Seasonal House buying ????

naturegirl_2

I was wondering if there is a particular time of the year to put my house on the market?
I am renting it out at the moment but the agreement finishes at the end of June. I have told them they can stay in the house on a month by month arrangement. Would Sept be fine as I feel people aren't looking to buy around Xmas or early in the year! or am I way off the mark!
Further to this question is, I live 400 miles away so I would have to move back at some point to empty the house etc. I was also thinking of selling it without an estate agent, am I mad under the circumstances?:p

Gwhiz

It used to be September/October as people thnk of where they want to be for Xmas and in the Spring.

In this dead market, who knows!

Tafmack

I sold my house in brighton in October 2009, and had a lovely tenant who was happy to show viewers round. She actually sold the house for me as I lived over 100 miles away.

If you have a good relationship with your tenants, and they want to move, then it can work. Do you expect them to show viewers round or do you have someone who can do the job for you? If you are depending on the tenants, do they usually keep the house in a clean, tidy condition? Are they available at reasonable times to show people? Have you thought about what incentive you can offer them for doing it for you?

I placed my house on all the free property websites but actually sold it to a couple who saw it on Gumtree.

Good luck, whichever option you take!

silverchair

I have quite a good relationship with my landlord, but after a day's work I would not be happy showing potential buyers around. That is a job which people called estate agents are paid to do. Just a thought.

I think you were very lucky Tafmack

PasturesNew

Your tenants don't even have to allow viewings. Even if, at first, they agree to it, when the reality and enormity sinks in (they can't relax, having to wait in for people who don't turn up, etc) they'll be thoroughly fed up with it. It'd be absolutely outrageous to think tenants could/would show round prospective buyers.

You're either a landlord/renting it out, or you're selling it. You can't mix and match the bits that make your life easiest.