the beginning of September and all the way through to March is still a good time to sell, though it can’t compare to the spring months.
So, let’s delve deeper into the best time to sell a house in the UK.
To begin with, the best time is definitely when there are the most amount of buyers actively looking for houses.
This is usually in the spring months as there are no large school holidays to contend with, and people aren’t preoccupied with organising Christmas and saving up for it.
The same can be said for the autumn months too, however, as there are also no large school holidays and, while Christmas is on the horizon, it’s not at the forefront of buyers’ minds just yet.
Need a fast house sale?
We can connect you with the best cash property buyers in the UK. Sell in under 30 days.
Selling a house in spring
As established already, spring is the best time to sell a house.
In terms of logistics and practicality, this is partly due to the fact that things always look different (and usually better) during these months thanks to the natural light that comes in abundance, and people’s gardens officially bursting with life as new flowers come to bloom and grass is a healthy green colour.
The natural light of spring is bright and fresh – and this comes across very clearly in photographs of houses when they’re put on the market during these months.
So, it’s important to remember that when looking at selling a house.
In terms of our top tips for selling a house in the spring months, we’d say it’s important to get the process moving before March as you want the optimum number of people to view your house. Getting your house on the market in early spring gives you that chance, so bear that in mind when it comes to completing any work on the house that you feel is necessary, or any work that needs doing.
Now, when it comes to interior design, don’t overlook it.
Interior design has a huge impact on the sale of your house, and while you may love it, sometimes a little change (or three) will make a big difference.
For spring sales, it’s best to take the themes of the season and plant them all around your house in the décor.
Pick light colours for the interior of your house, including cushions and throws for your sofas.
Pastels and whites and creams are all great colours for selling your house in spring.
If you have carpets in your living room and in bedrooms, one way of brightening up those rooms is to get the carpets deep cleaned.
Do not be ignorant of how much a deep carpet clean can do for the room, especially if your carpets are light colours. It will completely change the feel of the room, so invest in having it done, or in your own carpet cleaner.
Honest – it’s worth every penny (and soggy sock!).
Spruce things up inside of your house with some flowers and nice vases too. At the very least, this will make your house look lovely.
In coordination with the other changes to the interior design, though, your house will simply ooze class and feel ‘right’ to those who come to view it as it just fits with the season and the feel of those spring months.
Moreover, if you have a garden, you should optimise that during spring. Get in the garden and plant some flowers, buy some potted plants and get the colours going.
Spring is great for gardens, and it can be the difference between a sale and staying on the market for that bit longer.
Also, spring is a good time for you to re-paint any fences, gates and railings that have peeled or rusted during the harsh weather of the winter months.
Get those little DIY jobs done and your house will sparkle in the photos with the lovely spring sunshine.
Need a fast house sale?
We can connect you with the best cash property buyers in the UK. Sell in under 30 days.
Selling a house in autumn
Although the best time to sell a house in the UK is definitely spring, you can get a good sale in autumn too.
There is still natural light seeping in through your windows to make photographs of your house look nice and there are no major school holidays.
Be warned, though, because autumn housing markets enter a low point after October as winter sets in and Christmas very much becomes everyone’s focus.
Nobody then is looking to buy a house and spend a huge chunk of money, so if you’re selling in autumn, you’ve got to be switched on.
Selling a house in autumn means you’re going to need to be prepared for a quick sale, so ensure that you also have somewhere to live, or are at least well into your search.
Buyers in autumn will usually hope to be in their new home by Christmas, and it’s good to be able to make them that promise as it can often secure a sale, so do your best in that respect.
When it comes to presenting a house at this time of the year, there are a number of things you can do to make yours stand out from the rest.
First of all, it’s important to clear away those piles of autumn leaves in your garden, on the porch and in the street outside of your house. Get rid of them.
Then, clear those autumn leaves out of your gutters and drains as you need your house to look neat in all aspects. Nobody will come to view a house where the images of it show it to be clogged up by leaves – it’s messy, and buyers don’t want that.
Autumn house viewings are hugely important in the selling process. And luckily, there’s a whole lot you can do to make your house brilliant for viewings.
The first thing you can do is put the heating on before and during viewings to make the place feel nice and warm.
You should also turn the lights on to really make your house appear brighter, and purchase a few autumn-scented candles to make the viewers really fall in love with how your house made them feel.
Remember, the best time to sell a house in the UK is when you’re ready, and if autumn is your time, then go for it!
Time of the week
Believe it or not, the best time to sell a house in the UK also depends on the day of the week the house is put on the market.
A Which? Money investigation showed that houses listed at the beginning of the week can sell up to a month faster than those listed on a weekend.
Bear that in mind when speaking to estate agents!