How can you tell when it's a good time to put your home on the market?

For home owners wanting to get the best results at sale time, it’s important to know when is the best time to list your property. 

While the timing of selling a property can sometimes be out of our control, those with the luxury of choice should consider a number of factors.

First, it’s important to understand the natural ebb and flow of the property market. Usually, it moves in four phases. 

The value stage is the point in the market where prices are relatively stationary, leading buyers to consider purchasing homes. 

Next is the growth phase, where prices begin to rise – slowly at first – as competition in the market grows. 

Then comes the peak of the market. Prices have increased rapidly but it’s the highest point of the cycle before the fourth phase – the correction – causes prices to moderate.

Listings tend to enter the market during the value and growth phases, with sellers seizing the opportunity to sell their house for a good price.   

But what about that long-held belief that spring is the best time to sell? Of course, the property cycle moves independently of the seasons, so how does this influence decision-making?

Kate Rushton of Ray White Cranbourne says there are positives to selling in spring, but there can be some potential downsides that should also be considered. 

“Spring can be a better time to sell, as gardens look lovely, days are longer and brighter and the ability to view homes is there,” she says. 

“However, sometimes there can be an oversupply of homes on the market, which can lead to buyers having more homes to choose from.”

• Find your local agent

It’s for this reason that taking advantage of selling in winter – which is often considered a bad time to sell because of dormant gardens and lack of outdoor activity – may actually be a good idea, Rushton says. 

“Yes, it can be cold and yes, it can be wet, but there are usually fewer properties on the market, and therefore less competition between sellers, and more buyers looking at your home,” she says. 

However, there can be a lack of buyers in the market towards the end of the financial year in June, says Stefan Blee of SB Property. 

“That four-week period that leads up to the financial year, things quieten down a lot,” he says. “If buyers haven’t purchased by very early June, they hit the pause button and wait until tax time to get their financials sorted, and then they will come out again in July.

“That is another reason why you can see that buyer drop off in the June and July, or winter, period before it just starts to go again,” 

• Get free market appraisal

Of the other seasons, Rushton says summer can be used to sellers’ advantage, when places with pools, in ideal locations and with views “are good to market, and will likely reach the right demographic”.

With all of this in mind, there are certain things that sellers can do at any time of year and at any stage of the market to put themselves in the best position come sale time. 

Blee says having a well-presented home is a great start.

“I think it’s important to get advice from agents, to get them to come in and see where they think the buyers will likely have the biggest reaction, and that is a good place to spruce up first,” he says. 

“I often say there is no real wrong answer, because if something can be done and it doesn’t cost more than you have or are willing to pay, it’s always worth doing.” 

• Track your home

Tackling any outstanding maintenance jobs that are on the to-do list is also a must, Rushton adds. 

“First impressions matter, so ensuring the curb appeal is the best it can be is a great idea too,” she says. 

“You know your home better than anyone, and you purchased it yourself for a reason. Communicate with your agent – we need new buyers to fall in love with your home for the same reason you did.”

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