In the blink of an eye it is Autumn, the trees are full of beautiful reds and golds and the first waft of coal fire smoke is in the air in later September.
As always we are taking calls from family buyers looking for larger homes, however there has been a real up swing, as expected. Clients like to buy in autumn, spring and early summer.
We find that buyers with children tend not to house hunt during the school holidays. After all, when the sun is shining, people are away, life is busy thus leaving little time for viewing homes.
It’s also worth remembering how stressful viewing a home can be, with children who just want to be playing / elsewhere. Instead, parents tend to wait until the children return to school, so they can view homes a little easier. But there is more to it than convenience alone; psychology of space can come into play too.
During the summer of course kids often spend much more time outdoors. Whilst their children are busy playing in the garden it’s easy for parents to feel their home is bigger than it is. As a result, ‘upsizers’ tend not to feel as squeezed for space in the warmer months.
But as the nights begin to draw in, the house begins to feel crowded, meaning parents once again are looking for a change and a larger home in which to grow.
House hunters searching in September and October tend to be keener to make an early decision. After all, everybody wants to settle in ready to start enjoying their new home in time for Christmas. In fact, ‘a quiet and settled Christmas’ can be a real driving factor. Buyers are more motivated than ever to get the deal done. Indeed Rightmove confirm an increase in traffic numbers to their website at this time of year.
With that in mind, let’s explore the reasons why selling in September is a great time.
- Motivated buyers
Buyers who start looking for a home in September are generally planning to be moved in by Christmas, particularly if they’re looking to host family and friends in their new home.
As a result, they see December as a self-imposed deadline, which can encourage them to make an offer quickly and also do their best to speed up the buying process.
- School admission deadline dates
Did you know, many school admission deadline dates fall towards the year end, with placements offered in the New Year. Schools are a key reason why many families move home. For these people, they need to be moved into the area in order to have the best possible chance of getting into their preferred school. These families tend to start house hunting as soon as the summer holidays end.
- Focus on those cosy features
September is a time when gardens become less of a must-have. Buyers still love them, but homes which struggle with outside space sell much better in September as buyers mindset turns towards cosy features such as open fires and wood-burning stoves. If you have one, make sure yours is lit for any photos & viewings !
- The kids are back at school
This is the most obvious reason of them all. Both home sellers and home buyers with families delay any moving plans because of the Summer holidays. Come September, the kids are back at school and they have much more free time. Houses become easier to keep tidy. Potential buyers appear more relaxed, many choosing to view when the kids are actually in school!
- You’re more likely to get a higher offer, or the asking price
Research shows that September is a strong month for buyers, with property searches very high, compared to November and December for example.
This means more potential buyers for your property, which in turn means more competition among buyers. When you consider the fact that there are more motivated buyers too, it can create a perfect storm for sellers. Indeed, with interest rates falling and anticipation of a busy autumn market this is more likely.