One of the most commonly asked questions is “when is the best time to sell a home?” Each home, neighbourhood and environmental influences are different, so it may vary. Have a read of our guide below to find out when might be best for you to get your property on the market:
When is the best time of year to sell?
Spring always seems to be the most common answer and certainly seems to be the time where we see most properties coming onto the market. This is probably because it’s a time of year when most people are at home and can focus on the sale, as opposed to other periods such as Christmas or Summer holidays where both sellers and buyers may be pre-occupied.
One of the other great things about selling in spring, is that your property will look great when the sun is shining and the garden is beginning to bloom.
Summer
Summer is not the best time of year to sell. Many people will be away over the summer, on holiday or visiting friends or family. It may also be harder for potential viewers to find child care during the school holidays. However, it does have its advantages; the evenings are lighter longer for viewings, and your garden will look its best. Your property will look good in photographs, if you have a nice sunny day when the photographer comes.
Autumn
The weather is still mild in the Autumn and the light is good, so it can be a good time of year to sell your home. There’s no major holidays at this time so most people are around at this time of year. However, bear in mind that come October, the market tends to take a bit of a lull so be prepared to move fast if you have a buyer interested.
Winter
Houses do sell in winter, but it may be difficult in the lead up to Christmas as families prepare for the festive activities. A lot does depend though on who your target market is. If you are selling a one bedroom flat, it may sell more quickly than a family home at this time of year if people are looking to move quickly or not hosting over the festive period. If you are not going to be ready in time to get your home on the market before Christmas, it might be best to hang off until January.
Other things to bear in mind
Check with your local council if there is any work scheduled to be carried out nearby. You don’t want to be selling your house with major road or building works going in the close vicinity.
If your property is not ready to go on the market – simply hang off. You want to be able to move quickly if you have a buyer interested and by advertising before making your home look its best, you’re setting yourself up to fail. You don’t need to spend thousands on renovations or huge projects to improve the saleability, but simple things that will improve the aesthetics such as a fresh coat of paint or cleaning carpets. If you are thinking of selling over the coming months, see our tips on selling your property in spring.
If you hear the market is picking up, even near Christmas or the height of summer, don’t necessarily jump to get your house on the market if it’s not ready. You want to sell fast. The longer your home is on the market, the less appealing it may become to buyers as they’ll be suspicious of why it’s taking so long to sell.
If you are desperate to sell or due to circumstances you need to list your property for sale now, don’t hold back, but be realistic. If you decide to sell at a time when demand is low, you may have to consider a lower asking price and be flexible with potential buyers.
If you’re looking to get your selling your property, the first thing you’ll need is a Home Report. We are RICS Charted Surveyors specialising in Home Reports across Scotland from as little as £85. Get in touch today to arrange a time to suit you. We offer early morning or evening and weekend appointments. Call us on 0131 608 0175 or email us at info@homereportcompany.co.uk
