When is the Best Time to Sell your Home?

There are several factors to consider when it comes to listing your property that won’t have much to do with the time of the year. Things like personal circumstances and market conditions are going to play the biggest role in choosing when to market your property.

However, if the market is right and it is time for you to sell, then it makes sense to opt for the time of year best suited to attracting buyers. Here we take a look at the benefits of listing your property at different times of the year.

Selling in warmer months

Traditionally, spring has long been considered the best time of year to sell a property. Your garden and outdoor area will probably look their best in spring, and warmer temperatures mean more people will be out and about and more likely to investigate an open home.

This being said, in Australia we see a lot of properties enter the market heading into autumn, with March, April and May typically attracting a large number of new listings and auctions.

Whilst this means there’s also a lot of buyer activity, if you’re wanting to set your property apart from the crowd, you might consider listing your property earlier in the year. Listing a property around February means you’ll get the jump on listings that tend to come on to the market from March onwards, and it also means you’ll start to attract buyers after a long holiday period.

This may target buyers who have had time off over the Christmas and New Year period, and have had time to reflect on their next big move for the coming year, including buying a new property.

Selling in cooler months

Whilst not the traditional time of year that most sales consultants will advise you to list your property, winter could still be the right time of year to list your home for sale. One advantage to listing during the cooler months is the relative lack of competition, with other sellers holding off until the spring period. With fewer homes on the market, your property has a much better chance of standing out.

The location of your home may also play a part. If your property is within an area that looks particularly beautiful in winter, you can use the winter season to capitalise on the views and winter activities. It’s also an opportunity to show how warm, comfortable and inviting your home can be in winter.

Make the most of features like fireplaces and wood stoves, light candles and use plush cushions and warm throws throughout living areas.

Selling over the school holidays

There’s lots of commentary on whether or not listing your property for sale during a school holiday period is a good idea. One perspective is that this is a great time of year, with people able to view open homes and attend auctions held mid-week. Another suggests this isn’t the best time of year, with people often travelling or switching off during their downtime.

There’s no real indication that school holidays have a huge impact on the success of sales. There are merits to listing your home at several different times of the year. Ask your Harcourts sales consultant which time of year they would recommend for your home and location. They’ll be able to draw on their market insights and knowledge to make an informed suggestion for your situation.