When is the best time of year to sell your home?
You might think some seasons are better than others. Here’s what Raine and Horne Murraylands’ Michael Cox and Casey DeMichele suggest.
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Which season is best for selling a house, do you think?
If you answered “spring”, you’re not alone.
Traditional wisdom holds that you should put your property on the market when the weather is getting warmer and gardens are in bloom.
Some of that wisdom is inherited from places like the United States and United Kingdom, where snowy weather freezes the market for months at a time.
A recent piece of analysis by Realtor.com found that April – mid-spring – is the time when prices, listings and buyer interest peak in the US.
In other parts of Australia, the months either side of the summer holidays are best, according to Realestate.com.au: October and November, February and March.
But how much do the seasons matter in a real estate market like ours, in South Australia’s Murraylands?
Property experts Michael Cox and Casey DeMichele, from Raine and Horne Murraylands, have a fair idea.
“A lot of people believe springtime is the one and only time to sell,” Michael says.
“Statistically, though, it’s not a fact.
“In the Adelaide Hills, no-one sells anything from June to August because it’s cold and no-one goes anywhere; some areas of Adelaide are slow in summer because agents might go away for six weeks at a time; but here there’s no difference.”
In fact, bucking the trend might work to your advantage.
“For vendors who are considering selling, it’s not a bad idea to get in prior to that influx of extra listings so they’ve got less competition on the market,” Michael says.
There are benefits to selling in spring, of course, Casey says.
If you have an English or cottage-style garden, with plenty of introduced species, your place should be looking especially lovely.
“But quite a lot of properties around here have seasonal gardens anyway, so they’re always looking nice anyway,” she says.
“At this time of year you can highlight other features of your property: if you’ve got a good heater, have that going, or if you’ve got a fire pit, have that set up for presentation.
“Having your heating on will show buyers how well it works.”
Ultimately, though: don’t get too stressed about having to get your house ready to sell at any particular time of year.
The Realestate.com.au study we mentioned above suggests there is only about a one per cent difference in sale prices at different times of year – small change in the scheme of things.
“In reality, only a small percentage of sellers and buyers have the luxury of deciding when they go on the market,” Michael says.
“Health, finances, work – there are a host of other great reasons for you to time your sale.
“If you’re a genuine buyer, you’ll be doing it whatever the weather.”
More information
The team at Raine and Horne Murraylands are here to advise you on any real estate matter.
Visit www.raineandhorne.com.au/murraylands, call 8532 3833 or drop into the office at 4 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge.
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Peri Strathearn
