Selling your home? This is the best week of the year to list it
Research reveals that right now is the best week for selling a home – but be sure to list it before the weekend for best results
If you're wondering whether selling your home at particular times of the year really helps you to close the deal faster, there is no incontrovertible proof. Yes, it really does matter when you list your home for sale – and this week is the best in the year to do so.
- See more: Features house buyers want – how to sell a house fast
Recent research from Realtor reveals that homes sold during the week of April 18-24 sell for 2% more than any other week of the year, and fetch a whopping 10.4% more than homes listed at the beginning of the year. To put this into financial perspective, if you list your home today, you'll sell for over $30,000 more (on average) than if you'd listed it in January, and over $7,000 more than if you list it next week.
The spring rush is no myth, with buyer demand peaking during mid-April, with home listings attracting an average 11% more views this week than in any other. Reduced supply also plays a part, with this week traditionally having less to offer in terms of new listings (clearly, sellers are not aware of the selling potential of listing in mid-April). This reduced supply has been made worse by the pandemic, pushing up demand even further, with many buyers being prepared to pay over the asking price.
- See more: These are the two rooms to spend your budget on – if you want to increase the value of your home
However, this isn't the only trick of the trade home owners thinking of selling need to know about. It's not just about listing at the correct time of year that sells your home for more. It turns out that the specific days of the week you choose to list on also play a significant part in how much your house will fetch – and how quickly it will sell.
List your house on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and you will sell for $1,700 more than if you list on the weekend. The reason behind this? Although buyers are feeling the pressure of a fast-paced market, they do like having the chance to at least take a good long look at the property before picking up the phone to book a viewing.
Having those few days to think things over is crucial – and worth paying more for, in buyers' eyes. As Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather explains, 'because the market is so competitive right now, most homes will receive plenty of attention regardless of when they’re listed. But sellers can still maximize their potential profit simply by listing in the middle of the week, which gives potential buyers a few days to see the home, talk to their agent and set up a showing for Saturday or Sunday.'
See: Best ways to add value – home improvements to boost your house price
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This makes today officially one of the best days of the entire year to list your home for sale. You could make an extra $12,000 – not bad for just pressing the 'send live' button.
Anna K. Cottrell is now a freelance writer, having previously been a Content Editor for Future's homes titles. She writes about interior design, property, and gardening. On H&G, she specialized in writing about property – buying, selling, renting – sustainability and eco issues.
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