Happy New Year. We hope you enjoyed the recent break and are entering 2025 feeling refreshed and energised. And if you’re contemplating selling, buying, letting out or renting a new home in the next 12 months, we hope you’re facing the task with renewed vigour.
January is, of course, a time for New Year’s resolutions, and for thinking about what we want to achieve in the weeks and months ahead. It’s easy to dismiss these pledges, or to think they’ll never last, but, done properly, they create a roadmap to a more fulfilling future.
You also need to ensure you’re making the right resolutions, and, with Christmas now all over, this month offers a great chance for a mental fresh start and to bid goodbye to whatever 2024 brought. You just need to strike the right balance between attainability, realism and aspiration. It’s also always worth having goals you can break down into manageable steps.
Resolutions apply to your next property transaction as much as they do to anything else. And 2025 could be a great year to make your move. Major UK lender Nationwide announced this month that house prices had risen for the fourth month in a row in December. This meant that last year ended on a “strong footing”. It also reported that the average cost of a home in the UK had reached £269,426.
Nationwide’s monthly tracker found December’s prices were up 0.7% on November, and by 4.7% as an annual figure. What’s more, this is the strongest rate of annual price inflation since the autumn of 2022.
Here are a few sensible steps for 2025 which we believe are worth considering:
- Know your market
Research online to understand the property sector in your area or the one you’re aiming to move to. This will help you to remain realistic and competitive in terms of budget and/or pricing. Look at property portals, local estate agents’ websites and the Land Registry.
- Set timescales
If you haven’t already established a target move date, do so now. It always helps to have a deadline to work towards. Think about when you want to have listed and sold your property by, the closing process and when you ideally need to be in your new place.
- Get organised
It’s never too early to get a head start on gathering all the key documents you’ll need for your property transaction. Find the important paperwork now and keep it safe, including bank statements, tax returns, credit information and personal ID. It’s worth doing this before you even start looking for a new pad.
- Check your credit score
Keep your credit balances low and have no more than three sources of credit. Check your credit score regularly so that you’re aware of what it is. You can also work proactively to boost your score, for example by addressing any discrepancies or errors you find in your rating. Make all payments consistently on time, reduce any debts and avoid unnecessary credit enquiries. This will help you to access better mortgage deals, saving you money across the life of your home loan.
- Be realistic on price
Correct pricing is, of course, vital to a speedy sale, and you’ll need to be realistic and competitive. Together with your estate agent, come up with a reasonable figure which balances under and over-pricing. You can also research similar properties in your area (and what they’re selling for) yourself.
- Work with an experienced estate agent
Despite the encouraging signs, challenges definitely remain in the UK’s property market in 2025. An agent who knows what they’re doing and understands the local market inside out will make the whole process run more smoothly and profitably. You’ll need an agency with a strong track record of success locally.
- Depersonalise, declutter and boost your kerb appeal
Decluttering is an excellent starting point for preparing for any move, but especially if you’re preparing for a sale. (It’s also good for your mental health, and January is a great time to do it.) Clear personal items like photos so that prospective buyers see a blank canvas and can picture themselves in your home. Free up as much space as you can, and store excess furniture elsewhere.
Make the most of your space in the way you arrange the furniture, and consider adding touches like fresh flowers.
For added ‘kerb appeal’ (i.e. appearance from outside, and first impressions), have a neat lawn, fresh exterior paintwork and think of details like a welcome mat. Equally, consider external lighting and maybe pressure-washing the driveway.
- Upgrade strategically
You don’t necessarily need the upheaval or expense of a full renovation to attract buyers – a targeted update can have a real impact. High-return areas include the kitchen and bathroom. Updated features, a new lick of paint or some energy-efficiency upgrades can all make a difference.
Equally, it pays to remain open to feedback from those who’ve seen you’re property but decided it’s not for them. Make adjustments as you see fit, be open to viewings at times which may not seem immediately convenient – and remember to keep the place viewing-ready constantly.
Oakfield says
At Oakfield Estate Agents, we cover East Sussex for sales, lettings, rentals and block management, with offices in Bexhill, Hastings, Eastbourne, Lewes, Heathfield and Uckfield. We love and are proud of the area in which we operate, and our roots in the county run very deep. What’s more, we’ve been established here as an independent agency since the mid-1990s, so understand the local market inside out.
Customers return to us time after time for every move they make thanks to our personalised, honest and genuine service. So we’re here for your transaction in 2025 and to help you fulfil your January property resolutions with expert guidance and advice.
Get in touch today for a chat about your own circumstances. And, once again, Happy New Year.