Experts reveal key signs it’s the right time to sell your home

Property experts have identified several market indicators that can help homeowners determine the optimal time to sell their property for maximum return.

Supply and demand dynamics remain the most crucial factor, according to industry professionals who spoke about timing the property market effectively.

Ben Horwood, founder and managing director of Sydney agency Horwood Nolan, emphasised the importance of listing when competition is low.

“If you really boil it all down to one thing, the best time to sell your property is when everyone else isn’t,” he said.

LJ Hooker’s head of research and business intelligence Mathew Tiller agreed, noting that while most people sell when personal circumstances demand it, those with flexibility should look for specific market conditions.

“As long as demand from buyers remains strong, low listing numbers in your local market is generally a good sign if you are selling,” Tiller said.

“That creates competition between buyers – and the more competition there is between buyers for a particular home, the better the sales price at the end.”

Even in markets with high listing volumes, sellers with unique properties may still hold an advantage.

“If you’re selling a house and there’s lots of apartments on the market, that may favour you,” Tiller said. “You may be in a unique position in that market.”

To gauge buyer demand, Tiller recommended attending open homes and auctions in the area.

“See how many people are on the floor, how many people are bidding and see how quickly they go,” he said.

“Seeing that they have a high number of registered bidders and a lot of people actually bidding on the property, as opposed to just having a sticky beak, is always a good sign.”

The time of year can also influence buyer activity, with family homes often attracting more interest during school terms.

“I’m not a big fan of selling family homes or high end properties in school holiday periods,” Horwood said.

Warning signs of a challenging market include similar properties struggling to sell, especially when they remain unsold beyond 60 days.

“Nine times out of 10, it’s a pricing issue – the market has a different opinion of the price than the vendor has,” Horwood explained.

Political and economic uncertainty can also create unfavourable selling conditions, with buyers often adopting a wait-and-see approach or looking to capitalise on market weakness.

“If people know times are bad, they are looking to take advantage and buy in a market they know is not doing well,” Horwood said. “If a market is rising, people have a motivation to buy because they want to buy before it gets too far in front of them.”

Buyer behaviour at inspections and auctions provides clear signals about market sentiment.

“People vote with their feet,” Horwood said. “You see inspection numbers drop. You see inquiry numbers drop. You see the number of offers drop. You see the number of registered bidders at auctions drop. People sit on the sidelines – they don’t get in the game. They watch rather than play.”

Property experts suggest a checklist for identifying a seller’s market includes low listing numbers, strong buyer inquiries at inspections, high numbers of registered bidders at auctions, rising prices, a strong local economy, and properties selling within 30 days or less.