Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall

This time of year, I often get the question from people considering selling their home whether the holidays is a good time or not.  While I know many real estate professionals who will tell you to wait, possibly because that’s what they’ve always heard was the best advice, I take a different stance. I say, “seize the opportunity.”

Historically, most people will wait until the early spring to put their homes on the market. They’ll spend the holidays  hosting out of town family members, enjoying their decorations,  and then decluttering in preparation for selling the home once all the festivities have passed. 

Meanwhile, buyers are constantly coming into the market, or are residual from not yet having found their perfect home. Additionally, many of those out-of-town guests will often take the opportunity to look at real estate while they are in San Diego. What better time to showcase what San Diego really has to offer….perfect weather in November and December compared to most of the rest of the United States.

If you choose to put your home on the market as the holidays are unfolding, you should be prepared for a bit of a slower pace in terms of activity, showings, and offers coming in due to the day-to-day distractions that come with the season.  But that doesn’t mean that you must compromise on price.  Pricing should be reflective of recent comparable data, and general market/buyer activity which is largely motivated by interest rates. Additionally, in the fall and winter, we still have summer pricing that is taken in to consideration on appraisals, reflective of the sales from that early fall push to get in before the holidays.

You will likely also find yourself with less competition if you are launching your house on the market over the holiday season, as compared with waiting until the Spring, like most others.  I suggest minimzing the holiday décor, but you don’t have to skip it completely.  When potential buyers are touring homes throughout the year, they are often planning where they will seat their many guests for entertaining as well as where they will put the tree. This is the chance to show them some options!

The truth is, in my opinion, there’s no BEST time to sell here in San Diego. It’s all year long. We are not weather dependent, and as a tourist destination, I am constantly contacted by people visiting their friends and family or just exploring what it would be like to live in this glorious part of the world. Take advantage of the opportunity when you are ready and go for it.

If you are considering selling or buying, I would love the opportunity to be a resource to you, offering sound advice with the ultimate goal of helping YOU achieve YOUR goals. Please contact me at 619-944-2798. You’ll see the difference the moment we sit down together.