A recent article from the HomeOwners Alliance suggests that there is still just about time to have listed, sold and moved home before Christmas. With lots of focus on the Brexit deadline of 31st October, you may be wiser to list before this date rather than delay if you want a new family pad in time for Christmas.
Their research goes on further to suggest that the average duration of home sales over the past four years is 61 days, so counting back from Christmas gives a date of Monday 21st October.
5 top tips on how to sell your house by Christmas:
Choose a good estate agent
Whether it be a local agent or a nationwide online agent, do your research and be sure to check reviews. Ask family and friends who have recently moved for their experience and recommendations. Some estate agents will offer an upfront payment to save you commission, whereas it may be that you want the expert knowledge of a local agent so a higher commission payment upon completion of your sale might be more attractive to you.
Be realistic with your sale price
Let’s be honest, we all want to get the maximum value from our much loved home – after all, you’ve probably been there for years, spent countless weekends decorating, replaced a tired old kitchen, added new windows…and you want to see a return for that. But be careful not to get too hung up on the value you put on your own home – take advice from local sources and your estate agent to be sure that a high asking price doesn’t leave your home on the market for too long.
Dress your house for sale
Think about kerb appeal. That first photo of the front of your home will be the initial grab for a prospective buyer – so it may be worth giving your front door a lick of paint – even a white UPVC door can handle a coat of specialist chalk paint to jazz it up.
Clutter and general tidiness will also make a world of difference. Property guru Sarah Beeny’s pet peeve was always un-fluffed cushions – so be sure to go to the detail of fluffing, shaking and carefully placing all sofa pads and cushions! Check out our handy guide on how to prepare your home for market for more tips.
Choose your conveyancer or solicitor
You’ll be overwhelmed by recommendations of who to choose (or even who to avoid!) from your family, friends and colleagues. Their experiences may have had specific circumstances, so be sure to choose your own conveyancer based on your own needs and circumstances. Check reviews online through independent sites such as TrustPilot. Bear in mind that online conveyancers like My Home Move Conveyancing are experts in the legal side of moving home as they specialise in conveyancing, without spending time on other legal cases such as employment law, marital law etc.
Be careful not to be duped by a lower price at the beginning too – make sure the fee includes all the extras you might need to pay, otherwise you may be faced with a higher bill than you anticipated. My Home Move Conveyancing also offer a No Move, No Fee promise – so if for any reason your sale or purchase falls through, there are no legal fees to pay.
Need guidance?
Our friendly team of quote advisers are available to talk you through the legal process of selling your home based on your own unique circumstances. They can give guidance and put together a personalised quote that includes all the fees you would need to consider. You can get an instant indicative quote and they will follow up with you, or call them directly on 0333 234 4425.
