Over the next few weeks, Tim and Julia Haycocks, owners of Stowhill Estates Berkshire, are answering readers’ property questions with honest advice, practical insight and straightforward opinions on navigating the Berkshire property market. Last week, we looked at how to choose the right estate agent for you and your home. Let’s dive into this week’s big topics …
Owners, Julia & Tim Haycocks
“We want to put our house on the market later this year, but everyone seems to have a different opinion on the best time to sell. Should we avoid the summer holidays, bypass winter, wait until spring or does timing not matter as much as people say?” J.M, Twyford
Firstly, great question, and it’s good that you’re thinking about this. There are definitely periods when the market is busier. Spring is traditionally strong because gardens look their best and people naturally become more active after winter (and a lot of people will start searching at this point to try and relocate before a new school year). September is often very good too, once families are back into routine after the summer holidays. If it works for you, you can align to those. That said, we think people sometimes give too much power to the calendar and not enough to their own circumstances. The “right” time to move is often simply when it feels right for you.
We speak to people moving for all sorts of reasons. A new school place, a growing family, downsizing after children leave home, a relationship change, retirement, a new job, wanting more outside space, or just feeling ready for a fresh chapter. It’s pretty unusual for any of those things to happen neatly in line with the “perfect” property market window, and that’s completely normal.
School holidays do tend to slow the market slightly, particularly in the summer when many people are away or distracted. However, the buyers who are still looking are often very serious and highly motivated. There’s also usually less competing stock available, which can work in your favour.
Good homes priced correctly and marketed well can sell at any time of year, so while it’s worth thinking about it, try not to overthink it. The right time for you may well just be when you’re ready and your home is ready.
All the best,
Tim & Julia
“We’re thinking of moving, but with everything going on in the economy and constant talk about the property market slowing down, we’re wondering whether we’d be better off waiting until next year. Is now a bad time to sell?”
L.T, Hurst
We hear this a lot, and the honest answer is that nobody really knows exactly what the market will do next year, including estate agents!
Let’s face it, there’s nearly always something creating uncertainty and the last few years seem to have had more than their fair share. Interest rates, elections, budgets (and disastrous mini budgets!), world events, inflation, pandemic’s, doom-mongering headlines … if everyone waited for complete confidence and stability, hardly anyone would ever move house to be honest.
If you’re selling and buying in the same conditions, the market often balances itself out. Yes, your own property value may fluctuate slightly, but so will any properties you’re looking at.
Sometimes uncertainty can create opportunity. When markets get quieter, serious buyers tend to have less competition and sellers are often more willing to negotiate sensibly. Some of the best deals we’ve seen have happened during periods when everyone else was sitting on their hands waiting for “better conditions”.
Our advice would usually be to make decisions based on your personal circumstances and plans, rather than trying to perfectly predict the market six or twelve months ahead. Timing life is generally easier than timing the property market and there’s a lot to be said for being the master of your own destiny!
Hope this is helpful.
Julia & Tim
Phone: 0118 207 30 30
berkshire@stowhillestates.com
WhatsApp: 07346 134548 www.stowhillestatesberkshire.co.uk
