THE MIDLANDS PROPERT Y GUIDE MONEYWATCH FINANCE
Moneywatch Finance
SELLING YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER? FIVE THINGS SELLERS NEED TO KNOW AS BUYERS GET MORE CHOICE
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If you are thinking about selling your home this summer, the market may look encouraging at first glance.
Asking prices have been holding up, homes are still selling, and many buyers remain active. But look a little closer and the picture becomes more complicated.
Rightmove’s May 2026 House Price Index reported that the average price of property coming to market rose by 1.2% in May to £378,304. Sales agreed were 4% lower than the same period last year, suggesting that activity has not disappeared.
However, sellers should not confuse a steady market with an easy one.
Rightmove also reported that buyers now have the widest choice of homes for sale at this time of year since 2015, while around 32% of homes on the market have had a price reduction.
For sellers, this does not mean panic. But it does mean preparation.
If you want to sell this summer, here are five things worth knowing before your property goes on the market.
1. MORE CHOICE MEANS BUYERS CAN BE MORE SELECTIVE
In a market where buyers have fewer homes to choose from, they often move quickly and may be willing to compromise.
When there are more properties available, the balance changes. Buyers can compare similar homes in the same area. They can look at price, condition, garden size, parking, energy performance, local schools, transport links and how much work the property needs.
A buyer may still love your home, but they will also be asking whether it represents the best value compared with everything else they have seen.
Presentation, price and timing all matter. A well-presented home at a realistic price is more likely to attract serious buyers than one that relies on hope and an ambitious asking figure.
2. PRICING TOO HIGH CAN COST YOU EARLY INTEREST
The first few weeks after a property is listed are often the most important.
This is when your home is fresh on the property portals, when buyer alerts are sent out, and when estate agents are likely to have registered applicants ready to view. If the asking price is too high during that early window, serious buyers may scroll past it.
Some sellers assume they can start high and reduce later if needed. That can work in some cases, but it can also create problems. By the time the price is reduced, the listing may already feel stale. Buyers may wonder why it has not sold. Some may see the reduction as a reason to negotiate even harder.
A realistic asking price does not mean underselling your home. It means looking at the market as it is today.
The question is not only what your home is worth to you. It is what a proceedable buyer is likely to pay in the current market.
3. PRESENTATION MATTERS WHEN BUYERS HAVE ALTERNATIVES
Buyers are not just comparing prices. They are comparing how homes feel. A cluttered hallway, tired bathroom, scuffed walls or overgrown garden may not stop someone buying on its own. But
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