It’s a new month – the picturesque autumn season is nearly upon us as the summer season ends. The children are preparing for their new school year, and as tradition would have it people return their focus to house hunting once more after the summer break.
Knowing when to put your property on the market can be a tough decision, but if you are looking for an end-of-year move, then September could be the best time to start the moving process for you.
September is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the property market. Potential buyers have returned from their summer holidays feeling refreshed and ready for a new start, making the demand higher for newly marketed properties.
Here are some of the key reasons why you should consider putting your property on the market in September: –
1. End of the Summer Holidays
Buyers, especially buyers with younger children, tend to have a break from house hunting during the summer holidays. This is mainly because they are on trips abroad, planning activities, have their children during their usual viewing availability, or are just busy with other priorities.
When children go back to school, parents will be feeling the ‘new year new start’ vibes and are usually ready to make a property move top of the to do list. They can now go back to viewing properties during school times, which is when most people prefer to house hunt.
From a seller’s perspective, houses become easier to keep clean and tidy now that their weekly routines are returning back to normal, making their selling journey that bit less stressful without rushing around tiding up after children ahead of viewing appointments.
2. School admission deadline
Buyers tend to look to move for a specific reason. Whether it is upsizing, downsizing, moving to be closer to work or family, it may be the case that buyers with children will need to enrol them into a new school.
The school admission deadline across the UK takes place around 15th January every year. This can be a key motivator for buyers to start looking to move in September, in order to get their children into the required catchment area of their desired school ahead of the school admission deadline.
As a seller, if your home is located within the catchment area of a good local school, this can make your property more desirable for certain perspective buyers.
3. Indian Summer
Although homeowners may not realise it, September is still a great time to capture that much-desired kerb appeal. We often experience an Indian Summer in September, giving us extra light and leaving gardens still in good condition in time for that all important property photoshoot. Even when the leaves start to drop, this can be a bonus, too. If your home has pleasant views that are hidden by greenery in the spring and summer months, then September can be a great time to highlight its full outlook.
Along with your house, your local area will continue to look its best whilst it’s still light and warm. People are more likely to be out and about within the local area, and community areas such as parks and fields will still be looking their best. This paired with the longer nights will mean it’s easier for prospective buyers to see what your local community has to offer.
4. Evening Viewings
During September and early October, the evenings still tend to be light, displaying your home in a dazzling radiance for early evening viewings.
This can have a substantial advantage on your potential house sale. Evening viewings are still a possibility, so prospective buyers are able to view your home in daylight, at a time more convenient for them if they are working a traditional 9-5 day. The lighter nights are perfect for viewers that are working professionals, and, as a bonus, it is often still warm enough for your agent to host viewings without the heating on whilst viewers are in and out of your home.
5. Moved in by the New Year
For some, the ideal outcome of looking to move during September is to be moved in and settled in time for the festive period. With this deadline in mind, it often motivates buyers into making an offer sooner rather than later. Now that the summer holidays are over and children are back at school, potential buyers looking to move by the New Year will also be more willing to make time to view homes and give it their full attention. This is key for sellers, as it gives peace of mind that most viewers coming through the door are serious and motivated buyers and in our experience those buyers tend to make sensible offers and push forward quickly, avoiding a long and protracted sales process.
6. In the Spotlight
When the market is booming, there are more homes available, and sellers have more competition. When the market is declining slightly, there are fewer homes available and more buyers waiting for their dream home to come to market.
As many sellers tend to choose Spring to put their home on the market rather than September, there tends to be a lower supply of houses for sale, and a higher pool of serious buyers, making September prime time to consider selling.
If you’re looking to take advantage of buyer demand and get the most attention for your house, selling now before more listings come to the market might be your best option.
Get in touch
If you are thinking about selling your home in September, get in touch. We would be delighted to discuss your options further and advise you as to whether now is in fact the right time to market your home, and what we can do to assist you with your moving journey.
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