With the summer holidays over for another year, one of the busiest times for the property market is once again upon us.
September might not be as well recognised as Spring for its potential to motivate home-movers into action, but it prevails as the second busiest month for the sector, according to research from Rightmove and Zoopla.
There are a multitude of reasons for this trend, which include, but are not limited to...
Term times
Homebuyers looking for family homes will mostly be keen to seize the opportunity of children being back at school, to focus their attention on viewings, and on preparing and presenting their home for market.
School catchments
With the deadline for school applications ending in January, many families with young children approaching school-age will be prioritising a move before then, to ensure that they are catchment compliant in sufficient time.
New year, new home
For many people, the new year is particularly poignant, and a fitting time to step into the ‘fresh start’ of a new home, perhaps even in a new area.
A move before Christmas
December is a notoriously quiet time for the property market, and as such, many people are keen to seize this narrow window of opportunity to move in time for the festive season.
Indian summer light
September always lends especially well to ‘kerb appeal’ and to showcasing properties and gardens in their best possible light. These lighter evenings also more conducive to flexible viewing arrangements, and broaden the window of opportunity that applicants have to peruse a property in daylight hours.
Seasonal priorities
Autumn and winter have a habit of drawing attention to problems with our homes that aren't so apparent in the fair-weather seasons, and this can change our priorities and desire to move accordingly. For example, less daylight often creates an illusion of less space - a feeling that is only magnified by the tendency towards more indoor entertaining / socialising at this time of year.
Considerations for September Home Sellers
If you do decide to put your home on the market this month, there are several points to consider before welcoming prospective buyers.
Declutter
Forget spring cleaning… the Autumn overhaul reigns supreme when it comes to cultivating a mindset of moving readiness, not to mention a home worthy of showcasing to the open market.
Details
Contrary to popular belief, it’s often not necessary to spend a fortune preparing your home for market. Often, just spending a little time on snagging can suffice to improve saleability.
Kerb appeal
Spending some time tidying up the front of your home and the garden, will help ensure the best possible first impressions, and also increase the chances of a scroll-stopping aesthetic on the property search portals.
In Summary
With more buyers than there are properties for sale currently, September has created an environment of positive competition in the housing market. This bodes especially well for those looking to sell in a ‘before Christmas’ timescale, since prospective buyers are altogether less likely to rest on their laurels or be conservative in their offers, when a property comes to market that fits their requirements.
For more details on the current property market, or to book a no-obligation market appraisal, contact a member of Braxton's experienced sales team on 01628 674234.