It might feel far too early to think about Christmas — we’ve still got summer sun and BBQs to enjoy — but if you’re dreaming of spending the festive season in a new home, the clock is already ticking.

Selling and buying a property isn’t something that happens overnight. Even a smooth, straightforward move can take around six months from start to finish. That’s everything from getting your home ready to market, finding a buyer, negotiating the deal, working through conveyancing, surveys, mortgage arrangements, and then… actually moving.

And that’s if everything goes to plan. We all know property transactions can be unpredictable — chains break, searches take longer than expected, and sometimes surveys uncover things that need sorting before completion.

Allowing six months gives you breathing space to handle any bumps along the way without the stress of watching the calendar tick down towards Christmas Eve. It also means you can be choosier — you’ll have time to find the right buyer for your property and the right home for yourself, instead of feeling rushed into the first option that appears.

If you want to be unpacked, decorated, and sitting under your new Christmas tree this December, the best time to list your property is right now. If you can’t do that, aim for no later than early September. Any later, and you risk running out of time before the festive season arrives.

Leaving it too late can push your completion date into the New Year — which could mean spending Christmas in the middle of boxes, juggling paperwork, and wondering when the keys will finally be yours.

If “Home for Christmas” isn’t just a song lyric for you this year, get the process underway now. By starting early, you’ll give yourself the best possible chance to enjoy the holidays in your new home, with nothing to think about except turkey timings and whether the tree is straight.

If you would like to have an informal chat around your options and your timescale, please give the Harrisons team a call on 01795 474848