Is now a good time to sell a house? How to market in the UK and what properties are selling fastest

The longer a house is on the market, the less it tends to sell for.

House prices have been steadily increasing for the past 10 years, but in recent months we’ve seen this stall and now all experts (including the Office for Budget Responsibility, OBR) are forecasting they will fall over the next couple of years – somewhere between 5% and 15% depending on who you believe.

With the rising cost of living, higher mortgage payments and a predicted two year recession you might be tempted to sell up and move into more affordable housing. You wouldn’t be alone. Property buying company, House Buyer Bureau is reporting a big increase in the numbers of people enquiring about a quick cash sale due to concerns over rising costs and falling house prices.

Managing Director Chris Hodgkinson said: “Most people can and will sell their house on the open market. But for those who can’t afford to wait six months or more, we’re seeing an increasing number enquiring about a quick cash sale to us.”

When’s the best time to put your property on the market, and what are the hacks to help it to sell?

Is ‘now’ always the right time to sell?

So, when is the best time to sell a house? An estate agent will always tell you that ‘now’ is the best time, but it depends on how quickly you need to complete your sale.

Listing your house for sale in December and early January is going to take you longer to find a buyer, and ultimately could result in you getting less for your house. The longer a house is on the market, the less it tends to sell for.

The type of house you’re selling also makes a difference. If you’re selling a one or two bed flat/terraced house, then it is more likely to appeal to first time buyers and young couples. These buyers tend to be more active in January, February, March and September (not during summer holidays!)

If you’re selling three and four bed family homes, then you’re best to put your house on the market outside of any school holidays. And if you’re selling a bungalow then your target buyer will be elderly and looking to downsize – you’re best to list your house during warmer months.

Whenever you decide to sell your house, you need to be prepared to wait if you are selling via an estate agent. Zoopla says the average sale takes six months to complete. Can you afford to wait that long?

Property firms

If you can’t afford to wait that long, then one option is to sell a professional property buying company. A genuine firm will be able to buy your house for cash in as little as seven days, and as they are your buyer there is no risk of the sale getting delayed or falling through.

Their offer will be ‘below market value’ but you will have cash in the bank far more quickly than any other route, and there are usually no fees to pay.

Before agreeing to sell it is vital that you do your research as this industry is poorly regulated and there are plenty of firms who will say one thing and do another.

Seller beware

If you are interested in a quick sale, then the top three tips from Chris are: “You should always ask for proof of funds so that you can see that the company has the money to buy your property. You should do background checks on Companies House to make sure they do buy property. And you should read real customer reviews on sites like Trust Pilot to make sure they are a genuine buyer.”

For your FREE cash offer, visit housebuyerbureau.co.uk/sell or call free 0800 880 3232