While Spring is traditionally considered the best time for the real estate industry, the problem with selling in the Spring is that if everyone else feels the same and puts their property on the market, it immediately increases supply and possibly dampens demand. So how about selling in Autumn?
In fact, preparing your home for an Autumn sale makes sense for a number of reasons.
- The hot harsh summer days are mostly over as we move into the milder months of March, April and May. This means people are more likely to attend home openings if it’s not 35+ degrees outside! If you have a garden or courtyard, take full opportunity of an attractive garden presentation. The wonderful changing colours and fragrances in an Autumn garden may just end up being the catalyst for an undecided buyer.
- Many prospective buyers are looking for properties at this time of the year. They made their New Year’s resolution to buy a property in 2013 and the first few months of the year will be when they are most active.
- Believe it or not but, as the football season starts, it can often result in poor open home attendance. Holding open home viewings before the footy is completely underway may be worth considering. Otherwise, having the footy playing on the TV during an open house may not be that crazy an idea, especially if the “other half” doesn’t look like he wants to be house shopping! Just have the volume low enough for prospective buyers to be able to discuss the home, and envision living there.
So, if you’ve decided to sell your property in Autumn, here are a few things to watch out for:
- Sell in March, rather than April or May. In April, we have school holidays & Anzac Day; all distractions for potential property buyers. By the time May comes, the days are getting shorter and weather is starting to get colder, especially in the southern states.
- Get your garden ready with plants that will flower in Autumn so your garden is looking spectacular at your open inspections. This may mean you have to buy mature plants, rather than seeds or seedlings.
- RAKE THOSE LEAVES!
- If you are selling property in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania or the ACT, beware of having open inspections on the first Sunday in April, as this is the day Daylight Savings ends. It’s better to hold it on the Saturday because – guaranteed – someone will get confused.