The time of year in which you list a home for sale may have an impact on how quickly it sells and for how much. For this reason, first-time home sellers typically ask, “what is the best season to sell a home?”
Here, in Atlanta’s healthy real estate market, there is rarely a “bad” time to sell; however, different times of year have certain advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look briefly at the pros and cons of selling in different seasons.
Spring
Springtime is considered by many experts to be the most optimal time to list a home for sale. Warmer weather and abundant listings tend to cause homebuyers to turn out en masse, so homes tend to sell more quickly in spring, and usually for more money. The downside is that you have more competition, and because so many people are scheduling showings with different levels of interest, you may have to weed through a number of prospects to find serious buyers.
Summer
During the summer months, home sales may level off slightly from the springtime rush, but not by much. Listing a home in summer still gives you the benefit of an active pool of buyers and shorter times on the market, although more potential buyers tend to go on vacation as the hot weather drags into August.
Fall
As people return to school and work from summer vacations, we generally see a slowdown in the real estate market during the fall. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad time to list, though. Especially in a city like Atlanta, where autumn weather is quite mild and pleasant and fall foliage lasts until mid-November. Even if it takes a little longer to sell, you can still expect plenty of prospective buyers to take interest in your house.
Winter
Winter is traditionally the slowest time of year for real estate, and for this reason, some consider it the least desirable season to try to sell a home. That said, there is an interesting trade-off: the people who look for homes this time of year are generally more serious about making a deal. If you stage your home well and are willing to negotiate a little, you can still sell your home in a reasonable time frame and for a good price.
Which Time of Year Is Best?
The most recent studies from Zillow suggest that the “sweet spot” for listing a home in most markets is in the first two weeks of May. Statistically, homes listed during this time stay on the market for an average of 18.5 days less than at other times of year, and sell for one percent more than the average listing. That said, working with a good agent will improve your chances of a quicker sale even more than the season of the year. To discuss your options, call Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 404.948.4812.