When is the Best Time to List My Home?
Many things in life are not always for certain. Especially when it comes to the world of real estate. With the sale and/or purchase of a home, there are many factors and moving parts to consider. For these reasons, and many more, is why it’s so important to have an experienced real estate agent on your team.
If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to consult with your real estate agent to ensure you are set up for success with a well-rounded approach. One factor that your real estate agent can help you to consider is the best time to list your home.
Listing When It’s Best for You
While the time of year can have an impact on the overall success of your listing, at the end of the day it really does come down to what works best for you. Between your career, family and other responsibilities, a certain time of year may work best for you.
It’s important to recognize this when making a plan to list and sell your home. These lifestyle factors can have a significant impact on how smoothly the sale of your home, purchase of a new home (or rental), packing, moving, and settling into a new home will go.
The Best Time of Year to List Your Home
While many factors should be considered when listing your home, the time of year is one that many homeowners don’t prioritize.
For homeowners, we generally recommend listing your home in the spring and summer seasons. There are a few factors that can contribute to why selling your home from April to August is a great strategic decision.
Great Weather
Buyers are often more motivated to attend showings and go “house hunting” when the weather is favourable. Especially in Canada, where the winter months can feel cold and dreary.
In the spring and summer, the exterior of your home will also be bursting with colour and life. This can make your home look all the more appealing from the outside, drawing attention and giving you a more competitive edge than if you were to list in the winter months.
Longer Days
Some real estate professionals also consider the longer days associated with daylight savings time. With the sun shining for longer, not only will the exterior of your home be more visible for longer, but potential buyers will be more motivated to attend showings after work than in the winter months.
Deadlines
Many families will aim to purchase their new home prior to the beginning of a new school year. To help ensure that they are settled within their preferred school district and in a position to properly prepare their children for back-to-school, most families will opt to secure their new home in the late spring or summer months.
More Free Time
There’s no doubt about it, life gets busy. With many holidays and vacations taking place in the fall and winter months, many homeowners and buyers will opt to wait until the spring and summer, when they have more free time.
10 Things to Avoid When Listing Your Home
Now that we have covered some things to consider when listing your home, such as the best time of year, let’s talk about what to avoid when listing your home!
Making emotional or impulse decisions
Skimping on certain repairs and updates
Not neutralizing or decluttering your home
Hiding problems within your home or not disclosing
Refusing to make changes or rearrange furniture
Setting an unrealistic price
Not accommodating potential buyers
Skimping on professional photography or videography
Only marketing traditionally (digital marketing is the way of the future!)
Navigating your local market without an expert
One of the best decisions that you can make as you prepare your home for sale, is to consult and work with an experienced local real estate agent. The right real estate professional can help you create a plan for an overall successful listing and sale, from coordinating home renovations and boosting curb appeal, to professional staging, photography and everything else in between.
For more information about how a real estate agent can help you, get in touch with me today. With many years of experience in the Kitchener and Waterloo real estate market, I am more than happy and able to help you get started.
