As a real estate investor in Sacramento, I read a lot. I do a lot of market analysis, dive deep into housing prices, sales data, neighborhood crime and just plain research. Every once in a while I read an article that makes me wonder what planet the author lives on. Last week I stumbled upon one such article and the author declared that real estate sales in Sacramento summers, is a bad idea. Sometimes, when I read this crap, I feel like I am so out of touch with the trends that these so called experts see… but then again I have been bucking conventional wisdom for over 35 years.
It is in my nature. I am not a follower, so this article is for all of the other non conformists that need another opinion. Me? I dont need consensus to see what happens to sales in summer. Something either works or it doesn’t. So in this article I am not a believer that summers are a bad time to sell a house in Sacramento.
My only conclusion… they have to be really out of touch. The truth is, if you have a great product, there is no bad time to sell. Remember that I said that and read on.
Here is what the article stated…1) Summers are hot and buyers wont brave the Sacramento heat, 2) Summers in Sacramento are Dusty (houses are hard to keep clean, 3) there are fewer buyers available (they didn’t say why unless it’s related to #1 or maybe vacations?) and 4) there are more sellers than buyers…
Real estate breakthroughs occur every day, but unfortunately not with this author. I can’t figure out whether it’s just their inability to comprehend data, a lack of good ideas, some form of writer’s block, a lack of real insider knowledge or just plain bad advice? It doesn’t matter to me, because I am not a believer in any of this junk analysis.
If you are you considering selling your house this summer in Sacramento read this blog post because you may want to go all in and take advantage of this unique sellers market! Here are 4 reasons why summer house selling is ideal in Sacramento…
4 Reasons Why Summer House Selling is Ideal in Sacramento
Reason #1. It’s Hot
It’s summer. So, of course, it’s hot outside. That means some people won’t want to go out. It also means that you can plan showings and open houses early in the morning when it makes the most sense. Use your head and understand that all buyers want you to be flexible. Maybe it is the real estate agents that dont want to brave the heat?
Here is a tip for the naysayers… the buyers who do come to your house in the afternoon are really interested so remember to keep the air conditioner and the ceiling fans on … even though it’s probably THEM that leaves the door open and lets out all the cold air.
Don’t have an air conditioner or ceiling fans in all of the rooms yet? What are you thinking? We live in the central valley and it gets hot. Have them installed and then list your house for sale. Common sense should prevail.
Reason #2. It’s Dusty
Once again we live in Sacramento and it gets dusty. The delta is to the west, the breeze bows in from the west. The wind picks up the peat dirt and blows it at your house. Your house is for sale. Clean your house frequently. Its for sale treat it like its for sale. So accept that It doesn’t matter whether you live in a dry area and the summertime heat creates dust, which gets tracked into your house and covers everything. It’s a fact of life, but it doesn’t mean that you have to live with it or advertise that your house is dusty. Its a hassle to clean. It’s time to sell, complain later, Cry later nobody likes a whiner.
Sell your house!
Reason #3. There Are Fewer Buyers
In the summer, most people are taking vacations and getting away from their busy lives. The kids are out of school and time off from work has been booked so people want to take their families to the cottage or to the Grand Canyon or to Disney World. Therefore, there are fewer people in the market to buy houses. Blah, Blah, Blah…
Ok, that may all be true but they do not all leave at the same time and come back the day before school starts. Sure families with kids take vacations when its hot. It is because they can’t take the kids out of school the rest of the year. Older people vacation at many points during the year. Not just summer.
If your house is not on the market it will not be available for sale and of course it will not sell. That is a self fulfilling prophecy. I sell a lot of houses in the summer. Just as many in fact as in the spring and fall. If you want trouble selling a house list it on November 24 or December 20. Those are bad times to sell a house if your expecting a lot of traffic.
Reason #4. It’s a Sellers Market there are still less Sellers
Even though there are fewer buyers at any point in time during the summer (vacations, etc.) it is still a Sellers Market and the laws of supply and demand will always trump a stagnant real estate cycle when there are fewer houses than buyers. Interest rates are low, prices are stable and the chances are that you will find a buyer for your house if it is priced right and your house is immaculate.
Give the buyers what they want, fix everything. Create spaces inside and out and demand that your real estate agent do their jobs.
Remember that real estate agents dont buy houses. But they do list them and they can market them to attract attention and buyers to them. If you want traffic to sell your house in summer, demand that they host open houses with wine tastings from the region. You would be surprised how many people will come out in the heat.
If you are a homeowner that has done the work, cleaned the house and you want to sell in the summer because you think it’s more convenient, put that sign in the yard and create that marketing plan with your real estate agent. If you dont believe that they are committed to pulling it off, find another agent.
ALSO… you have a choice everytime you hear why something can’t be done. Consider the source . I for one don’t buy into the argument that you are competing for fewer buyers to look at your house. That you’re competing against more sellers especially in this market.
Remember in a sellers market there are really only 4 reasons why a house just sits. 1) It’s location, 2) It’s Condition, 3) It’s Age or 4) It’s Price. If your product does not scream value the buyers and their agents will reject your house regardless of the summer heat or winter’s cold.
My name is Peter Westbrook and I am a real estate investor in Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto and we buy houses and pay cash. I am always on one side or the other of a transaction. If you are the seller I understand what you are going through. Your house needs to be ready to sell and it’s your job to get it ready for that effort. If you are the buyer, you want value and move in ready not some facsimile of what a seller calls value and move in ready.
Summer is just 3 months that coincide with some hot days. They are not all unbearable so be realistic. Get your house ready for the months it will be at its best to show. If that is summer turn on the air conditioning and remember after all of the inspections and appraisals, the summer heat and dust are the least of your worries.
Summary
If you want to sell your house, but you’re thinking about selling it in the summer, don’t rethink that plan. There are more than 4 Reasons Why Summer House Selling Is Ideal in Sacramento.