Many future sellers also made one of the first steps to putting their house on the market for sale, by sending a request to an estate agent to come out and value their home. The week following Christmas (w/c 26th December) was the busiest week for these valuation requests since early September, peaking on the 28th of December as some people returned to work following the bank holidays. Valuation requests were 29% higher compared to the same time last year.
The number of views of homes for sale on Rightmove jumped by 20% between the week of Christmas (w/c 19th December) and Boxing Day week (w/c 26th), as prospective buyers considered the new choice available.
Rightmove’s property expert, Tim Bannister, said: “Boxing Day is traditionally the start of activity ramping up into January and the spring selling season after Christmas, as people return to their search or consider a New Year move. We’ve seen some promising activity and familiar patterns over the festive period this year, which are good signs for the year ahead.
“While we expect a calmer market this year than we’ve had since the pandemic started, the record number of sellers who chose to come to market this Boxing Day indicates there is a group of motivated sellers ready to move, who perhaps held back and now feel more confident. After such frenetic market conditions over the last few years, this year’s calmer market will better suit measured movers who prefer to take their time to find the right property.
“The jump in the number of views of properties for sale pre and post-Christmas is another good sign that the new choice available is getting a lot of attention from future buyers. After a pause for the festivities, those wanting to buy this year will be ready to get back to their plans and assess where they’d like to live and what they can afford. Those sellers who got a head start and have their home already up for sale will now be benefitting from the jump in viewings over the next few weeks, as people settle back into their usual routines.”
