When is it a good time to sell?

That’s a common question from people considering putting their property on the market.

The truth is that in Mackay there is probably not a bad time to sell and I find that pretty much any time of the year is a good time.

The only issue around this time of year is that everything closes down over the Christmas-New Year period.

The way the dates fall this year, Saturday the 17th of December will be the last open house day for most agents. While solicitors, banks and brokers will mostly keep operating the following week, things will wind up on Friday the 23rd of December.

In terms of access to solicitors, building and pest inspectors, banks etc, it will be very difficult to get anything done between the 23rd of December and the 3rd of January.

There will be some people who will list their properties for sale between now and Christmas and history tells us that there can be some good results at this time of year.

For other people, the period between now and Christmas will be about getting ready to sell in the New Year.

A terrific approach can be to get listing documents signed, photos done and write-up completed before the holidays so that sellers are ready to go in early January.

That early January period can be good because the intrusion and delays over the holiday period are behind us and it is all systems go.

Buyers are motivated at that time of year … not many people want to go looking at properties in mid-January unless they are serious about buying.

A lot of those buyers are looking at that time of year because they want to have a property under contract before the end of January so they can make plans around where they will be living in the year ahead.

They know where the kids will be going to school and they have got certainty around access to work, shops and community/sporting activities.

For me, the idea is that I start getting things ready over the next couple of weeks for properties I will be putting on the market and selling in January.

If photos, write-ups, documentation etc. are done when I go on my Christmas break I know that I can come back in early January, hit the button and be ready to go.

It’s an exciting time in January because everyone’s had a break and we’re full of energy and ready to embrace the market and the world in a new year.

This is my last column for the year. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Looking forward to a continuation of Mackay positivity in 2023.

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