If you want top dollar, get on the market in early spring when fewer homes are on the market. A smaller inventory creates a sense of urgency among the buyers.
Cabin fever sets in shortly after the Super Bowl. The period following the holidays, get-togethers and the blah winter season brings back family conversations about moving. The “nothing to do” buyers get very anxious by the first of March.
OK, so your home doesn’t look it’s best
You're thinking that lawns, trees and landscaping look their best during the summer. You’re right, but the exteriors of competing homes on the market during early spring won’t look any better than yours. Play the odds, sell early.
Yes, there are more summer sales, but…
Many owners delay selling until June when the school year ends. But that’s when many more competing homes are for sale. And June loses buyers to graduations and weddings. It’s vacations and the humid, dog days during July and August. Then the focus is on back-to-school. This leads to a longer time on the market and traditionally, you guessed it, lower selling prices.
Sales statistics don’t lie
Sales figures typically show the summer sales as being very strong. They're not that strong since these statistics reflect when the houses closed, not when the offer was made and accepted. That was typically several weeks, even months, earlier–when you should be on the market.
Holiday season sucks
For selling your home anyway. People do not focus on home buying on three-day weekends (like Labor Day) and traditional celebration days (like Mother’s Day. Going on the market right before a holiday period or a key sporting event will result in losing that all-important, jump-start to your marketing efforts.
Real estate agents push you to have your home on the market during the festive Thanksgiving through New Year season as the houses can really come alive with a lot of decorations.
Agents push for listings then just so their agency is able to make their weekly advertising commitment to the local newspaper. A much smaller chance of selling could make your home become stale on the market. That sucks.
Corporations transfer in January
Corporate personnel are often transferred around the first of the year when annual budgets are approved. They buy in the mid to upper price brackets which works for sellers in higher price ranges who are located in traditional corporate areas. Otherwise, don't waste your time. Watch the playoffs.
Elections are bad
The period right before a major election is traditionally slow because people often feel somewhat uncertain about the future and tend to procrastinate on making major (buying) decisions. In addition, your sign gets lost amid all the political signs dotting the neighborhood.
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