Most agents say now is the best time to sell. If you’re a buyer, they say now is the time to buy. It’s always the best time for agents to get commission.
There are several arguments why selling at some times can be better than selling at other times. For example, spring is when most people think it’s best to sell. But in spring there are often more houses for sale which means more competition, so it can be better for buyers than sellers.
A shortage of stock drives prices up. This argument states that you should sell when agents are short of listings, which is often in winter.
The type of property you own can affect when you sell. For example, if you owned a farm, you wouldn’t sell in a drought. You’d wait for the rainy season when there is an abundance of grass.
If your home has a pool, the best time to sell may be a heatwave when children are frolicking in the water. Imagine if your friends are having a barbeque around the pool at the same time. And imagine again that your home is beautifully air conditioned. Almost irresistible.
But when winter comes and the pool man hasn’t been around and the water is green and full of rotting leaves, buyers will be repulsed. They’ll think of maintenance. Not the best time to sell.
If your home has an open fireplace and you live in a cool city, picture how inviting your home will feel in winter; on dusk may be the perfect time. A crackling fire can melt the coldest heart.
So, you need to ask: When is the best time to sell your home. The answer is: Whenever your home is looking its best and when there is, hopefully, a big demand for homes like yours.
Think of the best attributes of your home. If it has a stunning view at sunset, surely it will look the same to buyers. Ask: What made you fall in love with your home? What appealed to you most when you first saw it? Try to duplicate the same conditions that caused you to buy your home, and you might find other buyers doing the same as you once did. Even more so.
Good homes are not like people. Even movie stars don’t look as good when they age. But many homes improve with age, especially if they have been loved and well maintained.
Be sure of one thing, however: It’s impossible to pick the top of a market when selling, just as it’s impossible to pick the bottom when buying. If you sell and re-buy in the same market, you should be unaffected.
But always consider the most important factor of all: As long as you’re happy, you’ve made the right decision.
