The Best?

When is the best time to sell a house? This is a question I get asked all the time and it always gives me pause. The dictionary defines best as ‘the greatest degree of good or excellence.’  By this definition, is there a true best time to sell? The simple response is that the best time to sell is whenever it is right for you, but no one wants to hear that answer.

Apart from that, spring is the best time to sell. You are probably familiar with references to the spring market, but when you read that line, you might have envisioned going to an open house with the sun shining, green grass and the smell of lilacs and fresh mulch in the air.  This is a common misconception. Real estate spring doesn’t follow the calendar, it is actually much earlier. The first day of spring according to the calendar is March 20th; real estate spring begins February 1st.  Based on my experience and analysis of sales data year after year, February 1-March 31st is the perfect window to list. It seems counterintuitive when our New England homes and yards have zero curb appeal this time of year.  Yet, some of my highest sale prices have been achieved with homes listed in February and March.  Why? Buyers are competing for fewer homes. Since there is typically less going on in February and March than during the summer months, sellers can also expect better attendance at open houses. Buyer demand coupled with limited inventory in February and March translates into more offers and higher sale prices. 

For those who want to wait until the snow melts, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and  flowers are in bloom, I hear you.  This is why the question gives me pause.  Don’t overthink it or place unnecessary stress on yourself to conform to a specific timeframe.  The honest answer is that the best time to do anything, house related or otherwise, is when it is right for you.  Happy Real Estate Spring!