Selling a home requires a combination of careful planning, favorable market conditions, and good luck. As a result, there’s no simple formula for determining when your house will sell. There are, however, things you can do to help increase the odds of your home selling within your timeline.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the reasons homes sell quickly or slowly, and offer some tips on how to plan accordingly so that your home sells at the price you want and within the time you need, so you can get back to your life in your new home.
Let’s start with the pre existing conditions that you won’t have much sway over when it comes to selling your home. First, there’s the market: is it a buyer’s or a seller’s market? The term “seller’s market” deals with supply and demand. In a seller’s market, there is more demand than supply, and therefore listings often see quicker sales and more frequent offers. These terms are used geographically as well. While we are currently considered to be in seller’s market nationwide, it could vary geographically. Certain cities and regions experience surplus housing and are therefore considered buyer’s markets.
One factor in the amount of time it takes for your home to sell that you have some control over is when you put it on the market. A new study has found that the best time to sell a home is early March to late April, depending on your geographic location.
For you, this means ensuring that your home is ready to be listed by the end of January. That means you won’t want to delay in getting outdoor issues taken care of before winter arrives if you live in a colder climate. It’s much easier to work on roofs and driveways or septic systems before temperatures reach freezing.
Now that we’ve talked about those details which are out of your hands, let’s talk about what you can do now to increase the likelihood of your home selling when you need it to.
First, be sure to price your home accurately. Any time that your house sits on the market with an inflated price is time wasted.
Next, stay on track with home improvements and upgrades that will increase the interior appeal and curb appeal of your home. That means fresh coats of neutral paint, a lot of cleaning and decluttering, and some appropriate landscaping. It’s important to remember, however, that some upgrades aren’t very cost-effective, so be sure to do your research before taking on big home improvement projects.
Right before you put your home on the market, take the time to stage the home and take great photos. Cell phone pictures of a dirty house with poor lighting won’t do you any favors. If you know a photographer, enlist their help for the day to make sure your photos stand out on listing websites.
If you follow these tips and remain consistent in communicating with your real estate agent, there’s no reason you shouldn’t sell your home within the timeframe needed for you and your family.
