UK house prices: Why buyer activity, proximity to Chrismas and the end of school holidays mean today’s the best day to sell your home
If you're planning on putting your property on the market, get going – because research suggests today, aka 2 September, is the best day of the year to sell your home.
According to online estate agent Emoov. now schools have gone back, prospective buyers' minds are turning to the great property search.
The research found traffic to online property search sites such as Rightmove and Zoopla falls as much as 30 per cent between the beginning of November and the end of the year. And with the average sale taking between 55 and 65 days, putting your property on the market today "gives you a two-month window in which to sell before buyer activity begins to decline", said Emoov.
And with the festive season approaching, the race is now on to complete deals. In 2014, 12 per cent of the year's total property transactions took place in December. February – the deadline for school admissions – is another milestone for transactions to complete.
Finally, weather is a major factor: some 43 per cent of people believe selling your home in the summer is easier, the research found, while 17 per cent said it's more difficult to sell in the winter.
"However, with many taking to warmer climates or having their hands full with the kids during the prime summer months, September offers the best opportunity while the weather is still nice enough to ensure those pictures on your property listing show your house in the best light," Emoov said.