Deciding when to sell your property will depend on a number of factors. Firstly, your own availability needs to be considered, as does the availability of your potential buyer. Consider the target buyer for your property: are they a young couple, a family, an elderly couple looking to downsize? This will have an impact on when is the best time to sell your property.
What Are the Best Months to Sell Your Property?
The best months of the year for buying and selling properties in the UK are March, April and May, in the spring. Properties listed around this time tend to sell more quickly, and for a better price.
January is also a great month to list a property for sale, as many buyers see the New Year as an opportunity for a fresh start in a new home. Couples and families especially benefit from the new year boost as it means they can often move before September, when the new school year starts.
Selling a property in the spring means that buyers can benefit from the longer daylight hours with which to view, and the bright appearance of gardens and homes during this time. Buyers also prefer to look for houses to buy during this time because it often means they can move into their new home by the summer.
Selling Your Property to First-Time Buyers and Couples
The best time to market a one or two-bed property to first-time buyers and couples are the New Year and early Autumn. Buyers in this situation looking for houses or apartments for sale can often be prompted by the idea of a fresh start or a big change, having spent another Christmas living with family, for example.
September also marks a boost for first-time buyers, who may still be in the mindset of an academic cycle and want to be in their new home by Christmas.
Selling Your Property to Families
The best time to market properties to families looking for houses to buy are term-time months like early Autumn, the New Year and spring months. These times tend to fall outside of the school holidays, when families are generally too busy to consider buying a new home.
Selling Your Property to Downsizers
The best time to market properties to the elderly or those who are downsizing is between March and September. This capitalises on the warmer weather and longer days, both of which may inspire people to look for a new houses or apartments for sale.
What Are the Worst Months to Sell Your Property?
The worst months of the year for buying and selling properties in the UK are August, November and December. Properties listed around this time tend to take longer to sell, and may not sell for as high a price as you would like.
Selling Your Property to First-Time Buyers and Couples
Avoid marketing your property to first-time buyers and couples during the late summer months, July and August, and during the winter. These times of the year are the least successful to market to those wanting one or two-bedroom pre-owned or new houses for sale.
Selling Your Property to Families
Avoid marketing your property to families during the school holidays. During August and December families are generally pre-occupied with spending time with family and going on holiday, and so are much less likely to look for houses to buy during this time.
Selling Your Property to Downsizers
Avoid marketing your property to the elderly and those wishing to downsize during autumn and winter. The colder, wetter weather and absence of blooming flowers in gardens tend to mean that these months of the year are less successful for marketing a property.