Timing is a big part of selling a house.
There are a few main aspects to it:
- Your personal circumstances
- Market conditions
- Time of year.
Sometimes, one or two of the first factors align and make selling a house in winter an option.
Read on to find out more.
How does the housing market perform in the winter?
It depends on the month and the economic conditions at the time.
The housing market is historically slow around Christmas. People are busy with family, friends, travel, etc.
Market activity picks up in January and February, though.
Which month in winter is the busiest?
January is often considered the busiest month in winter for the housing market.
This is due to the ‘January rush’, when many people list their property on the market in the new year. Most of these are buyers, too.
Do houses sell in winter?
Yes. Activity is much lower in December since many people are distracted.
But this could be a great time to get your estate agent’s or solicitor’s attention – whilst they aren’t distracted by other things.
Activity is almost no different from any other month in January and February.
Indeed, people are keen to get the transaction sorted before the summer holidays.
What are the hardest months to sell a house?
The quietest months are when parents have their kids at home during significant holidays.
Christmas and Summer are excellent examples. Easter tends to be quieter, too.
Spring and autumn tend to be the busiest periods for house moving.
What months do houses sell best?
Houses often sell best during the spring and early summer months. March usually has the highest sales.
This period often sees more buyers in the market, leading to quicker sales and higher offers.
Advantages of selling a house in winter
There are no major holidays on the other side of Christmas
You don’t need to worry about calendar conflicts once January arrives.
There are no significant holidays until around Easter. This means that people have more time to look at houses and negotiate deals.
Serious buyers
It’s not always pleasant viewing houses in the nasty weather.
It’s cold and dark, and there are plenty of distractions in December. This means that the buyers you do encounter tend to be more serious.
Cosy features can be leveraged
Winter allows any property with cosy features to do well.
This might include a fireplace, underfloor heating, or lots of radiators.
Anything considered helpful to buyers in the colder months will be a big plus.
Disadvantages of selling in winter
Additional costs
Selling a house in winter involves extra expenses, especially higher household bills for heating, lighting, and more.
Keeping the house warm, especially before viewings, also costs more.
This makes the selling process more expensive compared to the summer months.
Inconvenient timing
December coincides with a major holiday, making it less convenient for sellers and buyers.
For sellers, this can mean challenges in preparing the home for sale. You may also find it hard to arrange viewings and coordinate the move.
Weather-related challenges
Winter weather can introduce additional challenges in the selling process. Snow, ice and bad weather are all expected in winter.
However, they can cause delays and issues in viewings, inspections and organising.
It’s also more difficult to show your property in the best light possible (no pun intended). For example, rooms are more difficult to lighten and gardens aren’t as attractive.
