The Best Time to Sell Your Home

Selling your home can be a stressful undertaking. Not only are you dealing with real estate agents, lawyers, potential buyers, packing, and moving, but you have other decisions to make too, like choosing the best time to sell your home.

When it comes to selling a house, timing is everything. More than anything, you want to avoid having your home sitting unsold for a long time. The longer it sits, the less likely you are to attract buyers. And that bidding war you were hoping for? You can forget about it.

Looking at the pros and cons of selling your home season by season may help you decide when to sell.

Selling Your Home in Spring

 

PROS:

• The warmer weather will bring out many potential buyers.
• Buyers with children are looking to buy at this time to feel settled for a new school year in the fall.
• Sellers can expect multiple showings and likely some competing offers.

CONS:

• With many homes on the market, buyers can be picky. You may have conditions on the sale of your home.
• There’s a lot of competition. It’s important that you make your home stand out.

Selling Your Home in Summer

PROS:

• Families who need to get settled before the school year may pay more than they usually would.
• The warmer weather makes it an easy time to move.
• Curb appeal is at its highest in the summer months.

CONS:

• Many buyers at this time of year aren’t as serious. You may get some lowball offers.
• If you have kids, it may be tough to keep your home clean for showings.

Selling Your Home in Fall

 

PROS:

• The beauty of the season adds to your home’s curb appeal.
• The weather is ideal for moving.
• Many people may want to settle into a new home before the holiday season.

CONS:

• The market is slower this time of year so you may have to ask for less than you would in the spring or summer.
• If you have school-age children, it may be a difficult time to move.

Selling Your Home in Winter

 

PROS:

• With fewer houses on the market in the winter, your home will likely draw lots of attention.
• People looking to buy at this time of year are serious buyers.

CONS:

• This is a slow time of year. Your home may sit on the market for some time, making it unappealing to buyers.
• If you’ve already moved out of the property, be prepared to keep up the heating costs for showings.