What Is the Average Time to Sell a House in Dallas?

What is the best time to sell a house in Dallas?

The seasonality of real estate is a major factor that can have a big impact on the length of time it takes to sell a home and the final sale price.

Hodnett says that the time of year can have a big impact on the housing market, and this is currently true in Dallas as commencement ceremonies begin.

“We’re being impacted right now — it’s graduation time. So, there aren’t nearly as many people calling to ask for showings, and of course, school districts are staggered,” she says.

“January is a great listing month. There are usually not as many buyers. A lot of people are getting their income tax refunds back, and they figure that out somewhere in the January–February price range. So, some people have some money from income tax, and in the lower prices — like the $230,000 to $400,000 range — they’ll use those tax returns for their down payment. So we start seeing a pickup there, but again, it doesn’t really start getting wonderful until March,” she adds.

• Best time for more money: Based on HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator’s transaction data, May is the most favorable month if you aim to get more money for your Dallas home, followed closely by June. It typically takes about three months to close on your home, so listing your Dallas property in May or June could result in a sale price that’s 5% to 6% higher than the yearly average.

• Best time to sell fast: If your priority is to sell your Dallas house fast, our data indicates that the quickest home sales occur in June. Listing your house in June could help you close the sale three days sooner than in any other month, given the usual three-month period from listing to closing.

Remember, these are averages and trends that can help guide your decision, but individual outcomes can vary. Want to get a personalized estimate for the best time to sell your home? Use our Best Time to Sell Calculator for insights tailored to your specific location.

What factors influence the home-selling timeline?

When it comes to selling a house, several factors can impact how quickly it sells. These range from the home’s specific attributes to broader market trends and the pricing strategy you employ.

Understanding these factors can help you anticipate potential challenges and formulate a more effective sales strategy. If your home has some of these less desirable attributes, consider how you can mitigate their impact, such as staging the house creatively or highlighting other appealing aspects of the property.

If you need to significantly expedite your home-selling timeline, see our post: I Need to Sell My House Fast in Dallas: What Are My Options?

What will help my Dallas house sell faster?

To maximize the chances of a fast home sale, you’ll want to highlight the most appealing features of your property and align your selling strategy with the preferences of Dallas-area buyers. Here’s a list of tips to help your Dallas house sell faster:

• Emphasize desirable features: If your home has desirable features that Dallas buyers often seek, such as a pool, a large yard, an open kitchen, or proximity to highly-rated schools, make sure these are highlighted in your listing.
• Minimize the downsides: If your home has small bedrooms or sits next to a busy street, consider strategies to mitigate these less desirable features. For instance, you could use creative staging to make smaller rooms appear larger or invest in window upgrades to minimize traffic noise.
• Use home staging: A well-staged home can help potential buyers visualize living in the space and can often lead to quicker sales and higher selling prices.
• Price it right: An overpriced home can sit on the market longer, so ensure your home is priced competitively based on recent sales of comparable homes in your area. Your agent can provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA), a report that informs your pricing strategy as it takes into account factors like property location, size, condition, and current market trends.
• Consider energy efficiency upgrades: In Dallas’s hot climate, homes with energy-efficient features can be especially appealing to buyers. These might include solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, or high-efficiency HVAC systems.

Hodnett says that price, location, and condition are some of the biggest factors determining how quickly a home will sell.

“If you get all three of them right, then you usually sell very quickly, within a day or two,” she says.

“I just had one that sold in one day. It was priced well, looked great, and didn’t have a problem with location. It had all three. You have to consider these factors to determine when something will sell,” she adds.

Remember, what works best for your home sale will depend on your particular property and circumstances. Working with a knowledgeable real estate agent can be a big help in formulating an effective selling strategy.

How should I prepare my Dallas house to sell?

Preparing your house for sale is crucial to attracting buyers and achieving a fast, profitable sale. Here’s a list of preparation tips when selling your Dallas home:

• Deep clean: A clean house gives buyers a positive first impression and signals that the home has been well-maintained.
• Declutter: Free up space to make your home appear larger and allow buyers to envision their own belongings in the house.
• Apply fresh paint: A fresh coat of paint can make a home feel new and inviting. Choose neutral colors that appeal to a wide range of buyers.
• Address repairs: Fix any minor issues, like leaky faucets or chipped paint, to keep buyers from using them as an excuse to negotiate the price down.
• Enhance curb appeal: To attract more buyers, improve the home’s exterior with well-maintained landscaping, freshly painted doors, or new outdoor lighting.
• Stage the home: Home staging can help buyers visualize living in the house. This can include arranging furniture or adding decor to enhance the home’s appeal. From staging only the key rooms to renting a few statement pieces, there are many ways to reduce home staging costs.
• Tidy up outdoor living spaces: In the Dallas area, outdoor living spaces like patios and pools are highly desirable. Make sure these areas are clean, inviting, and well-lit for evening viewings.
• Service the cooling systems: Ensure your AC unit is serviced and working optimally, as buyers will likely check this in Dallas’s high temperatures.

Hodnett recalls a time when a property required some unexpected repairs, which led to the home selling much quicker than if the seller had opted to do nothing.

“I just took over a property, I walked in there and it’s got cracks in the ceiling and in the walls, and I said ‘You’re gonna need to fix these if you want to sell it quickly, otherwise people are going to be afraid of it and then you know they’re probably going to walk away,’” she says.

Hodnett adds that because they fixed that, they obtained more information about the property from various inspection reports, which expedited the selling process.

“I was able to give that all to the buyer’s agent, and we were able to sell that one in two days,” she says.

Remember, each house will have unique preparation needs. A local real estate agent can provide tailored advice for your property.

How can I decide when to sell my Dallas house?

Deciding when to sell your house can be a complex process that involves taking into account a variety of factors. This could include personal circumstances, market trends, and the specific attributes of your home. Here are some steps to help you make this important decision:

1. Evaluate your personal and financial situation: Consider why you’re selling and whether now is the right time based on your personal and financial circumstances. Do you need to relocate for a job? Are you looking to downsize or upsize? Do you need the funds from the sale for another investment? Your answers to these questions can provide valuable guidance.
2. Understand the market: Research the current real estate market conditions in Dallas. Are homes selling quickly? Are prices rising or falling? A local real estate agent can provide insights into these trends and help you understand what they might mean for your sale.
3. Analyze your home’s readiness: Consider the condition of your house. If it needs significant repairs or updates, it might be worth delaying the sale until these tasks are complete.
4. Use available tools: Utilize tools like HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator, Home Value Estimator, and Net Proceeds Calculator to get personalized estimates to help plan your home sale.
5. Consult a professional: A top local real estate agent can offer invaluable advice tailored to your specific home and situation. They can provide insights into local market conditions, help you understand how your home compares to others on the market, and guide you through the selling process.

Hodnett adds that sellers shouldn’t just use platforms like Zillow to price their homes based on its algorithm, hoping to get similar results.

“A lot of [sellers] think that they can price their home the way Zillow does, and that’s a big misconception. There’s a “Zestimate” on Zillow, and so, they think, ‘Oh, my house is worth this because Zillow said so.'”

“You can’t go by Zillow,” she cautions.

Hodnett notes that these platforms use algorithmic data to list properties, and as such, they don’t always get into the finer details of your property, like modified countertops or a fancy outdoor kitchen.

“That’s why you need an agent. Whenever I list a property, I try to find similar properties: if there’s an outdoor kitchen, I try to find another one that sold with an outdoor kitchen. Or, I try to figure out what they paid for that outdoor kitchen, and you usually get about half the value,” she says.

How can I sell my Dallas home fast for cash?

There may be circumstances where you need to sell your Dallas home quickly and are willing to accept a cash offer to expedite the process. While a cash offer will typically mean accepting a discounted purchase price, the speed and convenience may be the solution you need if you are relocating for a job, dealing with financial difficulties, or managing an inherited property that you can’t maintain.

While you could reach out to individual house-buying companies or look for “We Buy Houses” websites, there’s an easier and more efficient way to sell your house for cash — through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform.

Simple Sale connects you to one of the largest networks of cash buyers in the U.S., streamlining your home sale process and letting you control your move-out date.

By answering a few questions about your home and selling plans, you can receive an all-cash offer with no obligation in as little as 24 hours. This means you could close on your Dallas home sale in as few as 10 days.

Ready to sell your Dallas home?

Selling your Dallas house can be a significant undertaking, but knowing the average time it takes to sell and the factors that can speed up the process can give you a competitive edge. By preparing your house effectively, pricing it right, and timing your sale, you can optimize the selling process and potentially achieve a faster sale and a better price.

Hodnett always recommends that sellers work with a trusted agent, rather than try to sell their home for-sale-by-owner.

“I’ll tell you the truth — most FSBO sellers are leaving money on the table. They don’t realize what they can get for it, and they’re just using, like, pool flyers, or they’ll look at other houses on the Internet and just use that same price,” she cautions.

She’s not wrong. Data from the National Association of Realtors shows that FSBO property typically sells for $55,000 less than properties sold with the help of a trusted agent.

In addition to lower overall profits, Hodnett says that FSBO sellers can have a hard time handling the various hiccups that come with selling a home, which is a complicated and lengthy process.

“I mean, there are all kinds of things people don’t understand in contracts. That’s why we go to school and know what we’re doing. And there are a lot of for-sale-by-owners that have had losses because they didn’t know what they were doing. But when you have a Realtor, we understand it. We’ve been trained,” she says.

“So yes, about 10% of FSBOs can sell on their own, but about 90% come back to an agent and say, ‘I’ve got to get it sold. I wasn’t able to do it. Please help me,’” Hodnett adds.

If you’re considering selling your house in Dallas, getting expert advice tailored to your specific situation is a good idea.

HomeLight can connect you to top-performing local agents with a track record of selling homes quickly and for the best price. These agents can provide valuable insights into the Dallas market and guide you through each step of the selling process.

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