Sometimes you have no choice on when you need to sell your home — a job transfer, you saw another home you really want to buy, or you have an unexpected life change.  

Selling in the “off season” — such as summer — isn’t ideal but it can be done, and it’s imperative it’s done the right way to get the best results.

Typically in the Knoxville area, the housing market does slow down as we approach the end of June and through August. But for comparison, summer sales are not as slow as in December.

And, believe it or not, not everyone is on vacation in the summer! In fact, some buyers have more flexible schedules to house hunt and plan a move. 

There are also plenty of buyers who didn’t find the right house or got outbid during the busy spring selling season. 

Further yet, there may be buyers who find themselves in desperate need to settle down before school starts and may be more agreeable when negotiating terms of the sale.

For these reasons plus your own, do not dismiss selling in the summer. Just follow these tips.

Target the Right Buyers for Your Neighborhood

Regardless of when you are selling a home, it is important to market it to those buyers most likely to be interested in the unique features and benefits of your property…but even more important in the “off” times such as summer and winter.

Here are a few of the more common features that may match up with a specific subset of buyers.

If you’re in a desirable school district you may consider targeting your advertisement to families with young children. Online “mom’s” groups are a great place to start.

If your home is near a college it may make a great property for parents to purchase while their kids are in school. Often, colleges will have staff in their housing departments that can put the word out.

If your home needs a lot of work that you are unable or unwilling to fix, marketing toward investors is the way to go. You will need to price accordingly but may be able to skip some of the inspection stress.

If you are in a more affordable part of town, your home may appeal to first-time home buyers. Offering to cover closing costs or interest rate buy downs can make your property stand out above the rest.

If you are in an affluent neighborhood and need to sell fast, contacting the HR departments of larger corporations, hospitals, and the like can put you in touch with professionals moving for a new job. Getting a pre-listing inspection and doing as many repairs as possible will help the transaction run smoothly.

Of course, there are many more scenarios and strategies which is why working with a competent Realtor who can anticipate your needs and help execute these tasks is incredibly important!

Showcase Your Home’s Summer Best

Now is the time to make your home shine on the inside and out. Make your home bright and welcoming … a summertime oasis!

Curb appeal and backyard staging will draw buyers in. You want buyers to want to see your home and then envision themselves relaxing and living there. Outdoor living space can be a big selling point in the summer.

Plan to spend a little bit on some summer décor, whether it’s a bistro table and chairs on your deck; patio furniture with colorful throw pillows; or a lovely wooden bench and flowerpots near your walkway. This may be a great time to work with a stager so you don’t have to buy many items yourself.

Don’t skimp on or blast the air conditioning. A home that is too hot or too cold may encourage buyers to rush through their tour. Set your thermostat at a comfortable and cool temperature. If you’ve already moved, a smart thermostat can be set to run cool during showings and conserve energy on the off times.

Brighten up your home. Consider switching out dark colored pillows, throw rugs, curtains, and other décor to lighter colors.  Clean the windows, open the blinds, and keep the lights on. Even though it doesn’t get dark until much later in the summer, you still want to light up the inside of your home.

Maintain your yard and water, water, water. Mow your lawn, trim your bushes and trees. Sweep your deck or patio regularly. And, the summer heat can make your lawn turn brown … water that and all of your flowers in beds and pots.

Be prepared for getting your family out of the house. If you have children, selling in the summer can be difficult because they are possibly home all day long. Hopefully you can keep your home in order as much as possible and develop a good exit strategy for those times you need to show it. Preplan so you know if you need to have a sitter, set up a play date, sign up for a camp, or head out for a long dinner.

Putting It All Together

As you can see, selling in the summertime doesn’t have to be a negative. You’ll have more daylight hours to showcase your home, you’ll see more serious buyers or those on a deadline themselves, and many homes can look their best inside and outside in the summer. All positive!

But do keep in mind that in the lazy days of summer there will be less traffic to your home than if you listed in the height of the springtime selling season. So you must keep it all in perspective.

Every seller has their own personal specifics and deadline when it comes to selling. You MUST know your market and neighborhood so that your price your home right and also have an idea of what you should or shouldn’t be do when negotiating terms.

I’m here to help you with a summertime sale. I have a sales plan to get your home sold as quickly as possible for the most amount of money possible. I’d love to tell you all about it.  Simply email me at melissa@melissazittrealtor.com and we can set up a time to talk and see if selling in the summer is the right move for you.