Summer is a highly popular time to move to a new house, with nearly 30%* of movers choosing to do so in the Summer months.  So, as we come up to August (the most popular month), we thought we would give you our top tips for making the most of the summer months when you're planning on moving house.

Make the most of the garden/outside space

With the days getting longer, garden space or usable outside space, is often of paramount importance for you as a summer mover.   Think – drinks in the sunshine, barbecues, fun with the kids, paddling pools and more besides. When you start visiting properties, think about how you can enjoy outside space with your family and friends in the summer sun. Do you have kids?  If so, think about the garden, is it suitable for young children?  Is there soft grass or is it mainly patio?  Is there a pond or area which may be unsafe?  If you're buying, consider how you can make this safer in the long term - it might not be as difficult as you think! If you are planning on renting, look for the ways that your landlord could address your concerns.

Think about the potential 

Summer movers are looking for something new, something exciting and something that they can turn into a home.  When you are visiting, think about the décor inside, and out.  It's easy to get overwhelmed by someone else's choices and not see the potential. When you're buying, keep in mind redecoration costs.  Not everything has to be done at once but, if it's not livable in, you might want to ensure you have set aside some additional budget to make it suitable for you initially.  If it's simply décor changes needed, try to visualise the colour scheme as light and neutral and the lighting brighter.  When you visit (and if you can), draw back curtains and try to get as much natural light as you can into the property, this will help you see what the property will look like as a blank canvas.  You want to see the house as something which you can put their own personal stamp on (within reason if it's rented). Natural light also helps to show any areas which need a bit of TLC – so it's a great way to make sure you're getting what you want.

Make the most of the long evenings

As the evenings are getting longer, don't be afraid to house hunt and visit properties in the evenings.  Be aware that the evening light is different, but it's a great way to fit in viewings around your busy schedule.  You can also take a walk or drive near the property in the evenings too, this will give you a good idea of what the neighbourhood is like, and the all-important parking situation too!

Bear Holidays in mind

Summertime is great for moving house, however there are some drawbacks too.  The main one is that people go on holiday – as a result moving dates can be more difficult to arrange.  In addition, you might want to be going on holiday too!  Make sure you know what your summer plans are and communicate clearly with your agent (or new landlord etc.), so that you are all on the same page as to when you can arrange next steps.

Consider local schools

When you're moving house with kids, you're likely to be looking for properties within catchment areas for popular schools.  Keep in mind that great schools feel like they are hard to come by and families will often move to reach the best opportunities for their children.  With this in mind, prices adjust (both renting and buying) and often increase around popular schools. Don't be discouraged however, if the school popularity prices you out of the area.  Instead, look for schools where the improvement has been consistent over a few years - it's likely that this will continue.  This means that the impact that the school has on housing is likely to be lower than one with a consistently high OFSTED score which hasn't seen much change, and you will still get a great school for your kids.  You can check out the OFSTED reports for local schools here Moving house in the summer should be a fun, exciting and enjoyable time.  To start your moving journey, get in touch with us here     *CompareMyMove