Estate agents are braced for a surge in housing market activity before Christmas now uncertainty around the Budget has come and gone.

Pent-up demand from home movers who were waiting to see what Rachel Reeves had in store in the recent Budget, is now being released, according to the latest market insight from GetAgent.

December activity is expected to be higher than usual at the festive time of the year, the survey of agents reveals.

Extend hours

Almost two thirds (65%) of agents anticipate an increase in market activity over the final month of the year. And 17% report that signs of this are already emerging just days after the Chancellor’s statement.

Some agents are changing their usual Christmas working routine, with 19% planning to extend their festive opening hours.

Burnout

While 81% say they will be working right up until Christmas Eve to support clients, and 28% are even prepared to check emails or take calls on Christmas Day if required.

Nine in 10 agents (89%) are returning to work between Christmas and New Year, and 42% are feeling pressure to remain available throughout this period.

Despite 74% sharing concerns that working through the festive season increases the chances of burnout, 94% will be back at their desks by 2 January to keep pace with demand, GetAgent says.

The hesitation that built up ahead of the Budget is starting to ease.”

Colby Short, CEO of GetAgent (main picture), says: “From what our Client Services team is hearing from vendors, the hesitation that built up ahead of the Budget is starting to ease.

“The drawn-out process created a backlog of decisions that would normally land earlier in the autumn, pushing more activity into what is typically a quieter period,” he says.

“Despite this, agents are doing what they always do: adapting quickly and making themselves available to keep transactions moving.”

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