Selling a home in winter: five essential tips

It’s a question many prospective house and flat sellers will be familiar with: when is the best time to go to market with your property? Well, it won’t come as a major shock, but recent data suggests that the majority of homes in the UK do seem to sell at a much faster pace in that warmer window between March and August.

This is great news for those selling during those months, but perhaps not so great for those looking at the other end of the year. Research by The Advisory involving Rightmove data shows the end of October through to mid-November marks the worst time of year to sell your home.

On average, properties listed in late October, November and December take over 70 days for an offer to be accepted. Properties listed during these months take on average almost 18 days longer to sell, according to data from Homemove. Generally speaking, this results in 35% fewer viewings, with a whopping 72% of buyers choosing to delay until spring comes around.

Naturally, it is believed that these properties take longer to sell because of holiday preparations, school holidays and cold weather, all of which can reduce the number of active buyers.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t remain positive about a winter property sale either. As the market slows down amid the cold crunch, savvy buyers tend to be a lot more motivated to progress their next home move, often wanting to have the process completed before the annual festivities begin.

Furthermore, January and February are often cited as strong times to sell, which makes perfect sense – with high buyer demand and generally fewer homes on the market, your property has a much better chance of standing out amongst the noise, and it could even land a higher selling price.

Ultimately, sellers who are equipped with the knowledge of how cold weather affects the property market are better equipped to offset its negative impact and strategically capitalise on the lack of competition. So, when it comes to viewings, what can you do to make your home feel warm in a time of cold? Here are five recommendations:

Winter warmer: To make your home more attractive in winter, direct your focus to creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. There are various ways you can choose to go about this, but the single most important element of a winter property viewing is the decision to keep the heating on.

Insulation: Winter can all too easily expose not just the age of a property, but it’s structural weaknesses. Damp, cold and a lack of modern materials can really harm the sales potential of a home, so it is vital that every inch of the house is well insulated. Not just the front room, all of it.

Let there be light: Consider the aesthetic qualities of your home. Practice layering soft throws and blankets on furniture, and open your curtains and blinds fully to truly maximise what available light there is. Arrange your furniture to take advantage of well-lit areas.

Relaxed atmosphere: Of course, this can be difficult with such limited daylight hours, so consider implementing a delicate blend of lamps and candles, as these not only improve visibility, but will make your viewers feel more relaxed in the presence of their potential new home. You could even add seasonal, festive decorations such as branches, berries and pinecones.

Spruce up the garden: As for the exterior, ensure that walkways and paths are unobstructed, free from trip hazards and furniture. After all, it is all too easy for mud, leaves and ice to surround the garden, so consider using additional lighting around the property perimeter. Fairy lights and oil lamps are a strong choice of illumination here.

In conclusion, winter doesn’t have to be a bad time to sell your property. In fact, with these five tips in mind, you can strengthen your home’s appeal and ensure you leave your viewers with a positive impression and, all going well, a strong wish to buy.

If you are looking to sell your home, we can help you through every stage beginning with a detailed expert valuation. For more information on our support for sellers, visit our sell pages.

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