Homebuyers have been advised to act quickly if they want to move into a new home by Christmas or New Year.
Solicitors, removal companies and mortgage providers tend to slow down in December as the Christmas season approaches. Holly Andrews, loans manager and director at KIS Finance, said that there are seasonal factors that delay house buying:
“The property market changes significantly in December. Completion timeframes can stretch from a few weeks to several months.”
Also, potential movers have been told to expect delays in the New Year. Legal firms that do conveyancing often have fewer staff working during the Christmas to New Year period, which delays completion dates well into January.
Financing is another area where delays occur. Homebuyers who require a mortgage may encounter extended processing times due to limited staff levels. Holly Andrews advises that a bridging loan may be useful to secure the purchase of a home before the mortgage is finalised.
Even when contracts have been exchanged and a completion date is fixed, removal services may be fully booked with no spare capacity in December. Moving mid-week increases the chances of a removal service being available.
If you have a completion date arranged during Christmas and New Year and need a Liverpool removal company, contact us at Merseyside Movers & Storers to check if we have any free dates. Alternatively, you may decide to celebrate Christmas and New Year first, then move later in January when staffing levels go back to normal and there is more availability in general.
