The First Week of April Might Be the Perfect Time to List Your Home

As a potential seller, you might find yourself agonizing over a simple, but important, decision: when should you put your home on the market? According to a new report by Realtor.com, the answer to this question might be just around the corner! After examining data from the 50 largest real estate markets in the nation over the past three years, the report concluded that the week of March 31 through April 6 was the best time to list your home. Keep reading to learn why Realtor.com thinks this might be the perfect time to put your home on the market!

So, what makes the authors of this report feel so good about the week of March 31? Put simply, they found that it offers the best combination of value, speed, and reduced risk for home sellers. 

First, let's look at value. The study found that homes listed during the week of March 31 go on to sell for an average of 6% more than at the beginning of the year, which equals an extra $17,000 on the sale price for an average home. Although home prices usually peak in June, they do so at a time when there is greater seller competition and therefore slower sales on average.

By factoring in competition and speed of sale, the ideal time to list is pulled forward into the first week of April. In this time period, sellers can enjoy an average of 14% more views on realtor.com than at other times of the year while also facing 5% less seller competition. The result is that homes listed during the week of March 31 sell about six days faster than they do on average.

As a bonus, homes listed during the report's ideal week are also 1% less likely to experience a price drop. It's always nice to reduce risk while also maximizing the combination of profit and speed!

Because of these factors, potential sellers might be wise to prepare their home now in anticipation of putting it on the market between March 31 and April 6. You can learn more about this report by heading over to Realtor.com.