Autumn in Marlow: Is September Really a Good Time to Move?
Updated: 12 minutes ago
September always feels a little like a second New Year. The summer holidays are over, schools are back, diaries start filling up again and, for many of us, there's suddenly an urge to get organised.
The property market tends to feel the same.
August can be an odd month in estate agency. People are away, family routines go out of the window and even those who are thinking seriously about moving often decide to put everything on hold until September. Then, almost overnight, the phones start ringing again.
Autumn has traditionally been one of the busiest periods in the property calendar, and there are good reasons for that. Buyers who may have spent the summer browsing online often become more serious once September arrives. Equally, homeowners who have been thinking about selling suddenly realise that if they want to make a move before Christmas – or at least have one underway – now is the time to do something about it.
I also think houses can look particularly lovely at this time of year. Gardens are still green, there's usually plenty of natural light and, as we move further into autumn, homes start to feel cosy again. For buyers, it can be easier to imagine actually living somewhere rather than simply looking around it.
Here in Marlow, we have another advantage: autumn rather suits the town. Walks by the river, Sunday lunches, the High Street starting to feel busy again after the holidays – it's a time of year when the lifestyle that comes with living here really sells itself.
Does that mean everyone should rush to put their house on the market in September? Absolutely not. The best time to sell will always depend on your own circumstances rather than what the calendar says.
But if you've spent the summer talking about moving, scrolling through Rightmove or casually discussing what you'd do "if the right house came up", September can be a useful moment to decide whether it's simply an idea or something you actually want to pursue.
One thing I've learnt after many years in estate agency is that most moves begin long before the For Sale board goes up. They start with a conversation around the kitchen table, a Rightmove search after dinner or a walk past a house and the thought: "I could live there."
And September seems to be the month when quite a few of those conversations turn into plans.
Speak to Gemma for all your local property questions.
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