If you are thinking about selling your home, you will want to know when the best time is to get the best price. The market fluctuates depending on the season and your location, but traditionally, spring is the season when houses tend to sell the most quickly.
While many factors determine how long your home stays on the market, the time of year that you choose to sell will have a definite impact. If you can wait to sell your home, it’s best to choose a time that will bring in the most interest.
If you are selling your home privately, you will need to study your local market to determine when houses are selling the fastest. Let’s take a closer look at when the best time is to sell your home.
Seasonality
In most places, buyers tend to start shopping for a new house in the spring. After a long winter, many buyers are looking for something new, making spring the traditionally best time to find a new home. However, many factors will determine how quickly your home will sell, including your location, your listing price, and what season it is.
Spring
- As the weather begins to get warmer, more buyers start looking for a new home. You will need to do your home prep work during the winter season.
Summer
- Still, it is a popular time to sell your home, although many people go on vacation during the summer, which may decrease the amount of interest you get when you list your home.
Fall
- Buyers that are looking in the early fall are generally looking for a quick sale, so they can get settled before the school year gets in full swing and the holidays arrive.
Winter
- Winter is traditionally the slowest season for house sales unless you live in the south. Areas like Arizona and Florida tend to peak in the winter months with the arrival of snowbirds looking to buy local real estate.
Best Month to Sell
Historically, the best time to sell your home is during late April and early May. This is when most potential buyers are coming out of a long winter and starting to think about making a move. Listing in the summer won’t always bring you the quickest sale, but your home will stay on the market for less time than selling in the winter or the fall.
Best Day of the Week to List
Many potential buyers start looking at new real estate listings before the weekend. They want to organize their search for Saturdays and Sundays, so they tend to start their planning on a Thursday. This makes Thursday the most successful day of the week to list your home. Listing on a Sunday or a Monday generally results in your home staying on the market five to seven days longer than listing it closer to the weekend.
Selling your home can be a complex process. Take these tips into account when choosing the best time to put your home on the market.