Does selling in winter impact your chances of a decent sale?

With winter upon us, prospective sellers may question whether they should list their property for sale now, or if it is worth holding off until spring.

As far as winter goes, Western Australia is quite fortunate. The weather is generally pleasant and we’re regularly spoilt with plenty of winter sun. But do the cooler months affect property sales in Perth?

On the surface, the data would suggest that yes, sales activity in winter tends to slow following the busy autumn period. During the last five years, sales have typically peaked in March before declining to a lower level by the start of June and holding there throughout winter. Historically this has also coincided with fewer listings being available for sale during winter compared to other times of the year.

However, something we learnt over the Christmas and New Year period in 2020-21, when sales jumped significantly, is that in the current market we are seeing trends emerge that are different to what we’re used to seeing.

Buyer demand is currently very high across Perth, with listing levels remaining low and median selling times now sitting at just 13 days – the fastest we have seen since at least 2006. Competition amongst buyers to secure a property is immense, which is resulting in many sellers achieving a sale that either meets or exceeds their asking price.

Given the favourable market conditions, there is no reason for sellers to hold off selling their property during the next three months simply because it is winter.

REIWA forecasts market conditions to remain strong over the coming months, with sellers still holding the upper hand over buyers.

Ultimately while seasonal trends can influence sentiment amongst buyers, there are plenty of other factors that can make a bigger difference to achieving a successful sale, so it really does come down to your personal circumstances.

Sellers should always seek the advice of a REIWA real estate agent about how to market their property to ensure it stands out to buyers and achieves the best possible sale price and conditions.