What Buyers and Sellers Should Know About the ‘Boxing Day Bounce’
The Boxing Day Bounce: Does It Really Matter When Selling Your Home?
You’ll often hear the phrase “The Boxing Day Bounce” around this time of year. It’s the idea that Boxing Day is the biggest day in the calendar for new property listings and online viewings, with buyers flooding property portals in record numbers.
According to Rightmove, the 2024 Boxing Day Bounce broke previous records.*
Enquiries about homes for sale were reportedly 20% higher than the year before, and Boxing Day saw the highest number of visits to their website in history, beating the previous peak in 2021.
On the face of it, that sounds like great news for anyone thinking about selling a property in Hull or East Yorkshire. But does it really tell the full story?
Is the Boxing Day Bounce actually real?
Let’s be honest.
Boxing Day is a day when many people have time on their hands. Shops are shut, leftovers are still being eaten, and scrolling online becomes part of the routine. People browse holidays, jobs, furniture, cars… and yes, property listings too.
So it’s no surprise that traffic to property websites spikes. That doesn’t automatically mean everyone browsing is ready to buy.
Some will be casually looking. Some will be comparing prices. Others might just be having a nosey at what’s come up locally in Hull, Beverley or the surrounding East Yorkshire villages. Not all of them are motivated buyers preparing to book viewings.
If we’re being blunt, the Boxing Day Bounce has a bit of a PR feel to it. It’s a useful headline at what can otherwise be a quieter time of year for the property market.
Even Rightmove’s own data supports that view. Their figures suggest that February and March, followed closely by April and January, are actually the strongest months to list a home for sale if you’re focused on a successful completion.**
Our honest advice as a local Hull estate agent
If you want to list your property around Boxing Day, that’s absolutely fine. There’s nothing wrong with it and it can still generate interest, particularly if stock levels are low.
But don’t feel pressured by headlines or marketing spin.
In our experience as an established estate agency in Hull and East Yorkshire, a well-presented home, marketed properly and priced realistically, will attract buyers at any time of year. Timing helps, but it isn’t everything.
What matters far more is:
Accurate pricing based on real local evidence
Professional presentation and photography
Strong marketing exposure
Honest guidance throughout the process
That’s what ultimately sells homes, not a date on the calendar.
Thinking about selling in Hull or East Yorkshire?
If you’re considering selling your home and would like a clear, accurate market valuation, we’re always happy to help – whether it’s Boxing Day, January, or any other time of year.
At Beercocks, we believe in selling homes when it suits you, not when it suits a marketing campaign.
If you know someone in Hull or East Yorkshire who might find this useful, feel free to share it with them.
And if you’d like straightforward, no-pressure advice from a local estate agent who knows the market inside out, just get in touch.
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