The weather is warmer, the wattle is blooming and real estate agents all over Australia have a pep in their step as now is a great time of year to sell.
Mark Fricker, a sales consultant and auctioneer at LJ Hooker, Walkerville/Modbury in Adelaide, explains why spring is such smart time to sell property.
“Historically, people hold off until this time of year to sell their home, especially those looking to go to auction, but it’s not just tradition, there’s lots of great reasons to sell and buy at this time of year,” he says.
“The sun is shining, the garden looks nice and green and people are starting to get out and about a bit more after hibernating in winter, so it’s great for selling,” Fricker says.
![Spring bounce](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"%20viewBox="0%200%201024%20768"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Spring puts a bounce in the step of both buyers and sellers. Picture: Getty Images
“It’s as simple as people being more energised, getting out of the house with the kids and going for a walk. Buyers are much more inclined to go to an open house, for example, when it’s pleasant outside and not raining and miserable.
“We are certainly seeing more listings coming onto the market now winter is over and there are campaigns underway, with auctions to capitalise on the demand in the marketplace.”
Listing numbers rise in spring.
He says many buyers were keen to buy and settle before Christmas, so they can enjoy the festive season in their new home.
But as is always the case with property purchases, strategy reigns supreme.
“Right across the year, with all methods of sale, the most important factor is strategy. Even selling in spring, when sales are strong, comes back to having a strong strategy and implementing it to maximise results,” Fricker says.
The best way for vendors to maximise profit is to focus on presentation, he says.
Street appeal and photography can be the most important selling tools. Picture: Getty Images
“While lots of vendors get to work spring cleaning inside the home, the smallest things really do go the furthest. For many buyers, it comes down to the first things they see either in person or online, so the exterior and presentation of a home – and how it’s photographed – are vital,” Fricker says.
“Think about street appeal. Tidy up outside, even new mulch on a garden can really freshen a place up. The little things make a difference.”
This article was originally published on
17 Oct 2016 at 10:00am
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.