The Best Months for Selling a Home

If you're planning on selling your home, you want to maximize your profits and minimize the amount of time the home is on the market. By learning the best months to sell a home and listing your property accordingly, you will come out ahead. Traditionally, the real estate market heats up in the spring months of April and May. This is when home buyers, who would ideally like to move in the summer, begin shopping around. If you are selling a single family residence, there's a good chance that your property will appeal to families. Most families with children want to be moved in and settled before the school year starts in late August or early September. This is one of the main reasons that sixty percent of all home closings occur in the months of June and July. By listing your home in April, you give buyers time enough to shop around, make an offer, and close before August. Mid August, incidentally, marks a huge slow down in home sales. Many people take a break from their home search to go on vacation or get ready for back to school, so make sure your home goes on the market well before that.

After the August slump, there is usually a small spike in activity in September and October. These months are ideal for buyers who would like to be settled in their new home before the holidays. This window of time is fairly small, though. Late November though the end of the year are tough times for sellers, as most home buyers are not looking to make a move in the busy holiday season

Another factor that you will want to consider is the weather. The weather definitely influences the real estate market. Many Realtors know that on a rainy day, an open house won't get half as many visitors as on a sunny day. Daily fluctuations in the weather can't be controlled, but you should pay attention to the seasons. If you live in the North or Midwest part of the country, home sales tend to slow down when the weather is cold and nasty. January and February are notoriously slow months for home sales. However, those living in warmer climates won't see much affect in the winter months.

In summary, the best months for selling your home are April through July. If you're looking to sell later in the year, aim to list your home in September or October. While these months are ideal, keep in mind that a house put on the market in the off months will likely have less competition and with the right buyer, can sell for just as much as it would in peak months.