Be strategic about when you list your property so you can get the most for your home. Sellers often have a notion that the summer is the best time to sell, and while that may be true in general across lots of markets, the Seattle market is its own beast. (Each market has its unique patterns and trends which may or may not follow conventional wisdom!) While spring and early summer remain great times to sell, another season also shines.

January – March

Low inventory make January – March a surprisingly good time to sell and prices climb in the new year. Listing in Q1 is about putting the odds in your favor.

Buyers come back from the holidays refreshed and seem to have a New Year’s Resolution to buy a home. There are few other distractions (except maybe Super Bowl Sunday) and low inventory. Low supply and high demand makes the probability of receiving multiple offers higher.

April – June

The season for great weather and eager buyers. These months are typically great times to sell in Seattle. Longer days mean there are more tours available during daylight hours which helps get more potential buyers in the door.

Keep in mind that more homes for sale means also buyers have more options. With more inventory there is a greater chance that a similar home at a similar price point will be listed. Getting multiple offers is never guaranteed, so keep a close eye on new homes coming to market.

July – October

Demand sees a summer slow down and picks back up in September for the fall. If escalation were a dance, it would definitely be the Tango! As a seller, getting the most for your home means getting two buyers to fall in love with your house. In the summer months, more people are traveling. It’s a bummer to receive a killer offer with a big escalation clause and have nothing to escalate against. It stinks to wonder if you’ve left money on the table.

September and October are solid months to sell as buyers return from summer vacations. The weather is still good and there are ample buyers on the hunt.

November – December

The rain sets in and buyers settle in for the holidays. I like to say that November and December are great months to buy a house because it’s hard to miss a leaky roof or a flood-prone basement in the rainy months.

But for listing, homes don’t show as well, it gets dark super early and fatigued buyers get distracted by the holidays. It’s also harder to get great exterior photos with grey skies, which are a key ingredient to getting prospective buyers in your door.

Check your downspouts and wait it out, if you can.