If you’re looking at ways to sell your property quickly, you might despair at the idea of having to sell during the summer months. Received wisdom about selling your home in summer says it’s a terrible idea, but is that really the case?
Which Month of the Year is the Best to Sell a House?
Spring months are usually touted as the optimum months if you’re looking at how to sell your property quickly. This is because people are generally less busy than at other times of year – they aren’t planning for Christmas or enjoying a holiday abroad.
Often, the housing market slows down after October, with fewer people aiming to move in the winter months, although they will if they spot their dream home on an estate agent’s website. But, if you’re looking to sell your home quick, colder months are red zones.
Benefits of Selling Your House in Summer
For all the naysayers critical about how easy it is to go about selling your home in summer, we have some concrete reasons on why selling a home during the summer months is a good thing:
- Does your house have a garden? Show it off! Summer sales give sellers more chances to make the most of their outside spaces.
- More daylight equals more opportunities for viewings where potential buyers can appreciate the property to its fullest.
- Summer sun makes home photography easier, not just for the exterior shots but also for those interiors with sun rays streaming through the windows and showing the house as a haven for light.
It’s also true that people who are searching for houses in the summer are often eager to move quickly, allowing them to get settled before the autumn sets in and winter arrives.
So, while not every homeowner has success selling their house during summer, it’s wrong to say that no homes sell during the summer months – they do.
How Easy is it to Sell Your Home During Summer?
While there are definitely some legitimate reasons why it could be tricky to sell a property during the summer months, it’s also true that it depends on the property and how it’s marketed to potential buyers.
Summer holidays offer downtime for families, giving them time to think about what they might want to do next. If a house move is on their radar, this could be the time they start seriously researching. If your property happens to be listed at this point, it could be just perfect for them.
If you’re looking at what to do to sell your home quickly, the most important element is simply to get it on the market. You can’t sell a property that isn’t listed, and the one thing worse than trying to sell a house during a “bad month” is not trying to sell it at all and missing out on that ideal buyer.
Improve Your Chances of Selling Your Home in Summer
There are many ways to sell your property quickly, and most of these can be applied to selling in summer. As we’ve already mentioned, home photographs are crucial as they show potential viewers whether there’s a point to them arranging an in-person viewing. So, make sure those photographs make the most of the fine weather, and this can help sell your home in the autumn if initial interest isn’t forthcoming during the summer.
Here are some more tips for selling your home in summer:
- Price the property reasonably and sensibly
- Pay attention to first impressions
- Fix the little niggles that could put buyers off
- Make the most of the exterior of the property
Remember, putting your house on the market quickly is all well and good, but it won’t sell if it isn’t presented at its best. If you’re rushing into a summer sale because you need to sell your home quickly, don’t forget to rush into the little repairs and embellishments you need to make the sale.
What is the Process for Selling a House?
The process for selling a house is simple. Homeowners generally take these steps in this order:
- Choose your estate agent, ideally a local firm with knowledge of the area who will give you sensible valuations and advice on selling.
- Get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to prove the energy efficiency of the property – this is a legal requirement.
- Decide on a market price, including adding room for negotiation with buyers.
- Prepare the house for sale by undertaking repairs and deep cleans.
- Hire a conveyancing solicitor to handle the sale – the best way to do this is to choose a solicitor before agreeing to a sale to ensure the sale goes through efficiently.
- Accept an offer and negotiate a draft contract to decide things like the date of completion and what a buyer can expect to find in the house when you vacate.
- Exchange contracts and move out!
Whatever time of year you sell your home, the process for selling a property is generally the same. If you’re looking to sell a property fast and in an easy manner, remember to focus on the buyer and see things from their point of view – what would you want if you were in their shoes looking at your home with a critical eye?
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