Selling Over the Holidays –

Risk or Reward?

Listing our home for sale at what is undoubtedly the busiest time in our social calendar all year - are we mad?

November is one of those months that arrives then disappears in a flash. One minute we’re celebrating the colourful festivity of the Adelaide Christmas Pageant, and in the blink of an eye we’re suddenly amidst Christmas mayhem and New Year merriment! So why-oh-why would we entertain the idea of selling our home in Adelaide during the silly season?

Because, despite the challenge of adding another thing to our already overflowing diaries, there are some worthwhile reasons for listing a home for sale between November and January:

1. In November to December the grass is still green, the garden is flowering, the days are warm and sunny. So, in late spring our homes look inviting to prospective buyers, and the weather is good for open inspections.
2. If you live in a popular school zone, November is a great time of year to attract buyers seeking addresses in good school zones for subsequent school years.
3. Often buyers are on leave from work during the holiday period, so they have more time to become familiar with your property at leisure.
4. If you live near the beach, your property is most appealing to buyers during the summer holidays!
5. If your home has a swimming pool, buyers can easily envisage poolside summer enjoyment and leisurely entertaining at home.
6. Sellers who are on holiday from work between November and January have more time to prepare their home for open inspections and look at new places to buy.
7. If you have ceiling fans and good air conditioning, a refreshingly cool home during hot-weather open inspections is a highlight for buyers.
8. The spring cleaning is done, and you are likely to be sprucing everything up for Christmas anyway, so why not put your home on the market when it’s already looking its best?
9. While September to November may be peak selling months in Adelaide real estate, by December and January there are less homes on the market so your property has less competition.

1. Buyers sometimes take a break from house-hunting during the festive season. They may go away on holiday or be busy with guests and visitors, so there could be less active buyers attending your open inspections.
2. Adelaide can experience hot spells during November to January, which sometimes deters buyers from attending open inspections.
3. If you’re listing your home for sale, going away on holiday isn’t ideal. You may be committed to spending the whole summer at home.
4. If your home has no shade and doesn’t have good air conditioning, November to January weather won’t showcase your home at its best.

It’s official, the rewards outweigh the risks when it comes to selling your home over the summer holidays.

Ask any of our best-selling real estate agents in Adelaide, supply and demand strongly influence property prices. So make the smart move and sell your home when there is less competition and everyone else has sold in early spring or are waiting until after the summer holidays… you’ll reap the rewards.

If you are considering selling a property in Adelaide this summer, give us a call or visit our offices – we’d love to provide you with a free property value estimate and discuss how we can help you get the best possible result.