Should You Sell Your House Before Christmas?

Christmas is just around the corner, and while some of us are getting ready to bunker down for the weekend, others are considering the exact opposite. 

If you’re not happy with your current property or you’re ready to move on, the idea of decking the halls and getting jolly in a property that no longer feels like home can be daunting. 

If that sounds like you, you’ve likely been considering selling your house, but it might feel crazy to try to sell up before Christmas. And yes, it is definitely unconventional to try to sell your property before Christmas, but it’s not impossible. 

At Lyons Estates, we’ve helped clients sell their properties at all times of the year, and we know that anything is possible in real estate, even selling before Christmas. 

Keep reading to find out more about selling a house at Christmas and whether it is a good time to sell. 

The Benefits of Selling Your House Before Christmas

Some of the benefits of selling your house before Christmas include:

Less Competition From Other Sellers

Because of the stress of Christmas, fewer people look to sell toward the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t looking to buy.  Fewer properties on the market means less competition, which can increase the number of potential buyers interested in your home.

Buyers Are Serious and Motivated

When people look to purchase a property around Christmas, they mean business. They don’t have time for casual viewings, especially if they want to move in before Christmas Day. 

That means you won’t have to deal with time-wasters who are just browsing, and if someone actually wants to purchase, they’ll make sure they hand over all the relevant information and documentation as quickly as possible, as they want to get into the property as fast as you want to pass it on – if not faster. 

You Get Ahead of the January Rush

January is when most people decide to sell their property. With a new year comes a new start, and for many that means relocating, downsizing or upgrading their properties. 

The real estate market is flooded with properties in January, and by getting your house on the market way ahead of the rush, you put yourself in a better position to stand out, especially if you already have an estate agent and solicitor appointed. 

Your Home Can Look Its Cosiest

When people buy a home, it’s important they can picture their lives there. That includes cosy nights in on the sofa, getting ready for Christmas and enjoying the colder months bundled up with their families.

There’s no better time to help a buyer build this picture than in the cosy, cold months, and if you host viewings, it’ll be easier for buyers to actually picture their future in the property. 

The Downsides to Consider

It’s no secret that there are some downsides to trying to sell your property before Christmas; these include: 

Completion Before Christmas is Unlikely 

If you plan on listing a house in December, there’s no chance at all that the sale will be completed before Christmas. However, if you start the process now, you might be able to pull off a sale if everyone involved completes their part quickly. 

You never know how selling a property will go, and in some instances, the process is incredibly fast, while in others it takes time, so if you consider how most sales go, it is unlikely that you will sell before Christmas, unless you have motivated buyers and a fast solicitor on your side.

Solicitors and Tenders Slow Down Over the Holidays

Over the Christmas period, solicitors and tenders slow down significantly or completely close, but closure doesn’t usually happen until days before Christmas.  This can significantly stretch timelines and break property chains, making it difficult to sell your property. 

If you start as early as possible, you can avoid this, but you need to act fast if you haven’t started already. 

Viewings Can Be Harder to Fit In

Schedules can be hectic around Christmas, with everyone making time to see their families, juggle work and prepare for the big day. Weekends are reserved for shopping or Christmassy activities, so it can be difficult to find a time that works for everyone. 

Before anyone commits to buying a property, they want to view it at least once, so make sure your schedule allows for multiple viewings if you want to sell before Christmas. 

Shorter Days and Less Natural Light

As we approach the end of the year, days get shorter, and you have less opportunity to show your property in natural light, especially if viewings take place after working hours. 

You can’t get a good picture of a property’s condition unless you see it in natural light, and missing that opportunity may put buyers off, so make sure your calendar has the flexibility to accommodate mid-day viewings. 

Should I Wait Until the New Year to Sell? 

If your home needs preparation and renovation before it is ready for market, we suggest waiting until the new year; but if you feel your house is ready, now’s the time to get it on the market to appeal to motivated pre-holiday buyers.

As estate agents in Liverpool, we have helped people sell properties throughout the year, and you can sell your property before Christmas as long as you approach the sale in the right way. 

Top Tips for Selling Your House at Christmas

Seriously considering selling your house before Christmas? Here are some tips to help you close the sale in time for the holidays.

Keep the Decorations Tasteful

We get it, it’s Christmas, and you want to deck the halls with boughs of holly, but this might actually work against you when you’re trying to sell a property. If your decorations are too loud and in your face, they could distract potential customers from picturing the property’s potential, so keep things muted during viewings and give people a chance to immerse themselves in your home without distraction.

Make the Most of Lighting

You’ll be surprised by how much good lighting can transform a property’s appearance, especially in those dark months. With the right lighting, you can make your property feel warm and welcoming. Around Christmas, this cosy feeling can really help to sell your property, as it leads potential buyers to imagine themselves in the house in the run-up to Christmas. 

You also need to make sure that anyone viewing your house can have a clear view of the whole property, as there may be some cosmetic issues that, if noticed later, could slow down the whole process, so ensuring the viewer knows exactly what they’re bidding for will save a lot of time later on. 

Keep it Warm and Welcoming

This refers to both the property and how you communicate with the buyers. We get it, trying to sell your property before Christmas can be stressful, and you can feel like you have a lot of pressure on you to push buyers to make a purchase, which can come across in the way that you try to sell your property, which can be off-putting. 

Make sure that you’re warm, approachable and understanding when communicating with potential buyers, especially if they have a lot of questions about your property. 

You have to remember that moving before Christmas is just as difficult as trying to sell before Christmas, so make sure that you’re patient.

If you feel this is something you might struggle with, you can leave client communication to your estate agents, as an experienced estate agent knows exactly how to communicate with prospective buyers. 

Stay Flexible With Viewings

If you want to sell your house fast, you need to be flexible. It can be challenging, but you need to make sure you can offer viewings when it suits your buyers if you want to secure a sale. That is why we always recommend working with an estate agent when selling your house, as they can handle all the viewings for you.

Sort Your Kerb Appeal

Yes, even in the winter, your house needs to look as good on the outside as it does on the inside. People care that properties are well maintained and well looked after, and if your inside is modern and clean but the exterior isn’t up to standard, it could be what stands in the way of a sale. 

Winter is the perfect time to clean up your property, as nature has already done much of the landscaping for you, so you just need to tidy up and make sure it looks presentable. 

Get Your Paperwork Ready Early

Preparing your paperwork quickly is crucial when selling a property near Christmas, as it helps you avoid holiday office closures and keeps motivated buyers interested. Because buyers looking to purchase around Christmas are serious, the last thing you want is to frustrate them with slow paperwork, so make sure you’re ready.

Price Correctly From the Start

When you’re selling a property, it’s only natural to want to sell at a higher price. Especially if you’ve spent years developing and renovating the property while you’ve lived there, but you have to be realistic.

Get a valuation, look at the market and make sure that your property is priced in line with similar properties. People don’t like being overcharged for a property, especially around Christmas, so you’re more likely to get interest if you price your property fairly. 

Thinking About Selling? Here’s What to Do Next

Serious about getting your property sold before Christmas? Here’s what you should be doing next. 

Book a Valuation

Your first step should be to book a valuation so you can get an idea of how much you can list your house for, plus advice on small renovations you can do to increase its value and what you shouldn’t fix. At Lyons Estates, we offer a free property valuation, so if you need help understanding your property’s value before you take it to market, we’re here to help. 

Find an Estate Agent to Help You Sell

You could try to go it alone, but doing so at what’s already a difficult time to sell could be challenging. We would recommend working with an estate agent, especially if you’re trying to sell quickly. An estate agent will not only give you valuable advice on how to position your property positively, but you’ll also get access to their network of buyers, helping you find the right buyer quickly. 

Don’t be afraid to shop around to find the best estate agent for your needs. 

Get Pictures Done BEFORE Decor

We can’t blame you for wanting to add a bit of festive decor to your property in the run-up to Christmas, but we recommend taking any pictures you’re likely to use to sell your property before doing so. 

Christmas decorations in pictures can be incredibly distracting, and if you don’t sell your property in time for Christmas and have to continue your hunt for a buyer into the new year, the decor won’t make much sense.

Instruct a Solicitor Early

It’s important to instruct a solicitor early when selling your house in order to beat the festive administrative rush and prevent costly transaction delays. Conveyancers tend to have heavy workloads leading up to Christmas, so if you get in early and have all of your checks complete ahead of time, it puts you in a much better position for the purchase. 

Sell Your House With Lyons Estates

If you’ve reached the end of this guide and you are set on selling a house in winter, you’re in the right place. At Lyons Estates, we’re already well-established Merseyside-based real estate agents with an extensive network of buyers and sellers, and we’re here to help you sell your property before Christmas. 

Get in touch to learn more about how we can help you.