As the lighter nights and warmer weather approaches, it’s time to look to the Spring and Summer selling period.
If you’re considering bringing your farm to market, allow some time for pre-sale preparedness. Beginning the process sooner rather than later allows the process to be much smoother from the offset, more successful in the long term and much less stressful for all involved.
Spring and summer are widely considered the best times to sell any property, and whilst we are big believers in selling when the time is right for the individual, there are advantages to selling in the warmer months. Buyers tend to be more active during these months and the lighter nights and warmer weather lead to greener grass and crops in the ground, which make farms look more appealing.
Regardless of when you decide to sell, it’s wise to start preparing well in advance of your chosen launch period. In doing so, you can ensure your farm is ready to hit the market at the right time, with all due diligence in place. And if you decide you want to take advantage of increased buyer interest in Spring and Summer markets, these acts of preparedness need to begin now.
There are several factors to consider when it comes to bringing a farm to market, each requiring expert knowledge, advice and planning. Here’s why allowing sufficient time can greatly benefit your sale, and how we at GFW can help you on this journey.
A robust marketing strategy: You can’t compare the selling of an everyday family home to the sale of a landed property or farm. Each sale is completely unique and often complex. Allow time for planning, how best to package your property. Think about how your property is presented for sale, consider drone images and videos, land and steading plans, alongside green grass and blue skies.
Packaging your farm: By this, we mean decide on a strategy for sale that allows for ease of sale with the best possible price upon a successful completion. Do you sell as whole or is lotting appropriate? If you lot your farm, will you be left with a remainder, and if so, how do you feel about this? Are there extra solicitor's fees? Have you identified an area with possible development potential which allows for splitting, and lifts the value as a whole?
Maximise your value: We are fortunate at GFW to offer a full range of property services, from our Farm team who can look at any available grants or schemes; our Rural team who can advise on tax efficiency, our Planning, Architecture and Development team who can identify any farm buildings which may be suitable for development, and our Sales team who offer support throughout the process, ensuring you achieve the best possible price. Upon initial inspection, we explore all options so that our clients can make informed decisions throughout the process and know that they have not missed any opportunities or revenues.
Title Preparation: Producing titles can be a time-consuming process. Engaging with lawyers well in advance will ensure that all legal documentation is in order, reducing the risk of delays when you’re ready to sell. Whether you're selling as a whole or in lots, we can use GIS mapping systems to provide accurate land registry compliant plans for the sale.
Understanding Buyer Priorities: Although residential properties can be a significant selling point, we find when selling a farm, it’s the land and outbuildings that drive interest, with residential elements often a secondary priority. Our local experts can help you to understand what buyers are looking for in your area and will help you tailor your offering to meet market demand.
Tax Planning: Selling a farm or farm business involves significant financial considerations, and tax planning is a critical aspect. Chatting with our farm business consultants and rural team, alongside your accountant will give you a steer on your options and allow informed decisions to be made.
Start Planning Now for a Successful 2025 Sale
The earlier you begin to start conversations and seek advice, the better positioned you’ll be to achieve your farm sale goals in 2025. Whether that’s preparing for a free market appraisal or liaising with trusted professionals such as your solicitor or accountants; by performing due diligence before marketing your farm, when you do attract the right buyer, you will be ready to complete the sale ahead of the curve.
- Lindsay French, Partner & Elliot Taylor, Partner
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