Thinking of Moving This Year? Your January Checklist

If Christmas brings everyone together under one roof, January brings perspective. Not on family dynamics, hopefully, but on whether the home that once held everything so easily is still the right setting for the next chapter.

A fuller house over Christmas may have shown how certain rooms now work harder than they used to. Or perhaps, with children away at university or family living further afield, some spaces felt unusually quiet this year. If the festive period nudged you into casually searching “estate agents near me”, you are very much not alone.

January has a way of slowing things down. Once the decorations are packed away and the house settles back into its usual rhythm, there is often a sense of calm, and with it, clarity. Some people rediscover a renewed affection for their home. Others notice, sometimes for the first time, that it no longer quite suits the life they are living now.

Spare rooms may feel underused, or family visits might highlight a desire for more open, flexible space. And if you have found yourself scrolling Rightmove over the past couple of months, the good news is this: January is a brilliant time to begin thinking seriously about a move.

If selling in 2026 is on your mind, getting organised now puts you in a strong position. Buyers return early in the year, search activity increases, and the homes that perform best are those prepared calmly and properly, rather than rushed to market in the spring.

Whether your home is already on the market or you are only just beginning to explore the idea of moving this year, here is a practical January checklist to help you plan your next step with confidence.

1. Take an honest look at your home’s readiness

After the Christmas clear-out, it is easy to feel that your home is ready for anything. Everything is tidy, surfaces are clear and the house feels refreshed. But living somewhere for a long time means we often stop noticing the small imperfections.

That hairline crack you meant to fill, the wallpaper lifting slightly in the spare room, or the scuffed paint in high-traffic areas may fade into the background for you, but they are the details a buyer will notice.

Inviting an experienced estate agent to view your home early can be incredibly helpful. A good agent will offer clear, honest guidance, picking up on the things you may no longer see and helping you prioritise what is genuinely worth addressing before launch.

2. Define what you want from your move

Before the pace picks up, take a moment to think about the bigger picture.

What are you hoping to gain from your move, beyond simply selling your current home? Do you see yourself staying local or moving further afield? Period property or something more contemporary? What are your must-haves, both in the house itself and in the lifestyle around it? And when would you ideally like to move, spring, summer or later in the year?

There will always be debate about whether it is better to sell first or buy first, but having clarity around your direction makes it much easier to act decisively when the right opportunity comes along.

3. Get your paperwork organised

Selling a home can sometimes feel out of your control, particularly once solicitors, surveys and chains come into play. Being proactive early on is one of the simplest ways to keep things moving.

Start gathering any relevant paperwork now, including planning permissions, building control certificates, boiler service records, appliance warranties and guarantees. Having these to hand can save time later and reassures buyers from the outset.

4. Start preparing your home for photography

Yes, now. Even before you have chosen an estate agent.

Walk through your home with fresh eyes and notice the details. Are the light bulbs consistent in tone throughout each room? Have coats, shoes or pet beds slowly crept into corners you would rather keep clear? Has paperwork gathered on the kitchen worktops or chargers found their way into spaces that should feel calm and uncluttered?

These are not cleaning jobs, they are small sorting tasks that build up quietly over time. Leaving them until the night before photography often creates unnecessary stress. Starting early makes the whole process feel far more manageable.

5. Choose the right estate agent for you

January is the perfect time to think carefully about who you want representing your home.

Convenience alone should not drive the decision. The right estate agent is about personal fit, communication style and a shared understanding of how your home should be presented.

The wrong agent is usually easy to spot. Quick to secure a signature, slower to communicate, and reactive rather than strategic.

The right agent will guide you from the very first conversation, preparing your home properly and marketing it with care and precision.

When choosing who to instruct, consider what matters most to you.

Clear, consistent communication, not just the occasional call, but regular updates and feedback through channels that actually suit you.

Thoughtful, high-quality marketing, including professional photography, social media, virtual tours and copy that presents your home clearly and confidently across multiple platforms.

Beautifully produced brochures that feel considered and tactile. Something buyers want to pick up, take home and share, bringing your home to life in a way a screen alone still cannot.

A joined-up team who know your home well and treat your sale with genuine care, not as just another listing.

And proactivity. An agent who plans ahead, prepares you properly and does not leave you chasing for updates or wondering what happens next.

If you are unsure, try mystery shopping them. Enquire about another property they are marketing and see how they respond. The way they handle that first conversation often tells you everything you need to know.

6. Ask for guidance early

One of the biggest advantages January offers is time. Time to ask questions, gather insight and plan properly.

A conversation with someone who works in the market every day can help you understand local demand, identify your likely buyer, focus on improvements that genuinely matter and build a realistic plan from now through to completion.

Whether your plans are already taking shape or you are only just beginning to explore the idea of moving, talking things through early can make the entire year feel calmer and far more considered.

If you would like tailored advice on preparing your home, want to sense-check your next steps, or simply need an honest conversation about your options, we are always happy to help.