If you were to ask a group of property owners when is the best time of year to buy or sell property. You are likely to get the answer that summer is the best time. However for whilst toy manufacturers and retailers know that over 50% of their business occurs in the last two months of the year, real estate agents are actually pretty busy selling property year round.
Certain times of the year traditionally see more real estate activity than others – autumn and spring in particular. With this in mind, it can be beneficial to try selling your property during these periods of where the better presentation of gardens and moderate weather often stimulates buyers to the market.
However, it is important to keep in mind that a higher level of purchaser interest will likely be matched by a greater number of properties being placed on the market – potentially negating the original benefits of the larger group of buyers.
Taking into account the theory of supply versus demand that normally influences selling prices, choosing a different season to list your property may reduce your competition.
During the Christmas period for example, the real estate market tends to quieten down in most regions.
However, seasons do not always hold the greatest influence over buyer activity and selling prices. In many cases, factors such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, job transfers and financial gain or loss play a significant role in determining when people choose to move. This means that it is possible to sell a property at any time of year if necessary
At the end of the day the best time to sell is when you are ready. But finding a real estate agent who knows the process inside out and is familiar with recent sales in the area, will accelerate the selling of your home by a significant margin.