Well, it’s the last day of 2019 and even though most of the holidays are behind us, this is still technically the holiday season and your home may be on the market or you might be considering listing. Is it a good idea to sell over the holidays or as soon as the new year hits? There are pros and cons to selling a property at different times of the year and there are good and bad days of the week to list as well. Let’s discuss some of these advantages and disadvantages so that you get your home sold for the right price at the right time.
Listing after a major holiday.
We’ve just come off Christmas and New Year’s is literally right around the corner so is it really a good time to list a new property? It’s actually a great time because given just a couple of days after the holiday, people will start getting back into their normal routine and homebuyers will start pulling up more listings on the Internet. Having a new listing ready for them to view is a great way to get your home shown quickly. Listing in January means that there is less inventory and less competition for buyers. You’re likely to get more for your home and sell faster.
The right day of the week.
Did you know that there’s a good day of the week to list a property and a bad day? Before listing a property on the weekend or on a Friday, it’s better to let them recover a day or two and then list on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Homes listed on Mondays generally don’t get many views until later in the week and those listed on Friday make it lost in the open house shuffle.
Don’t forget the buyer.
The whole key to listing at the right time is to keep the buyer’s perspective in mind. For instance, if your home is family-friendly you may want to list that you’re in a good school zone or district. If you cater to retirement age buyers, perks and amenities to the community may be a benefit. Showcase what your home has whether it’s a great outdoor space, gated entrance, or community amenities.
Buyers are more serious in the winter.
Although we don’t get a lot of cold winters here in Florida, there are typically fewer buyers this time of year, which means that you’re likely to have more serious buyers and not those that are just wasting your time with a pointless showing. Inventory and competition are generally lower during the holidays and into January so if someone is willing to take the time to look at your home, they’re probably a serious buyer.
Pricing is everything.
Even more than timing, pricing can be imperative to get the home sold and shown. Regardless of what day of the week you list, you still cannot overprice your property. You must stand up against the competition so it’s important to understand what else is out there on the market and how your home stacks up to similar properties.
Call me today to find out how much your home is currently worth, if we need to think about doing any upgrades or repairs before listing and how we can list to get the most eyeballs on your property the fastest.