Worried you missed the Spring Market? Don’t. It’s about to bloom in June

That includes in the world of property. Throw in a recent base rate cut and news of dropping mortgage rates along with a splash of sunshine to warm our cheeks as we stroll along the river here in Richmond upon Thames, and it all helps combine to create that feel-good factor which encourages some potential movers that maybe now the time is right…

But haven’t they missed the boat? So much always seems to be said about the Spring market; and although someone will no doubt point out that Spring runs to June 20, let’s face it, Spring seems somehow to be behind us.

The good news is, if you’re a Richmond Borough property seller or house-hunter wondering whether you’ve missed the window, it is certainly not too late.

Spring is often discussed in those terms, being seen as the “ideal” time to bring a home to market (I am not saying I agree with that, by the way – but there is definitely a sentiment… even amongst some estate agents).

However, the early summer can offer some particular advantages that can make it just as effective for sellers, if not more so.

And buyers, too, can find certain market peculiarities playing into their favour.

So whether you are selling or buying a property in Richmond, Teddington or Twickenham, here’s why June might be just the right moment.

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Spring vs. Summer: The truth about timing

There’s a long-standing belief that the spring market is where all the action happens – and there is some justification for saying that, it’s true.

Many sellers do aim to list in March, April or May, hoping to catch buyers early in the year and secure a move before the summer holidays.

But, with that rush comes a swell in ‘property stock’ – and it can have the effect of causing a bit of an overinflation of property prices as Estate Agents act dynamically to try to secure the rush of listings to market.

Again, I am certainly not defending this as any sort of a good thing – but you do see it. Enthusiastic sellers feel they have time on their hands; they are confident their home and garden currently looks its best; they are flattered and willing to listen to the ‘top price’ valuation, when everything seems so optimistic - especially when all three agents have said ‘what a beautiful house’…

You can see how easily it happens.

What this means of course is a glut of properties that don’t in fact sell quickly or easily, when set against competition from other sellers with the same idea.

But still, nobody panics – they wait until Easter to see what happens, expecting that this is really the moment that things ‘take off’… but, they don’t. Again, no need to panic; we all know the month of May is on the horizon, bringing with it two bank holiday weekends and a school half term, when buyers will no doubt be trawling Rightmove etc for a good look at what’s for sale…

Well, it is ‘Half Term’ right now… but it is 24 degrees outside, and whilst the pubs, cafes and restaurants are full enough, half of Richmond has headed down to the south coast for their first taste of salty air this year. Holiday periods can cut two ways, when it comes to property.

So yes – Spring is a popular moment for new listings, but it gets busy quickly, and demand doesn’t necessarily keep up with supply. Buyers are often spoilt for choice. Competition is high, and properties that don’t secure early interest can linger on the market.

This is why, by the time we reach June, the landscape starts to shift.

Any well-priced Spring listings will have gone under offer. Those that were overinflated and have not yet taken a reduction are by contrast beginning to look stale.

And that presents an opportunity for both new sellers coming to market, and buyers who are looking.

For sellers coming to market now, there’s a chance to stand out – particularly if your home is well-looked after and you choose an agent that will provide some proper, detailed attention to the marketing presentation along with a sensible price that encourages viewings.

At Bartlett and Partners we put a lot of effort into our video presentation (check out our film archive, here), which we use to create a reel for each property we list that gets pushed through our social media channels first. You would be amazed at the numbers of enquiries we are now seeing through channels like facebook and Instagram, before the advert has even reached Rightmove et al.

Now, for buyers; if you can spend a bit of time researching, you will be able to work out how long properties have been for sale. If you are seeing properties in June with listing dates in April or March (or maybe even before), I would hazard a guess that the owners of these properties might be more open minded to a good offer.

I’m not saying you’ll buy anything for peanuts – but be sensible, and be honest with yourself as a buyer about what is sensible and what is insulting, and you might just find a good deal can be done.

In short: Spring may be busy, but this early Summer period can be about strategy (as a property buyer or seller).

June provides the perfect window for sellers to launch fresh, capturing motivated buyers, whilst benefiting from the seasonal uplift that summer brings.

BUT – do price sensibly. Not ‘low’… but just, don’t be silly.

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Gardens, Light, and Lifestyle

One of the biggest advantages of selling in June is, quite simply, how good your home can look.

Natural light is at its most generous this time of year, which not only makes photos more appealing but also creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere for viewings.

Gardens and outdoor spaces are in full bloom, and in a post-pandemic world where outdoor living remains a major priority for many buyers, that can make a big difference.

In an area like Richmond upon Thames, even small patios, balconies, or window boxes can really be leveraged from a marketing point of view.

Our professional photographers and our videographers absolutely love them! And I do too – they will always be a feature in my property videos.

For family homes in particular, features like sunny gardens, BBQ areas, or an outdoor space for children to play can help stir buyers’ imaginations and reinforce lifestyle appeal.

Presentation really matters, and June is when homes tend to look their absolute best – lush and green following the rains of Spring, brought to life by the sunshine of early Summer – importantly, before the sun has had a chance to do its worst and scorch everything to the yellowy-greens we often see by the time we get to July and August.

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Buyers under pressure to move ‘in the Summer’

Another key point to consider is buyer motivation. Those who are still actively looking in June are, in many cases, very serious about moving.

This is because that by now, for some of them at least, they are racing against the clock.

While we’re seeing signs of improvement, conveyancing times are still slower than most would like. It’s an ambition rather than a target nowadays, for sales to take 8 weeks from offer to completion, and times of between 12 and 20 weeks are very normal. That means for anyone hoping to move before the end of summer, time is of
the essence, in particular, families looking to move with the benefit of a school holiday to time it with – and potentially with the purpose of being settled for a new
catchment by the time September arrive.

As a result, buyers in June – particularly buyers in the ‘family home’ market, are often more decisive, more focused, and more ready to act than those earlier in the year who may have spent some time testing the waters – or who may have been frustrated by earlier overpricing.

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A Mixed Economic Picture — But Momentum Is Building

No market commentary would be complete without touching on the wider economic picture.

We do of course have to be mindful of the economic landscape, and it isn’t like we haven’t had a bit to contend with. Seemingly ever rising costs of living, feels standard nowadays, and that is of course reflected in inflation figures which did surge up in April (i.e., reported in May), by 3.5%, following the energy price cap increase, water rates increase and council tax increase. As employer National Insurance increased also, it is likely we will see the cost of goods and services rise again, as firms do what you’d expect them to do to maintain profit margins.

At the same time, we have news recently of the base rate cut, with predictions for more to come this year, and the consequent (no subsequent – but that’s another story) bun-fight amongst mortgage lenders to drop rates to compete for the business out there – and I’d note, there are now a number of lenders offering rates at sub 4%, especially when decent deposits are available.

The recent uptick in inflation I mentioned was deemed a surprise to economists by the BBC – but realistically, it wasn’t a surprise. In fact it was widely predicted, due to those scheduled changes (as the BBC’s own reporting mentions), raising the energy price cap, increasing council tax, water bills, etc.

These weren’t surprises, they were expected increases – and are also specifically a moment in time.

In the bigger picture, inflation is still on a downward path, and confidence is beginning to return. The Bank of England lowering its base rate again in May, when they are as informed as anyone about the likely course of inflation, gives us a lot of reason to feel grounded at the moment – and from a property market point of view, the welcome relief to mortgage borrowers is only likely to mean positive signals for the housing market.

Even if we don’t see another base rate cut in June, which personally I wouldn’t bank on, the outlook for the rest of 2025 suggests further rate reductions are likely, and
that is encouraging news for both buyers and sellers.

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So, is June a good time to sell?

Every home, and every move, is different; but there’s a strong case to be made for launching to market in June.

You’ll benefit from:

Improved presentation thanks to sunnier days and greener, brighter gardens

A less stubborn market as over-priced spring listings drop or withdraw

More motivated buyers working against the clock to move during summer

A gradually improving economic backdrop supporting demand

Make sure your home is well-presented, priced right, and marketed with standout photography and videography, and you will find yourself perfectly placed to capitalise
on this early summer window.

If you’ve been holding back, waiting for the “right time”, don’t overlook June.

With strong buyer demand as we head into the charge to the Summer holidays, positive seasonal conditions, and improved economic mood music, it could easily be the moment you’ve been waiting for.