There is something appealing about starting the new year in a new home. Unpacking the decorations in a different living room, hosting family somewhere with a little more space, or simply having the move behind you before January all make a pre-Christmas completion a popular goal, and every autumn a good number of buyers and sellers across Northamptonshire achieve it.
The secret is momentum. The legal stages of a sale are much the same whatever the time of year, but how quickly they move depends a great deal on preparation, communication and everyone in the chain working towards the same date. Here is how to give your move the best possible chance of completing before the festive break.
Everyone is working towards the same goal
One of the real advantages of moving at this time of year is that you are rarely the only person in the chain hoping to be settled by Christmas. Buyers and sellers who are active in the autumn tend to be motivated, and when everyone shares a deadline, decisions get made more quickly and paperwork tends to come back sooner.
That shared motivation is worth harnessing. If you are hoping to complete before Christmas, say so early, to your agent, your solicitor and, through your agent, to the rest of the chain. A clear target gives everyone something to plan around.
Understanding the process
Once a sale is agreed, solicitors are instructed on both sides and the seller’s solicitor prepares the contract pack. Searches are ordered, the buyer’s lender carries out its valuation and issues a mortgage offer, and the solicitors work through any enquiries. When everything is in place, contracts are exchanged and completion follows, often within a week or two.
Every transaction is different, and timescales vary depending on the chain, the lender and the property, but the commonly cited period from agreeing a sale to completion is around two to three months. That means a sale agreed in September or early October is well placed for a December completion, and straightforward purchases, such as those involving a first time buyer, a cash buyer or no onward chain, can move considerably faster.
Coming to market this autumn
If you have not yet put your home on the market, there is still every reason to do so now. Autumn buyers are typically serious about moving, and a property launched in the coming weeks will be in front of people who are actively looking rather than browsing.
Whether your completion lands just before Christmas or early in the new year, coming to market now puts you ahead of the many sellers who wait until spring. You will have agreed your sale and be well into the process while others are only just booking their photography. Arranging a valuation is the natural first step, giving you a clear picture of your property’s value and a realistic plan for the months ahead.
Get your paperwork ready early
The single most effective thing a seller can do to keep a sale moving is to have documents ready before they are asked for. Building regulations completion certificates, planning consents, guarantees for damp proofing, windows or roofing work, boiler service records and any FENSA or electrical certificates are requested in almost every transaction. Gathering them now saves days, sometimes weeks, later on.
Instructing a solicitor as soon as you are under offer, and completing the property information and fittings forms promptly, gives the process a strong start. Buyers can help in the same way by having proof of deposit funds and identification ready for the anti money laundering checks that solicitors and agents are required to carry out. The GOV.UK guidance on buying and selling a home gives a useful overview of each stage.
Keep communication moving
Quick responses make a real difference. Answering your solicitor’s questions the same day, returning signed documents promptly and keeping your mortgage broker up to date all help the transaction keep pace. Small gains at each stage add up, and a sale that moves steadily through October and November is in a strong position by December.
This is also where a good agent earns their keep. Your agent will be in regular contact with every party in the chain, chasing progress and spotting anything that needs attention before it becomes a hold-up. Asking for regular updates on the whole chain, not only your own sale, helps you plan with confidence.
Planning around the festive period
Solicitors, lenders and removal firms all work to slightly different schedules in December, so it pays to plan ahead. Aiming for a completion date in the first half of the month, rather than the last few days before Christmas, gives everyone a comfortable margin and makes the move itself far less pressured.
Booking removals early is sensible too, as popular dates fill quickly. Once you have a provisional date, confirm it again a week beforehand and arrange for utilities, meter readings and post redirection to be in place.
Making the most of a December move
A December move has its own charm. Arriving at your new home with time to settle in before the holidays, choosing where the tree will go and spending the festive season getting to know a new neighbourhood is a lovely way to end the year.
A little preparation keeps the day itself running smoothly. Pack a box of essentials for the first night, including the kettle, bedding and some warm layers, locate the stopcock and consumer unit early, and plan for the shorter daylight hours so that the most important rooms are set up while it is still light.
If your completion moves into January
Sometimes a transaction simply needs a little longer, and if your completion falls in January instead, you are still in an excellent position. Removal firms have more availability, everyone is back at full capacity after the break, and you will be settling into your new home just as the spring market begins to gather pace.
What matters most is that the move is right, not that it meets a particular date. Having your sale agreed and progressing through the winter means you are moving forward while many others are still at the planning stage.
Moving with Jackson Grundy
Whether you are already under offer or thinking about coming to market this autumn, our local teams are here to help you plan a move that works for you. If you are already selling with us, your branch can talk you through the progress of your chain and what will help keep it on track.
You can read more about how we approach selling, browse homes currently for sale across Northamptonshire, or contact your local branch to talk through your plans.
