Thinking of selling - Don't wait until January

If you are at all thinking of selling in the next few months, don't hold off until after January 1st. Reason being, one of the busiest on-line home shopping takes place on January 1st. I have watched this spike in on-line hits to previously listed homes for the past few years. My thoughts are that consumers have just celebrated the holidays and have that expense, tension, hectic month past them. They turn to the Internet shortly after the 25th (usually right on the 1st) to shop for a new home (or look at what other homes are listed that could be in competition with theirs). Maybe they have decided their current home is just too small;  they have had a cramped household with their in-laws visiting for the week! Or that they can finally take a moment after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays to think of themselves and their spring buying need. 

Remember, spring buying means winter shopping for a home. The average home searching takes about 60 days and then you have about 30-45 days to close on your home. Hence, you need to be on the market sooner than later as there may be loads of more homes in competition come February and March.