The property market, like most other industries, has had a bumpy year (or two). With Covid restrictions in place at the start of the year meaning fewer property sales, the volume of residential transactions in Scotland fell 6.5% compared to 2019-20 records. But the surge in demand when the market resumed meant that property prices reached an all-time high of £194,100, reaching its highest point of £199,954 in the fourth quarter of 2020-21. This was good news for those looking to sell with their home values increasing and making huge profits, and those that did sell, did it quickly.
There is a lot of preparation that goes into selling your home, from arranging your finances, buying a new home yourself, and getting your current home ready for the market. December is normally the quietest month for property searches but come January, visits to s1homes can increase up to 46%, as seen in 2021, pre-pandemic. That’s why, if you’re thinking that 2022 is the year you make your next move, then now is the time to get your home ready so that as soon as the bells chime on Hogmanay and your hangover has settled, you’re ready to welcome viewers.
So how can you get your home ready for the market now?
Take your pictures now
You want to show off your home in the perfect way and when it’s looking its best. Things like decorations and the weather outside can date your pictures and could make it look like your listing has been on the market for longer than it has. You don’t want Christmas decorations cluttering up your pictures so now is a good time to get them taken before the tinsel takes over. It’s also a good time to get ahead if you think you’ll be a bit busier soon. If your calendar is filling up, then photographers might be too.
If you think your home could do with a little TLC to make it shine, then now is also a great time to get your paintbrush out. Not only are there great deals across DIY and home stores for Black Friday and Christmas, you’ll no doubt be expecting a few guests over the holiday period so another great excuse to give your home a little spruce up.
Do your finances now
Approaching the end of the year is a great time to sort your finances whether you’re looking to sell your home or not. Assessing your current income and outgoings and doing an overview of your spend for the year is a great way to help make a plan for future big purchases. The cost of living has been increasing in past years and doesn’t look to be slowing down. Our monthly bills have been increasing which might not register initially as they might have been small increases but doing an overview of the year will allow you to compare which bills are now costing you more. If you are applying for a mortgage to finance your move, you will need to assess your affordability anyway so it’s worth putting in the time now so that your expectations are met going into the new year. Remember that property prices are high, which is good for your selling price but will also mean you will need to pay more for a new home too.
Get a head start
Preparing your home for selling in advance of the new year means that you’ll have a head start against everyone else and could possibly secure an early sale. This will put you in a great position if you are selling and buying at the same time. By securing a buyer for your current home means you can feel more confident searching for a new home and putting in an offer. Buying and selling at the same time is all a balancing act and sometimes the timing doesn’t work, but ensuring you are prepared in advance and have planned for different outcomes ensures you are a lot less anxious and can enjoy the process a little more. Plan for the scenario if you find a buyer before you find a new home; do you have somewhere to go temporarily as to not compromise the sale? Would you need to negotiate with the buyer for a longer entry date? Another scenario to consider is if you found a dream property before your home sells, but the best way to avoid this is to get your property prepared for the market sooner rather than later.
Get your home valued
It’s so simple to have your home valued, and many estate agents offer this service free of charge, so there’s no harm in getting a valuation booked in as soon as possible. Luckily, s1homes can help with this, just visit s1homes.com/selling/estate-agent, enter a few details and we’ll contact estate agents local to you and they’ll contact you directly.
You can also find FAQs about the selling process, what happens during a visit for your valuation, and other great selling tips.
When it comes to searching for your next home, you’ll find all the best properties for sale in Scotland and s1homes.com. Start your search today.