It’s common for homeowners to sometimes struggle in deciding when they should sell their home. Oftentimes people think spring or summer is the ideal time of year, but that isn’t always true. There are a few factors to consider including your reason for selling and where you live. Consider these key points in determining the ideal time to sell your home.
Consider Your Location
Markets vary among locations and while many homes sell during the spring and summer months, it’s not the best time everywhere. For example, areas like Florida, Texas, and Arizona reach temperatures of 100 or more during the summer, and those extreme heat conditions also come with undesirable weather patterns such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Conversely, the spring season equates to lots of rain and mud for areas such as Michigan, Idaho, and Vermont.
Overall, the spring season is by far one of the most popular times of year for people to start house hunting. People are excited to enjoy the outdoors after the long winter months and the warmer weather along with the blooming flowers and budding trees increase curb appeal for sellers in many areas. However, the spring season can also mean stronger competition.
Choosing to sell your house in the fall may bring you a higher price. For many people this is crunch-time with families wanting to move into their new home and settling in before school begins or feeling a sense of urgency to purchase before bad winter weather arrives.
Check out the market trends where you live to help you decide.
The Timing Should Work for You
While the weather and market trends do play an important role in selling your home, ultimately, the best time to sell your home should be right for you. Once you decide to list your home, you want to prepare it so you’ll feel confident it will be impressing to potential homebuyers. One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is listing their property hastily and overlooking minor details that can make a huge difference.
Take advantage of the off seasons and make any necessary repairs or small updates. Also, declutter, organize, and remove as many personal items as possible. A fresh coat of paint and updated light fixtures can do wonders for a house sale, without costing you a ton of money. Likewise, you’ll want to stage your home in a way that allows buyers to envision themselves living there.
Don’t forget that curb appeal oftentimes makes a strong first impression. This is especially true if there is a lot of competition in your neighborhood. Properties that are beautifully landscaped and look well taken care of will sell much faster and for higher prices than houses that are in disarray.
Final Words
It’s important to realize that homes sell throughout the year everywhere. People experience changes all the time that range from financial or medical situations to job transfers or other reasons.
Bottom line, once you determine it’s time to sell your home, in addition to making it look it’s best; a professional can help you decide the optimal listing price and other details that will make your home sell quickly and get the highest price possible.