When is the best time to sell a home?

As many property professionals can testify, the housing market can be volatile – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you could take to maximise your chances of a quick house sale.

The period between the day you place your home on the market and the day you finally sell can be a nightmare. Sellers often find that the daily regime of keeping the property at ‘showroom’ levels of cleanliness can drive them mad – and that’s without the ritual of waiting by the phone after a viewing for that all-important call.

If you are looking to sell, surely then, it would make sense to try and reduce the length of that time period and sell your house fast. Luckily, those who have spent any length of time in the industry will soon learn when to sell a home with regards to seasons – and the differences can be staggering.

When’s the worst time to sell a property?

Despite the differences between us all, most members of society tend to have similar routines throughout the year – and as a result, it’s clear there are times when you should avoid trying to sell:

• Parents tend to be busiest during summer and Christmas thanks to the horror of having the kids at home 24/7, and they can’t imagine dealing with the stress of looking for a new home.
• Many workers aged 18-45 tend to go on holiday during the summer – and with the steadily rising prices, it’s unlikely they will have too much spare cash at that time of year even when they get back.
• During the darker months, a house can lose its ability to impress potential buyers, yet this is academic as most potential house buyers would prefer to avoid house-hunting whilst it’s cold out anyhow.

So, when is the best time to sell a home?

We know from the above reasons that it’s best to avoid both summer and winter – but what are the advantages of putting your home on the market during spring?

• The longer days allow more potential buyers to view your home in all its glory without rushing.
• The newly blossoming trees and flowering shrubbery in your garden can be a big pull for many buyers.
• Parents whose children are coming up to school age will always aim to move into their preferred school district ahead of time, and before the kids break up for summer.
• You can always guarantee that more people will be browsing the property market during spring.

Another great time to sell is autumn. It may not be spring, but the browns and reds on the trees always offer romanticised imagery for those people looking for a place to call home. By the time autumn comes around, the excitement of summer has faded, and there’s still plenty of time before Christmas so many buyers will be looking to make an offer and complete before the end of the year.

Why is it important to learn when to sell a property?

In a word, stagnation. If you place your home on the market in mid-November, you may still be looking for a buyer by the time February arrives – and this often makes buyers question why the house has been on the market for so long.

Does it have structural issues? Are the owners a nightmare to deal with? Is it overvalued? It doesn’t take much to scare off buyers, and nobody wants to buy a house that won’t sell.

Luckily, the seasonal differences in the housing market do not vary between regions, so you should be able to sell within 4-6 weeks during the stronger months – so there is little to no reason to take a chance at other times.

Is your house failing to sell? Even during the busy months? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.