Why Is Spring the Best Time to Sell a House?

We’ve all seen the ads: “Spring into a new home!” Or, “Spring selling season is in bloom!” But have you ever wondered why just about everyone (including real estate agents and National Association of REALTORS^® members) says spring is the best time to sell a house?

Well, it really boils down to supply and demand. Spring is the best time to sell a house because that’s when the most people want to buy a house. That means demand is high in the spring real estate market.

Are you looking to sell your home? Here’s some helpful info to make sure your spring sale starts on the right foot and ends with the most money possible.

Reasons Why Spring Is a Popular Time to Sell a House

Spring is a popular time to buy and sell a house for three big reasons:

Timing

Lots of buyers want to settle into their new home before the new school year starts. So they’ll need to buy a house in the spring and close in the summer. No one wants their child to be the new kid who shows up to class midway through October!

Weather

The weather is pleasant and the days are longer in spring. Home buyers who’ve been cooped up all winter watching reruns of House Hunters are ready to get out and look for a home of their own.

Prime Market

An abundance of sellers and buyers is good for both buyers and sellers. It’s a win-win. When more homes are for sale, buyers have more choices. And the increased number of buyers gives sellers the potential for multiple offers and higher prices.

When Is the Best Time to Sell Your House?

Spring

Do we need to say it again? Yes, spring is king. You’ll have more buyers in spring and probably sell your house for more money.

Summer

The busy spring selling season often carries over into summer as people scramble to buy a home before the start of the school year. After a home sells, it usually takes 30 days to close, so homes sold in June or July can close before school starts.

Fall

School is back in session, so people are busy and might not have time to look for a home. If you list your home in the fall, you run the risk of it sitting unsold for a few months. With less demand, you’ll need to make sure your house is in tip-top shape to attract buyers.

Winter

Winter is usually the slowest time to sell a house because of the cold weather and the busy holiday season. Who wants to move with snow and ice on the ground? And looking for a new home isn’t on most Christmas to-do lists.

What are the Best Months to Sell a House?

For 2024, the median home sales price grew each month from January to June. But it went up the most from February to June—from $383,800 to $426,900. After June, prices decreased sharply and then flatlined in September before going down a little slower for the rest of the year.¹

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Keep in mind, homes that sold in June probably went on the market in April or May—so that confirms those two months are the best time to list a home. Now, we’re just looking at 2024 numbers, but as a general rule, home prices increase the most in May—because that’s when demand and competition for homes are the highest.

When Is the Best Time to Sell My House in My State?

Spring is the best time to sell your home just about anywhere in the country. Prices tend to go up in spring and early summer and flatten or decrease the rest of the year. But here’s a look at some 2024 home listing price data by state to get an idea of how things might look in your neck of the woods.

Tips to Sell Your House in the Spring

Are you planning to sell your home? If so, here’s a little secret: You don’t have to wait until spring is in the air to get your home ready for prime time. Get a head start on the competition so your house can be buyers’ first breath of fresh air when spring comes around.

You can gain an edge on the competition with this timeline of steps to take before you list your house.

As Soon as Possible

Interview real estate agents. Finding the right real estate agent isn’t a one-and-done process. That’s why the sooner you start, the better. Don’t waste your time on someone who only sells a handful of homes a year. You need a pro who inspires you with confidence and has a proven track record of getting top dollar for homes.

Make a plan. Once you have a partner, you need a plan. Before you roll up your sleeves and get your house ready to sell, make a list of all your to-dos. This lets you break the process down into bite-sized chunks so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Work with your agent to set priorities, then focus on knocking out one task at a time.

Start packing. This is where the going gets tough. It’s time to part with your stuff—but only for a little while. Take a look around and decide what you can live without until your home sells. Rent a storage unit if you have to. Just pack up the clutter and get it out so you can make room for buyers. Here’s an added bonus: The rest of the work will be much easier with less stuff clogging your corners!

2–3 Months Before Listing

Uncover issues. Want to beat buyers to the punch list? Get a pre-sale home inspection. Of course, your buyer’s home inspector will still find things that need to be done. But being proactive enables you to identify potential deal breakers so you can adjust your timeline and budget accordingly.

Tackle repairs. With your home inspection report in hand, work with your real estate agent to prioritize the findings. It’s always less expensive to repair or replace something up front than to wait for the buyer to ask for it. This is especially true for major fixes like a new roof or HVAC unit. Buyers tend to ask for much more than the actual cost of the repair. They might ask $12,000 for a roof replacement that would only cost you $8,000.

1 Month Before Listing

Spruce it up. First impressions count a lot! Breathe new life into your home with a fresh coat of paint, and pay close attention to curb appeal. Ask your real estate agent to refer a reputable home stager to help you incorporate today’s trends.

1–2 Weeks Before Listing

Deep clean. Save this step until it’s almost time to plant the For Sale sign in your yard. You don’t want a month of muddy paws traipsing through your home after spending your hard-earned cash to clean the carpets. Once every surface sparkles, give each family member a special job—maybe even run drills—to ensure your home stays that way. Got pets? Keep fur balls and stinky smells at bay by sending Rover to Grandma’s house for an extended stay until you sell your home.

Want more tips for getting the most from your home-selling experience? Check out our free Home Sellers Guide that can help you get your home set up for success.

Ready, Set, Go!

All ready to get in on that sweet springtime selling season? Start with checking off that first thing on the As Soon as Possible list above: finding a real estate agent.

And we’re not talking about just any real estate agent. You want a RamseyTrusted^® agent—someone who’ll have your wants and needs at the top of their list all the time. Someone who has a superb track record of selling and serving in your local area. Those are the only agents we work with and the only ones who carry our shield.