Wanting to sell a property in 2025? Start planning now
If you’re considering moving or taking your first step onto the property ladder in 2025, your timing could be far better than you may have realised. After all, supply and demand are finally starting to even out, with, according to one major property online portal, numbers of properties up for sale reaching their highest level for seven years this August. So buyers now have more choice, things are looking up for would-be sellers and the market is active enough to keep things moving.
At the same time, while future cuts in base rates from the Bank of England are anticipated to be slower than before this autumn’s Budget, the Bank and the Office of Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) expect that, by the end of 2025, the rate will be down to between 3.6% and 3.8%.
Equally, mortgage rates are improving, and confidence is climbing, while prices are rising steadily rather than in rapid hikes as previously.
That doesn’t mean that challenges won’t remain throughout 2025. Getting the timing right is crucial, and you’ll need to be proactive and plan ahead. Here are some points to bear in mind:
1.) The average time from listing to completion is 18 to 22 weeks or nearly six months at the upper limit, including conveyancing. So plan carefully.
2.) Changes to stamp duty in this autumn’s Budget mean that this careful timing has become even more important. From March 2025, those buying a home worth more than £125,0000 will have to budget for this tax. For first-time purchasers, the threshold beyond which stamp duty is levied will also fall, from £425,000 to £300,000. So if you act before March, it could make a significant difference. You’ll therefore need to think about how these impending changes could affect your timings.
3.) Spring and autumn are typically the busiest seasons for the housing market, with greater interest from buyers and more competition for properties. So if you’re thinking of moving later in the year, it’s a good idea to start discussing your strategy at an early stage. Use the first part of 2025 to assess how you may need to improve your home to attract your ideal buyer, and indeed who they might be, and consider when and where to list based on these things, rather than just jumping in and listing straight away. That will prevent your sale from dragging on into 2026.
So, with a well thought-out strategy, you’ll be in pole position to enter the market at the right time in 2025. But, as we said, some challenges and economic uncertainties still lie ahead. Therefore you’ll need to be sure your price is realistic, and that you’ve done all you can to portray your home in its most positive light.
Perhaps more than ever, in 2025, following a year of change in the sector, you’ll need to work with an estate agent who knows your local market in great detail. They can then offer expert guidance on everything from marketing and pricing and much more besides, so that you get the speedy result you want.
Talk to us
At Carter & May, we’re the leading estate agents for Salisbury and the surrounding areas, so are ideally placed to help whether you’re buying, selling, letting or renting. And we’ve earned our reputation for gaining results and tailored customer service excellence.
We’ll be with your every step of the way as you plan and complete your property sale in 2025, with a friendly, committed and professional approach from the moment of first contact.