Winter is just around the corner and in a few weeks’ time the trees will be bare, bringing to an end the traditional Autumn property market. There has been a spate of transactions over the last month or two, but those Vendors who have not sold need to decide where to go from here. The winter months are not the most attractive to show off any house at its best and, while there continues to be a market with some strong and committed buyers, many houses will still suffer.

So here are some options to weigh and measure:

If you have to sell, then there is little choice but to keep your house on the market. The finer points of strategy are for discussion between you and your Agent and effective tactics need to be thrashed out that will give your property the best possible chance of selling over the Winter months. Think about having it re-evaluated, look at the marketing presentation, try to iron out glitches that have emerged from any feedback. There are often things that can be done to refresh the house and show it in a completely different light so now is the time to think laterally.

If you have to move, but don’t need the equity from a sale just yet, you should consider letting your house. This is a whole new ball game and you need advice on preparing the house for letting, not to mention legislation, tax, insurance etc. It needn’t be too complicated and the letting can be fully managed to save you the headache, but you may have to put in some initial effort yourself to secure a good tenant in the long run. You can let the property for six months or longer and then make a decision to sell again when the time is right.

You may be the executor of an estate and debating whether you should be waiting for a stronger market to sell a probate property. In this case the best option may be to attempt a simultaneous sale or let and go with whichever comes first. If you manage to sell the property then you will have fulfilled your responsibilities, and if not, a letting will keep the house occupied over the chillier months and you can attempt a sale once the daffodils are out.

If you are in no hurry to sell, however, there is little point in keeping your property on the market because it could start to look very stale. The obvious advice is to withdraw it until the Spring and enjoy it yourself. In the meantime keep a close eye on which comparable houses have been selling, so that you can make realistic and informed decisions when the time comes around for marketing again.

Downsizing to a more practical and convenient property is a decision that most people have to make at some point. It may be that you are in a remote location, or rattling around in a substantial house. It may be that the children have fled the nest, prompting a change of scene and release of capital.

This is, understandably, a very emotional time and the whole process can look terribly daunting, especially if your family is remote and you have little local support structure.

There are initial steps to downsizing and, having helped many Clients with this particular move, I can share some of these with you.

The Initial Steps

The first and most obvious task is to decide where you want to move to and what sort of house you would like to end up in. Ask yourself searching questions. You may want to be closer to your children or friends, in a town with amenities on your doorstep and with a cultural buzz, or in a village with a shop and a good bus route.  You may want to do away with stairs, have ease of maintenance or a smaller garden.

Having pinpointed these priorities, you need to do your sums. Have your house valued by a few local agents and choose the lowest valuation to work on. Take advice on the costs involved in the moving process and decide how much capital you want to release. The net result will provide you with a realistic figure for your next purchase.

You should now spend a bit of time viewing the sort of house that you can afford, within the parameters that you have chosen. This will allow you to visualise the space that you can expect to inhabit and enable you to decide what pieces of furniture and possessions can come with you. These are often the most emotive decisions, given the sentimental attachments that you may have, but now is the time to try to be ruthless. Family members may be able to take some pieces and local auction rooms can be very helpful with collections.
Now that you have an idea of restrictions, the process will start to look less daunting. If you can get to this stage, there is suddenly light at the end of the tunnel, because once you start the ball rolling by instructing your agent to proceed it is amazing how the rest falls into place. There is still a way to go and you will continue to need advice and support, but a good agent will provide that shoulder to lean on.
The most important thing is that the process will now be a lot clearer and you can begin to start looking forward with more confidence.
We have had great experiences with local removals/storage companies over the years and a good personal service is so important when downsizing. Mews Moves is just one of these firm and you can find more information on  http://www.mewsmoves.co.uk/