If you’ve decided to sell your house, there are a few things you should consider before putting it on the market. For example, are you hoping to sell your house more quickly or for maximum value? Does your region have housing market patterns that differ from the rest of the U.S.?

We can help guide you through the varieties within the home selling market to help you narrow down exactly when you should sell your house — whether based on season, region or month.

At Bungalo®, we understand the home buying process from start to finish and we work hard to make it easy for homeowners looking to buy and/or sell. We created Bungalo to help new and existing homeowners take control of the process from buying a home to figuring out when is the best month to sell a home. (For more helpful guides, explore our blog.)

The home selling market through the year

Although it can be tempting to put your house on the market the moment you’re ready to sell, that’s not usually best practice. You may luck into a particularly beneficial time during the year for the housing market, but we wouldn’t advise you to take that as a given.

One important reason to specifically choose the optimal month or season to sell your home is that the housing market ebbs and flows throughout the year. If you choose an “off-season” in which demand is low, you may end up with offers below market price or — worst-case scenario — struggle to sell at all.

However, if you do your research, you can put your home on the market at the best time for you as a home seller. This can result in offers at or above your home’s estimated value and a plethora of buyers who are all ready to commit to a new home.

So when is the best time of year to sell a home?

Many experts would say spring is arguably the best season for selling. According to The Mortgage Reports, if you sell your home in spring, you can expect to sell it 18.5 days faster than other seasons and receive 5.9% more money. Due to this, it’s also one of the most competitive times to sell a home, so you could find yourself not doing as well if your home hasn’t been updated to prepare for extra competition from other homes.

This may also not be the best time for you to choose to sell your home if your area is still rainy or snowy. If that’s the case, summer is probably the better option of the two warmer seasons.

The summer months are almost as popular a time to sell as spring, as it’s generally nice weather, longer days and a preferred time of year for moving and changing homes. After all, if it’s summer, you don’t have to worry about moving while kids are still in school or when family events may be happening. It’s also great for the seller because buyers feel pressured to purchase and move into their new homes before the start of the school year.

Fall and winter are the less popular months for selling a house. However, there are areas in which these two colder seasons are actually quite temperate, which makes them popular times for the housing market.

Regional and long-term effects on selling conditions

As you research the best season for sellers in the housing market, you’ll also discover that the competitiveness and popularity of each season depending on the region in which you’re selling your home.

Specifically, in warmer areas, such as Arizona, Florida, Southern California and Texas, fall and winter can actually be the most popular and potentially lucrative times to sell. In these regions, the weather is more temperate, so the temperature isn’t scorching hot — imagine house hunting in triple-digit heat — and buyers also aren’t in the middle of the more volatile seasons that can produce hurricanes or tornadoes.

If you’re in an area where the late fall or winter has nicer weather, this can be a great time in the housing market for you. Buyer demand may also be encouraged by the end of tax season — closing on a home before the end of the year means buyers can take advantage of tax breaks.

Look into the ins and outs of your local real estate market to help determine when to put your house up for sale. Most areas have specific location-based housing market patterns that can help you get the best price for your property. If you put it up during peak home-buying season (when buyer demand is at its highest), you’ll benefit from increased interest, which will then encourage more competitive offers.

Picking the best month to sell a house

Now that you’ve narrowed down which season you want to sell your house, you can start to break down which month will get you the best home price results.

As previously discussed, your home’s region and location will definitely impact the optimal season to sell your house, but you can also look at nationwide trends to guide your decision.

What are the best months to sell a house?

Although spring is the best season to start selling your home, the best three months include two summer months, according to LendingTree. The months, in order, are:

1. June
2. May
3. July

Each of these months shows the highest number of sales, median sales prices and seller premiums out of the entire year. In fact, if you break it down by day, the best time of the year to sell your home is between mid to late June.

If you plan to list your home during these three months, your odds of getting a great deal are much higher than during the colder times of the year.

However, bear in mind that the specific best month to sell may change depending on the current housing and economic market conditions. For example, due to COVID-19, many homes continued to sell extremely well into July and into the fall seasons, even in locations that don’t ordinarily have the best conditions during those times.

What are the worst months to sell a house?

Conversely, the three worst months to sell a house across the U.S. are all during the colder, fall to winter months:

1. December
2. October
3. November

Besides the weather, an additional factor that makes these difficult times to sell a home is that they’re all holiday seasons. This is already a busy time for most people as they confirm travel plans or prepare for events, so it’s not usually ideal for buying and moving to a new home for buyers. However, it’s a good time for homebuyers who are looking to get a great deal on home prices, because the market is less competitive. By contrast, it’s not a great time for sellers to put their homes on the market if they’re looking for the best offers.

Selling your home for maximum value in any month

One of the main reasons home sellers should carefully consider when to put their homes on the market is because, in general, the market is out of their control. Choosing the right time to list is one of the best ways that sellers can help ensure their house sells quickly and for the best price.

Yet there are other straightforward ways to maximize your home selling experience and outcome. The key is to present your home in the best possible way, which you can do by setting the right price and investing in home repairs that add value.

Sell for the right price

When you put your home up for sale, you’ll need to set realistic price expectations. This means that home sellers should take the time to figure out the true value of their property and avoid over- or underpricing their home.

If your home price is more expensive than it should be, your property will have less buyer demand, resulting in fewer offers and longer selling times. Similarly, more home buyers are looking at houses within certain price ranges, so if yours is outside of that spectrum, it’ll be even harder for potential buyers to find your home.

When a home takes a long time to sell, it also makes buyers wary of your property listing. As your home stays on the market longer and longer, you may end up dropping the price as well, which will negatively affect your listing’s reputation. As far as prospective buyers are concerned, this may be an indication that there is something wrong with the house or the seller themself.

Make sure your home is in the best condition

Part of the home buying process includes a home inspection of the property. If any issues are highlighted, buyers may want to renegotiate their offers or even drop out of the home purchase. Avoid this possibility by inspecting your own home for potential issues in advance.

At Bungalo, all homes that we sell have been inspected and certified multiple times, from top-to-bottom by our professionals to be Bungalo Certified. This extra step ensures that the buyers are fully confident in their purchase and sellers don’t have to worry about surprise problems. Our guarantee even includes 90-day post-close protection and a 1-year home warranty — because we are confident in the homes that we sell.

This extra step will help prevent any unnecessary pauses or bumps along the home selling and buying journey.

Consider home repairs that add value

To encourage buyer demand, you want your home to appear as attractive and competitive as possible compared to other houses on the market. This means investing in home improvement projects that don’t cost more than you can afford but still add value and appeal to your home.

Consider projects such as:

• Repainting walls
• Updating floors
• Repairing driveway cracks
• Installing new kitchen appliances
• Renovating the bathrooms
• Adding protective additions (hurricane shutters, new gutters, etc.)

With these upgrades, your home will stand out among other real estate listings and increase your chances of buyer demand.

Streamline the home buying and selling process with Bungalo

Selling your home doesn’t have to be a complicated or stressful process. Although the housing and real estate market may be outside of your control or comfort zone, there are ways to ensure you get the best home price for your house in the most efficient time.

By researching your area’s specific trends and the best months to list your home, you can understand what buyer demand may look like throughout the year, and create a smoother transition from homeowner to home seller.

If you’re interested in learning more about Bungalo’s streamlined and efficient all-in-one home buying service, check out our how-it-works guide.

We help new and returning home buyers find their perfect match, without the fuss and hassle of traditional real estate processes. Because our platform is interactive and transparent each step of the way, our buyers can be sure that every listed home meets top-of-the-line professional standards.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Bungalo always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation.