At this time of year, most people think in terms of ‘Before Christmas’ and ‘After Christmas’. If you want to secure a sale for your property before December 25th, it is definitely not too late if you take the right steps.
- No decorations in marketing photos
Take marketing photos as soon as possible, so they do not include festive decorations. Although these can make a house look homely, if the property is still on the market in January, the pictures will look out of date.
Instead, you could make your house look warm and cosy with sumptuous soft furnishings, candles and fairy lights.
- Have a solicitor ready
In order for the paperwork to get completed as soon as possible, it is sensible to have a solicitor ready to speed up the process.
Do not forget that they will take the Christmas period off, which may delay the sale for a couple of weeks. Waiting until you find a buyer to secure a solicitor could mean you are not able to start legal activities until the new year.
- Set a sensible price
Sellers might want to take advantage of people wanting to move quickly before Christmas, but they should not be unrealistic with the asking price.
A local estate agent who knows the area well will be able to advise you what to put it on the market for. If you pitch it at the right price, you are more likely to secure a swift sale with a serious buyer.
Be aware that house prices are currently falling, having dropped by 4.7 per cent since last year, so the recommended asking price might be lower than you initially thought.
