Removals to Europe, UK and Overseas Moving Service

Blog

Key Reasons to Consider Moving Early in the New Year

Moving companies East Anglia - Hamiltons Removals

Most people think the housing market only really gets moving around Easter time. With the warmer weather, the extra daylight hours, and the chance to have a spring clean all being cited as reasons why estate agents are much busier in spring than in winter.

However, there are plenty of reasons why would-be homebuyers should consider putting their properties on the market early in the New Year. Here Hamiltons Removals, one of the leading moving companies in East Anglia, highlight some key reasons why the market is likely to be busy in early 2022, and how we can help if you will be ‘on the move’ next year.

Supply and Demand

Reports from property specialists throughout the past few months have indicated a shortage of available houses. Therefore, it’s very much a seller’s market at the moment. It may not have helped that, according to construction industry experts, more than 100,000 fewer homes will be built by the end of 2023 than initially forecast because the sector was hit hard by lockdowns and other restrictions. This is especially true when it comes to social housing.

So it’s a good time to sell and get things moving, although it is worth bearing in mind that finding the right home to move to may be more difficult. If you do choose to sell, it is worth knowing that new listings always garner the most attention.

The Time Factor

The holiday periodbetween Christmas and New Year gives people the time to view properties online. Crucially it will also give other people the chance to view yours, assuming it’s on the market at the same time.

Rightmove, the property website, reports there’s usually a huge surge in traffic between Christmas and the New Year because people are together and discussing plans for the future. Many people make a house move a New Year resolution.

The Cost of Moving

There are some specific market conditions this year that should influence your decision.

The stamp duty holiday is now over – initially, the stamp duty holiday meant buyers didn’t have to pay it on the first £500,000 of a property’s purchase price. Then it was the first £250,000. And, as of October 1, it is back to the first £125,000 just like it was before the pandemic.

However, interest rates are predicted to rise at some point in 2022, having been at a historically low level for many months. Once interest rates rise, this usually feeds through into mortgage rates, making it more expensive to buy a home. Many would-be buyers know this and may think there’s no sense waiting any longer to buy.

The Pandemic Effect

The pandemic has also had an effect on buyer’s attitudes, not just on the number of homes being built. According to property portal Zoopla, more than one in five (22%) people surveyed planned to move during the next 18 months (using October 2021 as a starting point). This is well above the usual figure of 5%, and a lot of that is thought to be down to the pandemic, as people reassess their lives and lifestyles. Zoopla predicts in its House Price Index (HPI) report that this will translate into around 1.5million homes changing hands in the UK in 2022.

What about prices? The HPI report predicts an overall rise of 3%, with rises higher where properties are relatively affordable, such as in North West England. On the contrary, London is predicted to have a relatively low rise in prices as a result of more and more people looking to move out of the capital in search of a more relaxed rural lifestyle. The pandemic has meant an increase in working from home and hybrid working, so people don’t have to go into the office or commute so much.

Moving House with Hamiltons Removals

If you are considering removals to Norfolk, Suffolk, East Anglia, or anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales, give Hamiltons Removals a call. If you would like a free online removals quote, follow this link. We also offer video surveys or can arrange for one of our surveyors to visit your home and provide a comprehensive quote.

We can also provide a packing service. Our experienced team will prepare and pack all your possessions, including fragile itms, the day before your move using the highest-quality packing materials.

And if you are looking at moving companies in East Anglia, Hamiltons can also offer a range of specialist services, including moves with pets, horses, vehicles and machinery. We can also pack and unpack your items for you, using high-quality packaging materials.We are equally adept at organising commercial moves too.


« Back