When is the best time to sell a home in Australia?

It’s a commonly held belief in Australian property circles that spring is the best time to sell your house.

Buyers are said to be shaking off the winter doldrums and are more motivated to get out to home inspections.

At the same time, homes are said to present better, with blooming gardens and increased natural light brightening up areas that may have looked a little dim in winter.

But Australia is a large continent. What applies to one market may not apply to all.

Here are a few factors to consider if you’re wondering when you should put your home up for sale.

What do the statistics say?

First up, let’s look at some figures on property sales across the nation.

Price data

PropTrack analysts studied home price data over the ten years to 2023 finding November was the best month for Australian sellers, with prices typically 0.8% higher than the yearly average.

In monetary terms, such a discrepancy would mean someone selling a home worth around $800,000 would pocket an extra $6,000 more in November, compared to the average price achieved through the rest of a year.

Prices were also noticeably above average in the beginning of the year – 0.59% higher in February and 0.72% higher in March.

By contrast, the lowest seasonal prices were realised in winter – more than 0.9% below the average in both June and July.

Overall, PropTrack found springtime - October and November - and the early months of the year were when homes sold for the most.

However, the study noted there were differences in the data depending on which city or region you lived in.

In Sydney, Adelaide, and Hobart, the highest prices were typically achieved earlier in the year – in March for Sydney and Hobart and April for Adelaide.

Here’s a capital city breakdown:

Best month to sell a home across Australia

Source: PropTrack, 2023

The data shows all capital city markets, apart from Darwin, recorded above-average results in the so-called ‘spring selling season’ of October/November.

Some markets saw much more seasonal variation than others, with average prices considerably higher in their prime months compared to their yearly averages.

This was most pronounced in Darwin, where prices were typically 2.85% higher in March. That’s perhaps unsurprising, as the city’s summer heat and seasonal rains are generally easing around that time.

Seasonal factors also had a more pronounced effect on prices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and the ACT, where prices varied by well over 1% in peak selling seasons, whereas Brisbane tended to see very little seasonal variation compared to other cities.

Sales activity

The study also ran the figures on sales volumes over the year, with data showing there can be noticeable differences in activity at different times.

Now that we know the best times of year for selling, according to research, let’s look at what might lead you to sell your home.

When should I sell my home?

On average, Australians are staying in their homes for longer than they were in the previous decade. The average length of tenure for a house is now nine years, up from seven years in 2013.

Over the same period, unit owners are typically hanging onto their homes for eight years, up from six years.

These figures likely reflect the country’s housing shortage, the higher cost of stamp duty (as home prices have risen), and simply less movement among Australians as the population ages and work arrangements become more flexible.

Here are some of the most common reasons for Australians to sell their homes:

• Outgrown their property

• To upgrade

• Employment reasons

• Rectifying a ‘purchase error’

• To downsize

• Relationship changes

• House flipping

If you have the luxury of choosing when to put your home up for sale, it can pay to research your local market. As we’ve seen from the data above, the concept of a spring selling season is a general rule and doesn’t apply to all places.

Let’s consider some of the factors that you should consider for each season.

Selling in spring

Pros of selling your home in spring

The stats speak for themselves.

In many parts of Australia, springtime tends to bring house hunters out of hibernation.

Real estate experts (and psychologists) will tell you people generally feel more optimistic as the days get longer and warmer.

Larger numbers of people viewing and inspecting homes can also create a ‘buzz’, which can insinuate increased competition and, in turn, drive up the selling price of a home.

For homes with gardens, spring sees plant life green and blooming. Natural light can also make the interior of your home appear brighter and more appealing.

Cons of selling your home in spring

Stiff competition might not always work in your favour. A busier market means that buyers have more options and can be pickier.

Increased competition can also see your home stay on the market for longer, giving the impression to would-be buyers that there must be something wrong with it.

To take advantage of the annual burst of interest in house hunting, make sure you’ve put some effort into preparing your home for sale.

Selling in summer

Pros of selling your home in summer

If you live near the beach or a holiday destination – or you have a home that lets in plenty of natural light and airflow – summer can be the perfect time to list it.

Buyers who missed out in spring might be more motivated to purchase a home in the early weeks of summer, before the school year is complete and holidays begin.

With reduced sales activity in December and January, you could also consider putting it on the market at a time when not much else is on offer, particularly if you're in a regional market and find the population swells with holidaymakers who might be interested in a lifestyle change.

Homes with dark interiors or south-facing properties can also seem much brighter in summer and if you’ve invested in air conditioning, you can showcase its benefits during the hottest part of the year. Alas, it’s likely to add little value to your home in winter.

Cons of selling your home in summer

If you don’t live in a holiday destination, there may be little interest in your home at a time when potential buyers are more interested in allocating their funds to travel and holidays.

Listing your home through summer, particularly if you live in a capital city, could mean it will stay on the market for longer, and this could impact the price it sells for.

Selling in autumn

Pros of selling your home in autumn

Autumn is generally another good time to sell your home. In fact, it's the peak selling period for the Sydney (March) and Hobart (April) markets.

It has all the benefits of good weather and is also a time when potential buyers have had their holidays and are focused on getting on track for the year ahead.

Competition may not be as fierce as it is in the spring market but, generally, there will be a healthy supply of motivated buyers.

Cons of selling your home in autumn

In some parts of Australia, autumn weather can be unpredictable. This can present a challenge when it comes to conducting open houses and private viewings.

As autumn draws to a close, you can expect property listings will also begin to dwindle. Having fewer properties on the market can deplete buyer enthusiasm.

Selling in winter

Pros of selling your home in winter

Winter is traditionally a weaker period for both prices and sale activity. But buyers looking for a home during this time are often highly motivated.

If you live in a cosy, cottage-style home with a fireplace, it could have great appeal during the colder months. As can an effective heating system, which may not get the appreciation (nor the price) it deserves in warmer months.

Cons of selling your home in winter

If your home is dark or lacks natural light, selling in winter could prove a major turn-off. Gardens also rarely look their best in winter, particularly in southern locations where seasonal foliage can appear quite sparse.

Bad weather can expose flaws with your property, including leaking rooves or gutters, puddling, and damp issues. If you’re going to list your home in winter, you need to ensure maintenance is up to date and your home is warm and inviting.

Image by Steph Wilson on Unsplash