If you are caught up in the rush to get ready for Christmas, yet plan to move in the new year, you might be debating whether to list your property now or to wait until the festivities are over. Deciding which to do can depend on several factors.
Boxing Day booms
No sooner than the presents are unwrapped and the turkey has gone cold, potential buyers begin browsing. And it’s not just fashion, electricals and the most heavily discounted deals that get snapped up post-Christmas. Although it’s not certain that 2025 will follow the same pattern, last year saw a surge of potential buyers property-hunting on Boxing Day.
According to Rightmove, enquiries to agents about listings rose by 20% on Boxing Day 2024 compared to the previous year, while the number of sellers listing their properties also increased, up by 26%.
The autumn budget
Of course, sentiment will also be dictated by the response of buyers to the autumn budget, which may have also swayed your own decision to sell or not. Certainly, the timing of the budget impacted buyer and seller confidence in the run-up to its 26 November launch, particularly at the top-end.
The confirmation of a mansion tax for properties of £2 million and above will impact the premium market, but for average buyers there is little change. Instead, it’s likely to be the expected December base rate cut that provides the biggest market stimulus.
House prices
You may also be influenced by house prices. 2025 has been a buyer’s market but properties have still sold quickly when priced competitively and this is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Have you time to declutter?
Whether you look to list your property before or after Christmas may rely on one key point that outstrips economic factors, however. That’s whether you have enough time to dedicate to the decluttering process or are too busy with Christmas preparations. If you do have time then be brutal, especially knowing what might be coming in your Christmas stocking.
This isn’t a stage to skip, however, so if you don’t have the time then it might be better to wait post-Christmas. Equally, if the Christmas decorations are already up then listing photos could quickly date. There’s plenty more you can be doing in the meantime to prep for a post-Christmas sale, including making sure all your paperwork is in good shape.
Get quotes – and advice – from multiple agents
Your estate agent will have the best advice on when to list, so if you haven’t appointed an agent already, then it’s time to get searching. Get recommendations and check reviews before deciding who to appoint. When it comes to valuations don’t base your decision-making on price alone. Finally, whether you do decide to list your property pre-Christmas or post then we wish you a fantastic Christmas and a happy new year.
For more information on how we can assist you on your sales journey, please contact one of our branches in Essex, London or Hertfordshire today. We also offer a free and instant online valuation to give you an idea of how much your home could be worth on the current market.
