Selling a Home in a Changing Market: How to Improve Your Chances After Christmas
Many home movers currently marketing their properties are finding it harder than expected to secure a buyer. The latest data from Rightmove confirms that the market has softened more sharply than usual for this time of year, and that sellers need to adapt their approach to stay competitive.
Average asking prices for newly listed properties fell by 1.8 per cent in November to £364,833, taking prices 0.5 per cent below the level recorded this time last year. This is the largest November fall since 2012 and reflects an early arrival of the seasonal slowdown. A decade high supply of homes is giving buyers significantly more choice, while uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Budget has encouraged many potential buyers to pause and wait for clarity.
Despite this challenging backdrop, activity has not disappeared. Sales agreed so far in 2025 remain roughly 4 per cent higher than at the same point in 2024. Buyers are still purchasing, but they are selective and value conscious. For sellers, the weeks ahead provide an opportunity to refresh strategy and position their home for the returning surge of demand in the new year.
Below are five practical and effective steps to improve your chances of securing a buyer after Christmas.
1. Review and Reset Your Asking Price
In a market where supply is high and buyers are more cautious, pricing is often the decisive factor. With average asking prices falling, properties that are even slightly overpriced risk being filtered out of searches or dismissed in favour of better priced alternatives.
Consider reviewing your property against comparable listings nearby and adjusting your asking price to reflect current conditions. Some sellers nationally have achieved renewed interest after revising pricing by around 7 per cent. Aligning your property more closely with buyer expectations can generate new enquiries without diminishing long term value, especially as conditions begin to improve in early 2026.
2. Refresh Your Marketing and Make Your Listing Feel New Again
Properties that have been on the market for some time can become overlooked. A refreshed presentation helps reintroduce the property to the market and can attract buyers who may not have engaged with the original listing.
Enhancements may include updated professional photography, clearer floor plans, a short video tour, or a rewritten description that highlights key benefits such as transport links, school catchments, outdoor space or condition. A fresh visual identity and narrative can make a meaningful difference to online engagement and help your property stand out from the increased number of competing listings.
3. Prepare the Property Thoroughly for Viewings
When buyers have more choice, presentation becomes more influential. A well prepared home can increase viewing numbers and encourage stronger offers.
Simple steps such as decluttering, completing minor maintenance jobs, refreshing tired walls with neutral paint, presenting outdoor areas neatly and improving lighting can increase the sense of space and quality. Buyers are currently prioritising properties that are ready to move into, as they are less inclined to commit to major work during uncertain conditions. Ensuring your home feels cared for and easy to imagine living in will support better outcomes.
4. Consider a Market Rest and Relaunch in the New Year
If your property has been on the market for an extended period with limited progress, taking it off for a short period can reset buyer impressions. A stale listing can lead buyers to assume that something is wrong with the property, even when that is not the case.
A rest period through late December followed by a relaunch in late January or February often aligns well with seasonal trends. These months historically deliver the strongest surge in buyer activity, as seen in previous Rightmove market analysis. A carefully timed relaunch with refreshed marketing can put your property in front of new buyers who enter the market at the start of the year.
5. Re evaluate Your Choice of Estate Agent
If you have already adjusted price and refreshed presentation without meaningful improvement, it may be worth reviewing the performance of your estate agent. A different agent may offer stronger local insights, more proactive sales strategies or a clearer marketing plan targeted at the right buyer pool.
An effective agent in the current market should be advising you actively, monitoring local competition and adapting strategy as conditions evolve. A change of agent is not a backward step but a strategic decision that can inject new energy into the sale.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Rightmove expects national average asking prices to rise by around 4 per cent in 2026 as affordability improves and mortgage rates potentially ease. With many buyers poised to return in the first quarter of the year, now is a good time for sellers to prepare.
By reviewing pricing, improving presentation, refreshing marketing or planning a strategic relaunch, you can position your property to benefit from the expected increase in demand early in the new year.
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