Selling a house can be stressful. You’ll must deal with real estate agents, scheduling, moving, and the frequent life changes that occur when selling a home.
Of course, you also want a good price. And you do not want to wait eternally for your house to sell after you decide to sell it.
So what is the best month to sell a house? Choosing the best time to sell your home can help you get the best price, in addition to sell it faster! Keep reading for some great tips on when to sell your home.
The Best Month To Sell A Home
The short answer to that question is May. To be specific, May 1-15 is typically the best time to sell your house. In general, homes in the United States that were up for sale in that time period sold six days early and sold for about $1,600 more. (By the way, Saturday is the best day to apply.)
This is a really general rule. There are other specifications to consider depending on several factors listed below.
Pleasant Weather
While it is true that, on average, May is the best month, that is not at all times the case. That’s because what really stands out about May in many places is its nice and pleasant weather features. This makes people happier and think more positively about buying a property.
But the weather varies across the country. What matters most is an amazing season in whatever area you are selling your home in.
For example, May is too hot to be the best time of year in Texas, Alabama, or Southern California. Instead, try December, when the weather is in fact very nice.
In places like Denver, people really appreciate summer and winter because of the various outdoor activities each season has to offer. Because of this, the season really is not that important for selling your house.
So, there are some regional differences, but pleasant weather is best.
Local economy
The local economy and housing market also play a very important role in timing. Even if the general housing market heads in a certain direction, neighborhoods may experience their own ups and downs.
If houses have been selling for higher prices in your neighborhood lately, you may want to wait a few months for them to get even higher. Of course, you do not want to wait too long either. Otherwise, you’ll fall behind the trend.
On the other hand, if the neighborhood has homes that are not selling, you may want to get out before the market really goes bad in the area.
Local urban planning or other local considerations may additionally be important. If the city is planning a freeway or other distracting feature, you may want to move more quickly. If there will be a garden built by your house, it’s best to wait for the property value to go up.
Personal Circumstances
Another big consideration about the best time to sell your home is the circumstances of your own personal life. You may not at all times be in a position to sell your home in the perfect month of the year.
Your job, relationship, financial situation, or even your emotional state can determine when the best time to sell your home is. If you take on a new job starting soon, it will likely increase your selling time.
If you are having a financial hit, such as losing your job, you may want to sell quickly and be frugal to make ends meet. Not everybody has the resources to wait, and there are various the benefits of selling your home for cash.
If you can avoid it, it is best not to sell your home under emotional stress, so the best time to sell may be when a personal situation has been resolved.
Spring
Spring is the top season to sell your home because of the weather, but also because it matches the end of the school year. Parents often wait for the school year to end before moving on.
So in May, they’re ready to buy and enjoy the summer in a new home before school starts again.
The downside is that there’s plenty of competition in the spring. So if your home conditions aren’t perfect, it is worth trying another season.
Summer
Like spring, summer often offers good weather and long, sunny days. This makes home shopping easier for buyers, and therefore better for sellers too. Weather in some places can even be more predictable.
In July or August, there’s a bigger rush to wrap up before the start of the school year. This can benefit the vendor.
The downside in hotter areas is that it is really too warm to be enjoyable. Also, summer vacation tends to get in the way.
Fall
This is a slower time to sell and buy. The good part is that contractors and construction crews will likely be more widely available. So, if you need to fix a few parts of your house, fall could be an amazing time to hire someone.
The bad part is that since it is slow, there may not be much demand for your home.
Winter
It’s the slowest time of year for a home purchase, so the downsides are pretty apparent. Fewer people buying homes means less demand and lower prices.
The only potential good part is that sometimes real estate agents try to complete year-end goals and may be working very hard to get a good price before the end of the year.
Sell Today Or Wait For May
May is commonly the best month to sell a house. But don’t fret if it does not suit your schedule or personal needs. There are lots of good reasons to wait until the time is right for you. Try to make the most of the sales process!
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