Michael Hardy Blog, News & Updates

What's the best time of year to sell my home?

5 July, 2016

When it's not done right, selling your home can be a very stressful process. Put it on the market during one of the quieter months, and you may see little interest from buyers, which means you'll probably have trouble securing the price you want. To move your property quickly and for the best price, you need to sell it when there are as many buyers on the market as possible.

Let's take a look at the best times to sell your home, as well as the worst.

Spring into action

Spring is one of the best seasons to sell your home; Christmas is out of the way and people are looking to start afresh following the New Year. Plus, your home is beginning to look its best again. The sun is out for longer and the trees and flowers are blooming once again. There are no major holidays to contend with either, apart from Easter, which means parents will be free to go house hunting.

Leaf it until autumn

If you're not ready to sell in the spring, why not wait until autumn? The summer holidays are over and Christmas is still a good few months away. Again, there are no major holidays during the season and even though the leaves have started to fall from the trees, your outdoor spaces will still look golden. Just remember to rake up those leaves before the viewers arrive!

The only problem with selling in autumn is that you need to close a deal fairly quickly - no one wants to have to move in over the Christmas period, especially if they have a family. For the same reason, the market dies once November arrives, so bear this in mind if you're thinking about selling at this time of year.

The worst months to sell your property in

It goes without saying that summer and winter are the worst seasons to sell your home in, but in some circumstances you may have to market during these periods. Don't worry if that's the case - there are things you can do to boost your chances of selling quickly. However, there are certain months you should avoiding selling in completely if you can help it.

July and August - Kids school holidays take place over these two months, which will make it difficult for parents to buy during this period. Check when the holidays fall and wait until they are over to put your property up for sale.

December - Christmas is an expensive time of year and everything tends to shut down, which makes moving difficult even for those who don't celebrate the holiday. We recommend waiting until January if you're able to.

Mistakes to avoid when selling your property

Whenever you're planning to sell your home, the following quick tips should be helpful:

  • Don't rush your home onto the market. Instead of trying to catch a particular season it's best to wait until you're ready, otherwise you may not have enough time to prepare.
  • Call the local council and ask whether there are any planned works taking place near your property in the next few weeks/months. A closed road will cause inconvenience, and a construction site will make your home look undesirable.
  • Don't wait if you need to sell as soon as possible, but do be prepared to lower your asking price to compensate.
  • Don't allow your property to be on the market for too long. A new listing has great appeal, but a home that's been on the market for weeks will draw suspicion.

We hope the above information has proven useful. Remember that even if you are forced to sell your home during one of the quieter months, we at Michael Hardy will work hard to attract the right buyers and ultimately secure the best price possible.

If you've decided when you're going to sell and would like some tips on how to present your home to buyers, it's well worth reading our helpful guide.