WITH the school holidays upon us, what do the summer months signal for the local property market? Well, according to leading Dunfermline solicitors and estate agents maloco + associates, the perception still tends to be that the summer market is the height of season and the very best time to sell, whereas, in fact, it tends to be a quieter time.

But although quieter, as senior partner Michael Maloco points out, the market is by no means becalmed with there being plenty of opportunities for savvy sellers and buyers alike.

“With the nights now starting to draw in(!)” says Mr Maloco, “the housing market traditionally enters a quieter period. For many, the summer holidays are imminent and thoughts turn to sand and sangria or perhaps staycations and the task of keeping the children entertained.

"Many first-time buyers suspend their house-hunting in favour of the music festival season both here and abroad. With spare cash being saved for holiday treats and few children seeing a day of house viewings as their idea of fun, we traditionally tend to see activity dip. Fewer new properties come to market in July and August and fewer viewings take place.”

Now whilst on the face of it, this might not seem great news for sellers, it can counter-intuitively actually be quite a good time to buy and sell. Valuers Anne Devaney and Keiran Newman agree that, yes there are fewer viewers around but advise that those who are still out there and looking are motivated buyers.

“The buyers who remain active in the market in the peak summer months are motivated buyers who are exactly the type of buyer sellers want. They need to buy perhaps because they have already sold, perhaps because they’re about to move into the area and want kids enrolled in new schools before the start of the new term. What’s more, they are not spoiled for choice because there are fewer new homes coming onto the market. From a sellers’ point of view it effectively means that you face less competition to get eyeballs on your property and footfall in your hallway.”

The trick, say maloco’s, is to ensure that it’s you who captures the buyers still out there and actively looking. The best way to do this, according to negotiators Elaine and Caitlin, is to ensure your home is looking its very best and if you are lucky enough to have an outside space, be sure to include it in your staging plans.

The girls also suggest that now is the ideal time to look at your asking price. “If you’ve been on the market for more than six weeks and haven’t changed your price, then you ought to now give this very serious consideration. Maybe it’s time to tweak your asking price or go fixed price?”

By ensuring your property looks its best, is keenly-priced and being returned in as many online property searches as possible, maloco’s say you can be the seller who captures one of those motivated buyers with money burning a hole in their pockets and for whom the clock is ticking.