Selling your house can be both an exciting and a nerve-wracking time. While you’re probably excited for your next home, there’s no denying the difficulty of saying goodbye to the memories you’ve made in your current home.

Some people have the flexibility to sell at any point during the year. Other people are in a hurry and need to sell their home immediately. Sometimes this is for work, other times it is for financial reasons, and there are plenty of other things that may cause you to sell your home in a hurry.

If you are going to be selling your house in the fall, there are several things that you should consider. The fall is a fine time to sell your home, and like anything, there are pros and cons. This post will dive into five things to consider when selling your house in the fall.

 

1.    There Is Less Demand for Houses in the Fall

One of the biggest things to know about listing your home in the fall is that there will likely be less demand from buyers. The fall and winter are two of the slower seasons in the real estate market. As most schools are already back in session, most families in need of relocation have already settled somewhere.

This is deflating for many sellers who are looking to move their home quickly. Many sellers see the diminished demand as a sign that they will need to hold on to their house for longer than they want or they will need to lower their asking price. This is true sometimes, but not always.

The fact of the matter is that good houses always sell at some point – especially if they’re within a normal price range.

While there may be diminished demand in the fall, that doesn’t mean that there is no demand at all. There is always a demand for houses, as people always need somewhere to live. So while your listing might not spur a bidding war, there’s still a good chance that it will get offers. Whether or not these offers are equivalent to your asking price is the important question.

 

 

2.    There Are Usually Less Houses for Sale in the Fall

While there are usually fewer buyers in the fall, there are also fewer sellers. The market tends to work in tandem like that! After all, everyone who is a seller is also a buyer, and everyone who is a buyer is also a seller.

Lower supply is a good thing for sellers. Economic theory states that low supply, all else equal, raises prices. Economic theory also says that low demand has the opposite effect.

This means that when the fall rolls around, the most likely outcome is that asking price stays about the same as it would be in the peak season. Less houses for sale and less buyers in the market tends to equal a wash.

This is a large reason that you might still be able to set an ambitious asking price when selling in the fall. Your realtor will know best, but the market dynamics can be estimated fairly accurately. Realtors generally have a good sense of how many people are shopping for homes and how many listings are available.

Similarly, realtors can track current listings to see the average amount of time it takes a house to sell. They can compare these metrics against previous years to determine whether or not houses are selling more quickly or slowly than usual for the time of year, which can help to dictate your asking price.

 

3.     Fall Weather Is Very Favorable for Moving

In the vast majority of the country, fall is one of the best times to move into a new home. You get to avoid the summer heat, the winter chill, and the spring showers. If you are moving to an area that experiences four distinct seasons, you will likely get to skip out on yard work for a few months, too.

While moving usually only takes a couple of days, it’s great to have nice weather while you move your furniture out of the truck and into the house! If you have movers, there’s a good chance the favorable weather enables them to work more efficiently, with less need for breaks.

Another major advantage is that the lower demand for houses also means lower demand on vendors that are part of the homebuying process. Inspectors, movers, and contractors are all likely to have shorter waitlists, if any, during this season.

 

 

4.    Your House’s Exterior May Not Look Its Best In the Fall

Another thing to consider is that your home’s exterior may not look its best during the fall. This can reduce curb appeal, as potential buyers might see dead or wilting plants and flowers instead of vibrant flowerbeds. There is little that you can do about this, other than artificially planting things right before selling.

The good news is that if you are moving to an area with a similar climate, the same condition will likely apply. So even if you wind up getting slightly less for your house because of lower curb appeal, you can probably buy your next house for cheaper, too.

 

5.    Buyers Shopping in the Fall Are Usually in Less of a Hurry

The final major thing to consider is that most people shopping for a home in the fall are not in a hurry. While this is not the case for all buyers, it is the case for many of them.

There are two main factors that push people to buy a new house: switching schools and moving jobs. Many people who get new jobs try to align the start dates with the start of the school year, so that their kids can be moved in before starting a new year in their new school.

Switching schools in the middle of the year is tough, and this is why many families who need to relocate do so over the summer break. This means there is a massive surge in houses listed for sale in May and bought throughout the summer. By the time the fall rolls around, most of those families have already found a home to move into.

While this doesn’t apply to all buyers, it applies to many. This means that most people shopping for a home in the fall are moving because of desire rather than need, which means that they can often take their time negotiating and shopping around.

 

 

 

Thank you for reading our post about things to consider when selling your house in the fall. As you can see, there are pros and cons to selling in any season. Fall weather is great for moving, but it can also diminish the curb appeal of your home. Similarly, low demand is frequently offset by low supply.

In any case, with the help of a good realtor, you can sell your home for a good price and on your own terms. An experienced realtor knowns the ins and the outs of the local market and it always available to help you navigate the real estate landscape.

 

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, we’re here to help. We at The Boyd Team are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

 

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, and Professionalism You Can Count On!

 

Written by Greg