Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Should you sell your house in spring?

2 min read

There’s something about spring that makes new beginnings attractive — new hairstyle, new wardrobe, a gym contract, a weekend away. And perhaps even a new house, according to Ya’el Geffen, executive director at Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty.

Geffen suggests that more people buy houses in spring, with the property market heating up along with the weather. “There is a direct correlation between house sales and the seasons,” says Geffen.

Tips on seasonal selling:

  • Properties tend to look their best in spring, when the weather is mild, the light is good and gardens are blooming. “Sprucing up your garden is probably the least expensive way to make your home appealing, says Geffen. “If your property has ‘street appeal’, it will probably attract more interest and fetch a better price.”

  • Your property may be competing with more properties in spring, but statistically speaking you still have a better chance selling than in cold, wet, gloomy conditions.

  • “House-hunters go into hibernation when it’s cold and winter inertia sets in,” says Geffen. “Similarly, sellers don’t want to hold show days when it’s chilly, nor do they want to move house in cold, rainy conditions.

  • A summer sale could be tricky because of school holidays and the festive season. A property can sit and become over-exposed by the time the market picks up. Also, you may have to drop your asking price slightly.

  • An agent who knows your area well is probably best placed to tell you when you should sell. Don’t rely on seasonal factors alone.

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