With its charming signature carpet of orange leaves, autumn has often been an understated selling time, but the season can herald good results for sellers if the market conditions are right.
In many cases, autumn can be a buoyant market, with similar attributes to the spring, so it’s worth exploring if you’re thinking of listing your home for sale at an off-peak time.
PROS
Sweet spot for sellers
Late summer and early autumn have been considered a sweet spot for sellers who may have missed the competitive peak spring selling season, but still want to market their home in good weather.
Fewer listings, greater competition
The number of buyers can drop off between March and May and there can also be fewer houses for the picking. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In some cases, less listings can mean stiffer competition, which can put upward pressure on prices – much to the delight of sellers.
More serious buyers
Serious buyers on the hunt for a new home are generally unperturbed by seasonal timings. So, autumn house hunters are likely to be more motivated, keen and determined to strike a deal knowing the super-competitive spring selling season is only a few months away.
CONS
Home maintenance
Nothing screams ‘autumn’ like a beautiful blanket of fallen orange leaves. But the seasonal display also means it’s time to clear the gutters, clean the windows and take on any lingering maintenance and repairs to make sure your home presents well when it hits the market.
Hit the garden
Autumn sellers should also be aware that gardens can quickly deteriorate as the cooler weather sets in, so keep on top of your outdoor maintenance so your property looks its best.
Leaf litter
As alluring and delightful a carpet of amber is in your yard, fallen leaves can also make a terrible mess. Pay particular attention to raking up leaves to minimise the mess they might create inside your home, especially on days when your property is open for inspection. This also ensures that time-poor prospective buyers don’t interpret the leaf litter as another chore they will have to undertake if they do choose to purchase your property.