The Christmas countdown is on!

Sellers hoping to be moved into a new home for this Christmas need to put their property up for sale in the coming days to stand the best chance of completing in time for the December holidays.  

The claim comes after My Home Move Conveyancing studied how long it takes to sell a property, from the home appearing on the market to the moving in date. The current average time it takes to sell a home in Britain is 146 days – just short of five months.  

Included in the ‘time it takes to sell’ is the marketing of a new home, viewings, the negotiation and offers stage, mortgage approvals, a survey and the conveyancing process – the latter of which can take months.  

If you would like to be living in a new property by 11th December 2024, analysis shows the line in the sand for putting your home on the market is 18th July. My Home Move Conveyancing did find there were some regional differences. Homes are taking the longest to sell in Wales, so sellers here will need to come to market by 27th June – or immediately if this date has already passed.  

Summer isn’t a time for slacking, especially if sellers want to complete and be settled for Christmas. Dates of note include 1st July (London); 3rd July (East Midlands); 7th July (East and the South East); 1st August (the North East) and 8th September (Scotland). By these dates an estate agent should be instructed, a listing appear on the property portals and a ‘for sale’ board be up – or at least on order.   

Working with a professional, conscientious agent will help you achieve a pre-Christmas completion. There are a number of factors that will aid your chances of a smooth and quick transaction this year, and these include:  

• Pricing realistically so a buyer is found in an acceptable time frame: a figure that’s too high and out of kilter with the local market may slow a property sale. We will advise on what price will result in a quick flurry of enquiries and offers.

• Opting for a buyer who is in the best position to proceed quickly: this could be accepting an offer from a cash buyer, a purchaser who has no chain behind them or at least a buyer who has a mortgage agreement in principle.

• Sensibly timing the search for an onward property: we advise our vendors that they wait until their home is under offer before they start looking for their next home. This will ensure any offers they make are taken seriously and that they don’t get caught up in an unfeasible chain. 

• Choosing a solicitor with a good reputation: not all solicitors are created equal and it’s worth asking for a recommendation. Legal firms with conveyancers who specialise in property transactions and use digital signatures should add speed to your transactions. Please ask us for our suggested solicitors.

• Being reactive when it comes to communication: one of a solicitor’s biggest bugbears is clients who take too long to read emails or documents and are slow at sending their responses back. Keep the transaction moving forwards by collating paperwork, returning forms and replying to emails as soon as possible. 

• Staying one step ahead in the conveyancing process: you can get ahead of the game by asking your solicitor for the TA6 Property Information Form and the TA10 Fittings and Contents form as soon as you instruct them. These forms can be filled in by the seller before a buyer has been found.

• Being flexible when it comes to property access: it helps to be amenable and accommodating around dates when agents, photographers, potential buyers, surveyors and energy assessors want to visit your property. Book them in at your earliest convenience to minimise delays. 

Don’t panic if you have missed any of the ‘in for Christmas’ deadlines. Our sales team has achieved exchange and completion in much quicker time frames. We’d love to help you find your next home and be moved in time for Christmas. Get in touch and we can explain what’s possible.