Rightmove : Four reasons to get your home ready to sell before Christmas

Are you thinking of selling your home in the new year, but planning to wait until January?

Sellers often wait until well after Christmas to get their home on the market, but there's still time to get a head-start on 2022 by preparing to sell now.

We've already seen a 19% jump this month in the number of home-owners starting the selling process by requesting a property valuation from an estate agent via Rightmove, compared to the same period last year. With more homeowners getting ready to move, we can expect to see more properties for buyers to choose from in the new year.

There are lots of reasons why it's a great idea to get your home ready to sell before the festive season begins. Take a look.

1. Be ready for the 'Boxing Day boom' in buyer demand

Boxing Day marks the start of the 2022 home-buying season. Every year we see more and more people browsing properties on Rightmove during the post-Christmas Day festive period. In fact, last Boxing Day, visits were 54% higher than the previous year.

There were also more than 51 million visits to Rightmove between Boxing Day and the first working day of the new year, so it's a hugely valuable time if you want to make sure your home is going to be seen by lots of potential buyers.

Our property expert Tim Bannister says: "We see a surge in the number of people searching for property from Boxing Day onwards, perhaps with a resolve to enjoy their next Christmas in new surroundings. Some of those additional buyers will also be new sellers who have held back until this period, judging it to be a good time to sell and to move in 2022."

Read more:How to get your home ready to sell

2. Get your photographs taken now - before festive decorations date your listing

You might decide you want your property advert to go live a few weeks into the new year, by which time a Christmas tree can make your listing look dated. Ask your estate agent to take photos of your home before you put your festive decorations up.

Agents are also likely to have much more time to prepare the marketing of your home, now, and over the next few weeks, than during the traditional holiday season between Christmas and the New Year.

3. Do the prep now, sell when you're ready

Getting your home ready to sell doesn't need to mean viewings will start next week. It's kind of like getting your Christmas shopping done early - a big tick off the list. You can arrange your property valuation, instruct an estate agent and finalise the details of your property listing, so whenever you're ready, you can ask your agent to put your home on the market.

If you're worried about having time to tidy up after Christmas, you could put your home on the market on Boxing Day, but arrange for viewings to start sometime in the first few weeks of January. This will also give your agent time to generate interest in your home.

4. Become a 'power-buyer' so you're in a strong position when you do find 'the one'

If you decide to put your home on the market before Christmas - and you're able to secure a buyer early in the New Year - you'll be putting yourself in a great position when you find your next home.

"In the current market, it's a real advantage to be a "power buyer", and have already sold your current home, subject to contract, when looking for somewhere to buy. This could put you ahead if there are other offers already on the table," says Tim Bannister.

READ MORE:

• Five reasons to sell your home before you buy
• Six hotspots for home sellers

The header image for this article is by Getty