With the announcement of a snap general election on June 8th, those with property on the market or who are planning to put their house up for sale may be wondering whether this is the right time to make a move. Here are a few points to keep in mind to help settle any understandable worries and concerns for home sellers at present.

The UK has seen a few subsequent years of political uncertainty recently and the housing market has weathered these conditions before, remaining resilient. Though many media outlets and experts may forecast the worst, it’s worth remembering how much the housing market has already gone through in recent years and to questions how much this has in fact impacted locally. In addition, buyer confidence appears to be little changed according to results from an eMoov survey, with 57% of sellers said they would go ahead with their decision despite the election and only 18% saying they would now wait. Potential buyers were equally committed, with 59% still wanting to make a purchase, and just 18% saying they would put their plans on hold.

Something to remember with this particular election is that there is an especially short lead up time.  With just a month to go there is very little time for uncertainty and hesitancy to build to a point where property prices are affected. As such, our advice at Nicol would be to carry on as normal. If you have a house already on the market, it would not be advised to take it off, just as it’s not necessary to put a pause on any home sale plans you had in mind before the announcement was made.

You can, in fact, turn this into an opportunity. If other sellers do decide to wait this may mean less homes on the market and less competition this month. As historically we have seen a surge in post-election activity once the political landscape is clearer, you can look at this month as a way to getting ahead of the game. The lack of competition between sellers pre-election may well lead to a quick sale as buyers anticipate potential price rises that follow June’s results.

It’s also worth remembering that the spring months, from March through to June and beyond, tends to be when property sales pick up after the winter months, when people have renewed motivation to set their moving plans in motion. At Caledonia Bureau we have witnessed all the markets we serve enjoying a buoyant first quarter and believe this will continue throughout 2017 as demand continues to outstrip supply in many local areas.

Looking at the bigger picture, many economists, political commentators and property experts make the point that this election is important in aiming for a favourable Brexit deal that comes sooner rather than later – also good news for removing further uncertainty, which may impact upon the property market into the months and years ahead.

As with any big decision, getting the best expert advice is always your first port of call, and when it comes to the property market in the West of Scotland have a long history of selling homes in all sorts of political and economic climates. It’s business as usual for us during the campaign period and we would be delighted to hear from you to see how we can help with your house sale plans. Give our friendly team a call today.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.