When is the best time to sell?

When is the best time to sell? We are lucky to have a robust market in Charleston where homes sell year round, so your personal needs should dictate when you sell. If you don't have urgency and want to list when you have the best shot at making the most money, there is seasonality to our market that creates better times than others. 

To fetch the best price, you want to list when there are the most buyers shopping and the least to choose from. Most of our closings take place in May-June which means the most contracts are written in March-April. Listing your house in late January or early February is typically the sweet spot to stand out without much competing inventory and when buyers are ready to transact. A rule of thumb is to list right after the Super Bowl. It's anecdotal, but we've seen it play out year after year. 

Public school spring break also weighs in to our seasonality. Sellers with school-aged children may elect to list after spring break if they have travel plans. Some years it falls mid-March, but it can be as late as April, which would delay the momentum. 

An especially cold January or February can also delay momentum. Consumer behavior patterns show that people think about moving more when it starts to warm up in the spring. People are tired of being stuck indoors and ready to get out to see houses and start visualizing themselves somewhere else. 

Showing your home can be a real inconvenience, especially if you have kids, roommates or pets. If you have travel plans, it would be wise to time your listing with when you will be gone so your home can be shown easier. The most showings typically happen the first weekend a home is on the market so it's a great time to leave town and let your agent handle the traffic. 

Seasonality may affect some neighborhoods more than others. There’s no cost for us to come out and discuss strategy specific to the sale of your home and what may need to be done prior to listing.