If you drill down into the statistics, and look at the movement of property sales throughout the year, the sunnier months aren’t the only successful months for real estate. There can be a distinct advantage in marketing your home during autumn and winter which are traditionally the quieter property months.

Statistics show that Melbourne markets have seen a slowing of a seasonal sales effect due to the supply versus demand positions in many areas. And autumn can often be a busy time in real estate, as families have had time to recover from the summer holidays and get into a new school year before thinking about moving house.

Traditionally a key reason to wait until spring or summer before listing a property was to ensure the best quality photographs, but in the digital age images are enhanced to boost lighting making it less crucial to sell during those months.

Homes that get great winter light can really stand out during the cooler months. This means homes that provide good natural light and are well-ventilated will be more obvious upfront.

And for a buyer, seeing a home in the cooler darker months also means you are seeing at property at its worst. Any construction, damp or leak issues will be more obvious.

You are seeing properties at the dullest and most unflattering time of the year, so if you do fall in love with a property under more bleak conditions, who know that you are on to a winner.

“I have seen some of our most successful sales results in autumn and winter,” says Sam Danckert.

“Whilst supply can be lower the demand is still there, so Vendors can often get an even better results in winter than in spring because of the laws of supply and demand. Particularly for Mt Martha, there is always a list of buyers looking to get into the market,” he said.

“Yes everything does look brighter in spring, but there’s also a lot more competition for sellers. Life doesn’t stop for winter, particularly in Melbourne as we have such a temperate climate. Take this autumn for example, the weather has been exceptional. People still need to move, whether it be for new jobs, for family reasons or financial reasons no matter what the season, so there are some distinct positives to selling your property in winter”.

No matter the season, focus on the market and your ability to present your home to potential sellers, rain, hail or shine. If someone wants your property, they’ll brave the elements.
The right season depends on a huge variety of factors, most importantly, the property itself.

Regardless of the time of year you decide to sell, there are some absolute must-dos:

• Make your home sparkle (wash windows, clean away cobwebs, polish bathtub, showers and sinks, chrome faucets and mirrors.
• Bleach tile grout.
• Clean out the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator
• Vacuum carpets, wash floors
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
• Trim overgrown gardens; remove weeds and dead growth and refresh garden beds