Should You Sell Your Home Before or After Christmas?
Wed 15 Oct 2025
It’s a question we hear every autumn: “Is now the right time to sell, or should I wait until the New Year?”
If you’re considering selling your home in Surrey, timing can absolutely make a difference, but not always in the way you might expect. At Wills & Smerdon, we understand that every move is personal. That’s why we help sellers make decisions based on what’s right for them, not just the calendar.
So, should you list before or after Christmas? Let’s look at both sides.
Why Selling Before Christmas Could Be a Smart Move
1. Surrey Looks Stunning in Winter:Homes in our beautiful area, think Shere, East Horsley, Ripley, often come to life during the festive season. With twinkling lights, candles, open fires, and countryside charm, period properties and cottages relly come into their own as the nights draw in. Picture “The Holiday” film’s famous Rosehill Cottage was inspired by Honeysuckle Cottage in Holmbury St Mary, just around the corner. There's a real storybook quality to so many of our villages at this time of year, which can make for very emotionally compelling viewings. And, let’s face it, the majority of us buy with our hearts, not our heads!
2. Less Competition:
Many sellers wait until January to put their homes up for sale, so a pre-Christmas listing can help your property stand out. If you have a picturesque home that is enhanced by festive traditions - be it Autumn wreaths and colouring, or Christmas decs, those images alone can “stop the scroll” and make your listing stand out. Not to forget that buyers scrolling portals during the holiday break increase significantly, and if your home is featured it will have far less competition - increasing your chances of serious attention.
3. Motivated Buyers:
Autumn buyers tend to have a specific reason for moving - job relocation, schooling, or downsizing. That can mean fewer time-wasters and more serious enquiries.
What About Waiting Until the New Year?
1. New Year, New GoalsIt’s true that the property market often sees a spike in January. People reassess their living situation over Christmas [let’s not go there!] and many begin searching with renewed motivation in the New Year. Those first few weeks back in the office after New Year are fraught with ringing phones and people rushing around to viewings, sometimes on quite icy roads!
2. More Time to Prepare
If your home needs staging, has repairs to sort, or you’re still considering your onward move, waiting until January or February might feel more comfortable. That said, our advice is always this: the best time to sell is when you are ready.
What the Market Is Telling Us
According to the TwentyCi Property & Homemover Report Q3 2025, it’s been a strong year for sales:- Over 1 million homes have had a sale agreed this year - up 5.1% from 2024.
- Average time to exchange is now 123 days, so getting started before the New Year may allow you to complete in Spring 2026.
- Price reductions are more frequent in £1m+ properties, suggesting sellers at the higher end of the market should price strategically.
Downsizers, This One’s for You
Many of our clients are looking to downsize, and they’re not alone. In fact, the same TwentyCi report found that home sales among pension-age sellers have surged by 26% this year, with many citing early retirement planning and lifestyle changes as key drivers. If you live in a larger, characterful home, especially a detached house or bungalow, you’re in high demand.The data shows these types of homes are:
- 65% more likely to be listed,
- and up to 600% more likely to sell than other property types.