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Is December a good time to market your property?
November, 2016

Is December a good time to market your property?

Traditionally, December was not considered a good time to market your property. There were many problems and issues associated with placing a home on the market at this time, and many people believed it was best to wait until spring before placing a home up for sale. This is no longer the case and there are many reasons as to why December is a good time to market your property.

However, to best understand why this change has occurred, it makes sense to look at the initial reasons why it was felt best not to market a property in December. Some of these reasons include:

·         People focused on the Christmas and New Year period

·         A lack of daylight hours

·         The miserable weather

·         People’s finances were already stretched in December

First of all, one of the most important reasons why December is a good time to market your property comes with the fact that there is a year round demand for property. Even casual observers of the property market know that there is a high level of demand and not enough supply, so any time of year will see keen buyers looking for property.

Improve the odds of selling your home

Christmas and New Year still take place on the traditional dates so it is not as if this aspect has changed. There will be some people who want to focus on the festive season and if you are trying to present a home in the best possible manner, a Christmas tree and decorations aren’t recommended. The fact that there will be people who won’t place their home on the market at this time of year, makes it an even better time for you to place your property on the market. The demand is still there so if the supply of available homes is even smaller, you will stand a better chance of selling your property. If you want to improve the odds of potential buyers finding your home, placing it on the market at a time when rival sellers don’t makes sense.

The lack of daylight hours and the miserable weather was a big issue because people would be less likely to view the property. Many people didn’t have the time to view the property in a satisfactory manner or didn’t want to leave their own home in poor weather conditions, which meant it was a difficult time to market a home.

Improved technology allows people to review your home

This is no longer the case though. For one, emerging technology provides people with the chance to get a good insight on a property. Online property portals provide a platform for endless images and video content, which allows a potential buyer the chance to see inside the home. There is also the fact that modern video message capabilities, such as Skype or Messenger, provides a chance to carry out live tours of the property or have a Q&A session. With more of an opportunity to view a home and develop an understanding for what is on offer, December is no longer as difficult a time of year to sell a home.

There is also another reason why placing your property on the market at a time when the weather is poor can be attractive. There is a group of savvy buyers who are more interested in seeing your home when the weather is at its worst because this provides a more accurate reflection of the condition of your home.

If your home looks good in winter, it looks good all year round

A home may look fantastic in spring and summer but it can be cold, damp, miserable and draughty in winter. Some buyers want to see a home during the worst possible months of the year to allow them to make a more informed decision on the suitability of a property. If your home is in fantastic condition, placing it on the market in winter is a smart move because it should stand out from homes that are in poor condition.

With respect to people’s finances, with the costs of buying a home, buyers have to be fully committed. This means that they are more likely to have the funding in place to allow them to buy a home, even allowing for the expense of the festive season.

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Improving technology and savvier buyers are big factors in why December is an important time in the property market these days but ultimately, the high level of demand for property is the key factor why there is rarely a bad time to place property on the market these days.

Is December a good time to market your property?

Traditionally, December was not considered a good time to market your property. There were many problems and issues associated with placing a home on the market at this time, and many people believed it was best to wait until spring before placing a home up for sale. This is no longer the case and there are many reasons as to why December is a good time to market your property.

However, to best understand why this change has occurred, it makes sense to look at the initial reasons why it was felt best not to market a property in December. Some of these reasons include:

·         People focused on the Christmas and New Year period

·         A lack of daylight hours

·         The miserable weather

·         People’s finances were already stretched in December

First of all, one of the most important reasons why December is a good time to market your property comes with the fact that there is a year round demand for property. Even casual observers of the property market know that there is a high level of demand and not enough supply, so any time of year will see keen buyers looking for property.

Improve the odds of selling your home

Christmas and New Year still take place on the traditional dates so it is not as if this aspect has changed. There will be some people who want to focus on the festive season and if you are trying to present a home in the best possible manner, a Christmas tree and decorations aren’t recommended. The fact that there will be people who won’t place their home on the market at this time of year, makes it an even better time for you to place your property on the market. The demand is still there so if the supply of available homes is even smaller, you will stand a better chance of selling your property. If you want to improve the odds of potential buyers finding your home, placing it on the market at a time when rival sellers don’t makes sense.

The lack of daylight hours and the miserable weather was a big issue because people would be less likely to view the property. Many people didn’t have the time to view the property in a satisfactory manner or didn’t want to leave their own home in poor weather conditions, which meant it was a difficult time to market a home.

Improved technology allows people to review your home

This is no longer the case though. For one, emerging technology provides people with the chance to get a good insight on a property. Online property portals provide a platform for endless images and video content, which allows a potential buyer the chance to see inside the home. There is also the fact that modern video message capabilities, such as Skype or Messenger, provides a chance to carry out live tours of the property or have a Q&A session. With more of an opportunity to view a home and develop an understanding for what is on offer, December is no longer as difficult a time of year to sell a home.

There is also another reason why placing your property on the market at a time when the weather is poor can be attractive. There is a group of savvy buyers who are more interested in seeing your home when the weather is at its worst because this provides a more accurate reflection of the condition of your home.

If your home looks good in winter, it looks good all year round

A home may look fantastic in spring and summer but it can be cold, damp, miserable and draughty in winter. Some buyers want to see a home during the worst possible months of the year to allow them to make a more informed decision on the suitability of a property. If your home is in fantastic condition, placing it on the market in winter is a smart move because it should stand out from homes that are in poor condition.

With respect to people’s finances, with the costs of buying a home, buyers have to be fully committed. This means that they are more likely to have the funding in place to allow them to buy a home, even allowing for the expense of the festive season.

Improving technology and savvier buyers are big factors in why December is an important time in the property market these days but ultimately, the high level of demand for property is the key factor why there is rarely a bad time to place property on the market these days.

 



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