Picture courtesy of Snapper Media.
Most agents will always tell you that whenever you are ready is the best time to sell. That's primarily because they need an income stream all year long, so it's not really to their advantage to tell you to hold off for the next four months until spring. Remember that even when the agent sells your property, they still have to wait a minimum of six weeks until they are entitled to their fee. Unfortunately, their creditors won't wait until spring!
The truth is, it depends on each property. Let’s say you have a south facing home in a high humidity environment, with plenty of shade. Sounds brilliant to those who like a cool haven when it's 38 degrees, but maybe not so good in July.
If the vendor needs to get on with the sale, take heart, all the reasons to sell and buy are always operating in the marketplace - death, job changes, transfers, promotion, pregnancy and the need for a bigger home.
There are a few things you can do to make your home more inviting in winter. Make sure you eliminate any damp issues, check for best light during the day and arrange inspections around it, make sure the house is ultra clean but smells inviting. Light the fire, make tea and bake a cake - sounds cliché but it works! Make sure the house is warm, without being stuffy (ceiling fans on low work brilliantly) and turn lights and lamps on. Make sure paths are not covered in moss and wash down mouldy barge boards and eves.
If you can wait till spring, you will have a few advantages - better light, warmer weather, spring gardens, more buyers and the excitement that generally comes with springtime. Many buyers are often on a time line to get moved in either before Christmas or the start of the next school year which is beneficial, too.
Watch out though, more buyers mean more listings, so now you've got extra competition!
So, as you can see, there is no perfect answer. The numbers do tell us that turnover is ,and always has been, higher from spring onwards, but you can still sell just as well in the winter.
