’TIS THE SEASON TO BE SELLING

Times change — with families now starting to plan moves during Christmas

TAXES, politics and house prices should be verboten topics around the Christmas dinner table. Y et we can ’t help ourselves.

The Christmas pudding flames have barely blown out before we’re on prop - erty sites, looking at what we can (and can’t) afford.

Last Christmas saw more than three million visits to Rightmove across Christ - mas Day and Boxing Day.

Agents say that, on Christmas Day , families discuss moving and, in the following 48 hours, scour the internet to see what ’s on the market.

Valuation inquiries on TV property expert Sarah Beeny’s online agency Tepilo rose 33 per cent last Christmas, and Rightmove gained a record four million visits on the first working day of 2017 — January 4.

‘I’ve come across many people who hadn’t planned on moving, but had time to research over Christmas and put in offers on houses they’d seen over that period,’ says Beeny.

It’s increasingly the case that momentum in the housing market begins to mount at the start of the calendar year and not, as used to be the case, from the Easter weekend.

‘ Why wait until spring when the competition is more crowded?’ asks James Thorburn, a buying agent who shortlists homes for those looking to move to South-West England.

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) says the highest demand for homes this year — measured by inquiries about specific properties and viewings by potential purchasers — was in January and February.

It says the supply of homes on sale was also highest this year in February, when a typical agency had 44 properties.

Zoopla also reports that its three busiest months for property searches online are January , F ebruary and March.

Agents suggest a key reason for the early start is the need for families to move in time to get children into preferred schools.

Local authorities rarely consider applications based on a new address until contracts have exchanged. AND

big City bonuses, given to financial services highfliers at the end of the year, provide a spur for those wanting to move.

So if you do take the plunge over the holiday season, what’s the best strategy?

Some usual rules apply: declutter your home, before seeking valuations from at least three estate agents with proven experience of selling your type of property.

Expect to pay the typical agency commission of 1.2 per cent, according to the comparison website

Reallymoving.com, while consumer group Which? advises sellers to sign up to an agent for only six to eight weeks, so you can switch to another if no buyer is found.

Marketing a home in winter has other demands.

‘ Get rid of blinds and dark curtains that block light and instead place mirrors in places that will reflect sunlight, to make rooms seem bigger ,’ s ays Sarah Beeny.

‘Lightly coloured decor and furnishings also create a brighter space.’

Make a virtue of the season by keeping the home warm, laying log fires or lighting wood burners before your viewers arrive. Emphasise features such as underfloor heating or any recently improved insulation.

If you start marketing your home and receive a quick viewing before Twelfth Night, take down Christmas decorations, as they make rooms look smaller and may distract would-be purchasers.

‘Keep driveways clear of leaves and place wellies by the front door , so that viewers can e xplore t he garden,’ says James Skudder, of estate agency Fine & Country.

Still not convinced that ’ tis the season to be selling? Consider one fact: the telephone answering service Moneypenny, which handles 1.2 million calls a year on behalf of estate agents, says the single busiest time for propertyrelated calls is the first working day after the Christmas break.

Happy house-hunting!