Yes, Mariah hasn’t even defrosted yet. The pumpkins haven’t fully grown. And nobody in their right mind is talking about Christmas jumpers in August.
But if you want to be in a new home by Christmas, now’s the time to start the conversation. Here’s why.
Because it takes longer than you think
The average home purchase in England currently takes somewhere between four and six months from the day it hits the market to the day the keys change hands. Work backwards from mid-December, and August is a good time to start!
Start now, and you’ll be in a great position to be moving in late November. Leave it until autumn, and Christmas has a habit of turning into New Year very quickly.
The Autumn Budget could bring a rush
The Autumn Budget lands at the end of October. Any positive change to Stamp Duty, even a small one, could bring a wave of new buyers into the market almost overnight.
We of course don’t have any details or concrete facts, but the buyers already lined up, viewing and negotiating before any announcement tend to enjoy a much smoother ride than those trying to jump on afterwards. It is better to be prepared than not!
Beat the January stampede
Many people wait until the new year to start looking, and you may be thinking that is the perfect time. The trouble is, so does everyone else.
Christmas often brings the realisation that you have outgrown your home, or perhaps it is part of a New Year’s resolution to finally move; either way, the market always gets busier.
Getting ahead of that January rush means less competition for the homes you love, and that can only be a good thing.
The admin is easier before December
Many professions slow down over the Christmas period. From solicitors to removal companies. You lose half of December straight away.
Completing in October or November gives you room to settle, unpack, and actually enjoy your first Christmas rather than eating turkey out of a moving box.
So while Mariah is still very much in the freezer, and Halloween hasn’t even had a look-in, the calendar is doing something quietly urgent behind the scenes.
If a home for Christmas in Bexhill, Rye, Battle, Tenterden or anywhere across our patch is even a possibility on your list, we’d love to talk. A quick conversation now might be the difference between hosting in December and unpacking in January.
