The Best Month to Sell Your House is When You’re Ready

This is a question that gets brought up a lot to us. “When is the best month to sell my house?” 

Well, the answer isn’t really as easy to quantify as you might think. Looking at national averages, it’s probably March. It used to be May, but that changed in 2019. 

But that doesn’t mean that the best time to sell your home is in March. After all, every house is different, along with every neighborhood, every buyer, and every seller. 

Let’s break it down by season and take a look at some of the pros and cons of each. 

Selling a House in the Spring 

There are some who will swear up and down that the best month to sell a house is one that’s in spring time. And, in some ways, they’re absolutely right. 

Springtime is when the weather starts to warm up. People have just endured the cold winter months, and they’re ready to go outside and start doing things again. They’re feeling maybe a little more positive than they were. Tax return checks are mailing out, maybe folks have a little more spending money in their pockets. 

Also, summer break is looming ahead for the children, and maybe parents are looking to have a new place by the time the final dismissal bell of the year rings out. 

In terms of curb appeal, it’s hard for a home to look more inviting than when the trees are in bloom and the warm blue sky is all around it. This is a great time to have somebody look at your home. Also, you’ve hopefully spent the past winter months prepping it and cleaning it to be seen. 

Of course, nothing is perfect and selling a house in the spring comes with some major cons as well.

First of all, it’s the busiest selling season. That means your home is going to be facing a lot more competition in the market than you would if you were, say, selling in the fall. 

And with that competition comes more bargaining power for the buyer. Since there are more homes on the market, they’re likely going to be choosier about which one they’ll buy. That means that if the house for sale up the street from you is in better shape, it will probably get priority. Also, the buyer will maybe be more demanding about repairs and renovations on your part before they’re willing to buy. 

Selling a House in the Summer

For some people, the best months to sell a house are in the summer. There are a lot of benefits to picking this time of year to sell, actually. 

The weather is generally warm, for starters. That means people are more active. Also, school is already out, so it’s a great time to relocate. You don’t have to worry about winter snow or spring showers when moving all those boxes. 

A house that looks great in the spring will probably look even better in the summer. That is, as long as you’ve been keeping up with your landscaping and yard work. Summer is a great time for curb appeal. 

Also, the days are longest in summer. That means you have more time for showing the house, and more hours with your house looking amazing in the sunlight. 

Summer is also a peak selling season, so your home’s appraisal evaluation will probably be a little higher than it would be in the colder months. 

The cons of selling a house in the summer, however, are enough to turn some people away from the idea. 

For starters, it’s the hottest time of the year. That means you’d better have some good cooling in place if you’re going to be showing the house. Any curious buyers are going to be pretty put off if they’re sweating from head to toe while doing a walkthrough. 

Also, while the kids being home might be a pro, it could also be a con. Some parents just aren’t going to have the time to go house-hunting when they’re taking care of the kids all day. 

Similarly, a lot of families go on vacation in the summer. That means there are less potential buyers out there on any given week of the season. 

Selling a House in the Fall

Are the best months to sell a house in the fall? There are certainly a lot of benefits. 

We know we keep talking about curb appeal, and it’s really all a matter of taste, but to us it’s hard to find a time of the year when a house will look better than in the fall. Especially if there are a lot of trees around. The color-changing leaves are like a little natural fireworks display. Fall decor, like pumpkins and other seasonal flowers and gourds, will be sure to take things to the next level in terms of looks. 

Also, in a lot of areas of the country, fall is an even better time of the year for moving than summer. It may mean a little wetter weather, but it also means cooler temperatures and less exhausting conditions. Buying a house in the fall also usually means that the buyer will be able to move in before the holidays, and who doesn’t love spending their first holiday season in a new home?

Selling in the fall comes with a couple of cons, though. Your listing price will probably be a little bit lower, and people will probably have less free time or be less willing to go out and house-hunt. Also, if you get too close to the holidays, mover availability may be more limited and it might be harder to actually get your stuff out of there and the new owners’ stuff in. 

Selling a House in the Winter

If you take all the pros and cons of selling a house in the spring and summer, and then completely flip them around, you’re basically going to get the pros and cons of selling in the winter. 

First of all, if somebody’s looking to buy in the winter, they’re probably doing so with more of a sense of urgency than those who wait until spring. That gives you more leverage in your bargaining, and you’ll probably come out better in the negotiations. 

There is also much less seller competition in the winter. With fewer houses for sale on the market, potential buyers will have less of a choice and that will put your house in a better standing. 

All that being said, there are less people out and about, your house’s appraisal evaluation will probably come back lower, your curb appeal won’t be as nice, and the cold weather may affect some things in your house that will need to be fixed. 

The Best Month to Sell Your House is When You’re Ready

When all is said and done, the best month to sell a house is when you’re ready to sell. Don’t force yourself to rush to a decision to sell just because you want to target a specific month. As you can see above, every time of the year has its own pros and cons, so you’re going to have to do some balancing no matter when you sell. 

If you think you are ready to sell, and you’re wondering if now is the time to do it, give Harvey Goodman Realtor® a call. 

Our agents are experts in house selling. We’ll be sure to get you the best deal possible while also working with you throughout the entire process. We’ll give you an honest estimate of your home’s value, and then we’ll help you do everything you need to get it ready to sell.