Updated on 1 December 2023
Boxing Day is regarded as the busiest day of the year for online property searches, as people use their brand new computers, phones and tablets to hunt for a new home.
Last year the market experienced a Boxing Day surge as 2022 drew to a close, with the number of sellers putting homes on the market up by 46% compared with the same day a year earlier, according to Rightmove.
The property website also said the number of sellers putting their properties up for sale on 26 December 2022 was the highest it has ever recorded for any Boxing Day.
And the week following Christmas was the busiest week for these valuation requests since early September, peaking on 28 December as some people returned to work following the Bank Holidays. Valuation requests were 29% higher compared to the same time last year.
Rightmove’s property expert, Tim Bannister said: “Boxing Day is traditionally the start of activity ramping up into January and the spring selling season after Christmas, as people return to their search or consider a New Year move.
“The jump in number of views of properties for sale pre and post-Christmas is another good sign that the new choice available is getting a lot of attention from future buyers. After a pause for the festivities, those wanting to buy will be ready to get back to their plans and assess where they’d like to live and what they can afford.”
Paul Preen, Lang Town & Country managing director
Following the Boxing Day trend
Like Rightmove and Zoopla, our Lang Town & Country team also sees an upsurge in house-hunters visiting our website during the festive period.
Paul Preen, managing director, said: “Boxing Day traditionally has been one of the busiest days for internet traffic to the major property portals.
“For the last 10 years, stats have shown that it is the most active day for consumers to look at what properties are available.
“Visitor levels remain strong generally up until December 29th, and then drop away until usually January 2nd or 3rd, where levels increase again.
“Lang Town & Country offices are open for business over the festive period, and in recent years we’ve found these to be very productive days, with new enquiries coming from people visiting our offices in person, via email and on the phone.”
Richard Rabin, director of Lettings at Lang Town & Country
Renters’ interest remains high over Christmas
There is also a surge in traffic to our lettings pages, as people consider making a move in the New Year.
Richard Rabin, director of Lettings at Lang Town & Country, said: “Over the last few years, the portals on which we advertise our rental properties have reported record searches and activity, and our own website sees an uplift in activity.
“It could be that people are just looking to see what’s out there and for what rental price, or it could be to book viewings as soon as our offices reopen on January 2.
“We feel it’s down to people actually having time to relax and unwind and start to make their plans for the following year.
“It’s also a busy company relocation time, so our rental market activity really starts in earnest in January.”
Property market predictions for Christmas 2023
Paul Preen, Managing Director at Lang Town & Country, says: “As we rapidly approach Christmas, the activity levels have died down, to a degree, but the quality of purchaser looking for a property at this moment in time remains extremely high.
“Now is a fantastic time to take advantage of the market whilst things are moving and there is still a lack of new instructions out there.
“People are looking to purchase, so I would recommend that if you are looking to sell your property, don’t wait until the New Year. I would act on the market as it stands at this moment in time and put your property up for sale before the New Year.”
What’s in store for the Plymouth lettings market in 2024?
Richard Rabin says: “In terms of where I see the Plymouth lettings market now going in 2024, I don’t see prices coming down because the stock is still not there.
“The only difference we might see is, like I said, if there are higher-end properties because they can’t sell and they do start coming back to the market, you might find that the prices adjust themselves slightly.
“So, we could find that where people are really pushing or landlords are wanting to push some high prices, we could find that they’re going to have to settle for what we think is the norm going forward.”
