Buying and selling at Christmas and New Year

7th December 2017

Rightmove sees around 500,000 visits on Christmas Day and a further 1.3 million on Boxing Day.


These stats could come as a surprise, as many estate agents advise against selling over winter. However, there are both pros and cons to buying and selling your property over the festive season.


Pros

Cons

  • There aren’t as many buyers looking. This means you’ll have the pick of the bunch, and you won’t have to worry about competitors as much.

  • As it’s the festive season, you’ll potentially have some extra time off work which means more time for sorting out paperwork and house viewings.

  • Sellers who have properties up over Christmas are probably quite keen to sell, as they’ve committed to doing it at a busy time of year.

  • There might be fewer people selling, and a limited selection of properties for you to choose from.

  • Estate agents, lawyers and solicitors might be taking extra holiday time. It could take longer for your sale to go through.

  • Christmas can be a busy time of year, full of visits to loved ones and festive days out. This might make it more difficult to secure viewings at properties you’ve got your eye on.



Selling over the holidays


Pros

Cons

  • With fewer houses on the market, the competition will be reduced. A trusted local estate agent will have a good knowledge of the market in that area, and be able to advise.

  • People buying over Christmas are usually quite serious and committed, which could lead to a much quicker sale.

  • Serious Christmas period buyers could not only lead to a quicker sale, but a better price -  especially if they want to be in their new home by the new year.

  • It may be inconvenient to have people viewing your home over the festive season when you have family or friends visiting.

  • Some buyers might be taking time off work to relax and spend time with loved ones, rather than focusing on finding a new property.

  • Consider planning ahead and book a professional photographer with your estate agent just before your Christmas decorations go up. After this, all that’s left to do is enjoy the festivities.



As you can see, there are both benefits and downsides to a December and January sale. However, if you're looking for a Christmas or New Year’s Eve sale, there's no reason why you can't make it a success with the right estate agent. With offices in key locations around Brighton and Hove, we can offer expert advice on buying and selling during the festive season.


If you’re interested in finding out more, contact Maslen Estate Agents today.


Testimonials

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    Miss Hockly Fiveways

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    Ms Lyons Woodingdean

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    Mr Vernon Woodingdean

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    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Lewes Road

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    Mrs Porter Taunton Road

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    Mr John Mogridge Woodingdean

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    Dr Crichton The Ridgway

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    Mr Standing Newmarket Road

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    Mr & Mrs Penton Sycamore Close

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    Mr Beddington Brading Road

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    Mrs Palmer Pitt Gardens

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    Mr Upton Buller Road

  • Ben was particularly enthusiastic and helpful. Martin, Paula, Sam and Will are all hard workers.

    Ms Goodey Franklin Road

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    Mr Wells Bishops Road

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Lewes Road

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    Mr Field Ringmer Road

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    Ms Ansloos Lewes Road

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    Mr King Hove

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    Ms S Hike Blackthorn Close

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    Mr Witten Lewes Road

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Buller Road

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    Miss Matthews Kipling Avenue

  • Outstanding service from Sharon. James is an asset to Maslens & Harvey was so helpful and polite.

    Ms Cianchetta Selhurst Road

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    Ms Curtis The Ridgway

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    Mr & Mrs Guest Riley Road

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    Mr & Mrs Gill Lewes Road

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    Miss O'Haire Hove

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    Mr Flynn Woodingdean

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    Ms A King Balfour Road

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    Mrs Brooker Buller Road

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    Ms Warren Hove

  • We were very impressed with the Nick from start to finish. 

    Mr & Mrs Smith Lewes Road

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Hove

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Fiveways

  • Very pleased with the experience. I would definitely recommend you and use you again.

    Ms D Edmonds Horton Road

  • Graham Griffin provided us, and continues to provide us, will all-round excellent advice. We trust his knowledge and expertise.

    Mr Blackmore & Ms O'Sullivan Financial Services

  • Paula is amazing!

    Ms Aspnall Gladstone Place

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Woodingdean

  • Hugely impressed with Ben & his team.

    Mrs Mead Upper Lewes Road

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Lewes Road

  • Ben and Paula were calm and reassuring throughout a very difficult process!

    Ms Easterbrook Bear Road

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    Mr & Mrs English The Ridgway

  • Sharon was excellent - kept us well informed, thank you so much!

    Ms Waters Cowley Drive

  • All the staff I dealt with were excellent. Sharon worked really hard to complete the sale.

    Mrs Bent Falmer Gardens

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards The Ridgway

  • Many thanks to Nick. It was an easy process thanks to you! I'm extremely satisfied with how the sale went, great job.

    Ms Mayanobe Aymer Road

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Hertford Road

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Lewes Road

  • Thanks David, all very professional.

    Mrs Flowers Foxdown Road

  • Harvey was helpful and easily reachable at the beginning of the process and Sharon kept us informed and was always happy to help.

    Ms Murch & Ms Mapa Ticehurst Road

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Woodingdean

  • Very impressive - professional and friendly, both Martin Timms and Paula Carter were excellent at keeping in contact with sensible advice based on...

    Mrs O'Connor Hove

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Selborne Place

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Kingsbury Street

  • Extremely efficient. Nick and Paula are excellent. The weekly phone calls were much appreciated. 

    Ms Gray Lewes Road

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Hove

  • Sharon was excellent, she kept us informed at all stages and was a really calming objective influence in the process.

    Ms Frederick Channel View Road

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    Mrs Field Tarner Road

  • Very happy with the service we got from you guys, everyone we dealt with was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Thanks!

    Mr Brown Titian Road

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Gladstone Terrace

  • Paula was fabulous and we felt really informed and supported. 

    Mr & Mrs Walker Lewes Road

  • Thank you Paul and Archie, you gave an excellent service, as well as Kelly. I look forward to working with you again. 

    Mr White Fiveways

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Ticehurst Road

  • In February 2016 I was looking to buy and sell very rapidly. Competition among buyers at the time was very high. Sharon @ the Woodingdean branch sh...

    Ms Helen Lyons Woodingdean

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Ladysmith Road

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Coniston Court, Holland Road

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Taunton Road

  • Very good service and communication. Paula was excellent.

    Mr & Mrs Scarboro 1 Pevensey Road

  • Excellent service from the Lewes Road branch. Martin Timms secured a quick sale & at a good price & Paula Carter worked really hard to secure...

    Ms Schulte Bear Road

  • Sharon was amazing! She kept us up to date the whole way through the process. We cannot fault Sharon or the rest of her team. 

    Mr & Mrs Ashley Woodingdean

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Fiveways

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    Mr Pilgrim Lewes Road

  • Paula was absolutely amazing!

    Mr & Mrs MacKay Lewes Road

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    Ms Tucker Willow Close

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Waldegrave Road

  • We cannot recommend Maslen's estate agents enough.

    Many thanks to Paul, Donna, Janette and the...

    Linda & Les Wigmore Close

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Lewes Road

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Fiveways

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Bishops Road

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Mafeking Road

  • Exceptional service throughout the process - should we decide to sell in the future we wouldn't hesitate to use your agency. You're a cut above the...

    Ms Windels & Mr Barham Fiveways

  • Paula's role was brilliant. Having someone office based and available was so appreciated and her promptness an impressive service - every Estate Agent...

    Ms Wynn-Jones Baxter Street

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Lewes Road

  • Very impressed with all dealings with Maslen. Paula Carter was in particular very knowledgeable and helpful. 

    Mr McBlane Hove

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Fiveways

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Lewes Road

  • Sharon and her team could not have done more in what was a difficult sale. 

    Ms Daly Woodingdean

  • Very professional service. Thank you!

    Miss New & Mr Jackson Buller Road

  • We were very pleased with services provided by the Fiveways office.

    Mr & Mrs Sawyer Shaftesbury Road

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Lewes Road

  • Our local office manager, Sharon Wareham was warm and friendly and kept us up to date at all times.

    Mr Hope The Brow

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