Recently, we chatted with a client planning a move, and I think I shocked them with the “timeline” from start to finish when planning a move.

Before our chat, I found out they felt they would wait until May or June and get the home on the market with a sale in mid-summer. One of my favourite sayings is, “Let’s back up the truck,” which is exactly what we did.

To start, we reviewed when the bulk of homes sell locally. This may be their first shock, understanding that most homes sell before the weather warms. In 2024, From March to May, the number of homes for sale jumped from 136 to 300. In fact, in June, that number peaked at 344. For home sales, we saw 168 homes sell in March/24, and that number stayed mostly consistent until June. This means that sellers in March had a much greater chance of not only selling, but with the volume of Buyers submitting offers, the chances of getting more than one Buyer bidding on their home was high. Why are things so busy when the weather is so challenging? Well, let’s back up the truck.

When a homeowner decides to sell, my experience is that from the time we first meet until the sold sign goes up, the time can be anywhere from 3 – 4 months. If we begin our timeline with the end being August and factor in 60 days between an accepted offer and the move-in date, that would indicate an offer would be negotiated in mid-June. Looking back from that date, allowing 30 days for marketing to find a Buyer, the home would need to be introduced to the market in mid-May. With photos, staging, decluttering and creating the marketing materials taking anywhere from a month to 6 weeks, the homeowners would need to sit down and begin the process in early April. This assumes everything goes as planned.

The average time from my first appointment with a homeowner to the move-out date is typically 4 months. This timeline can be shortened or lengthened due to circumstances, however this would be the average.

Some situations might slow down the process.

• A home that needs to be painted, repaired or new flooring to be installed.
• Landscaping that needs to be spruced up.
• Extensive decluttering or selling excess belongings.

Some situations may speed up the process.

• Homes in a condition where staging is not necessary.
• A Seller with a desperate need to sell quickly.
• A home where a Seller is not prepared to make any changes.

When I look at the market currently, I notice that there are more than 1,400 homes for sale in the Durham Region. Many of these homes show well and will sell in a reasonable amount of time, however the condition of some properties will cause the process to take longer. Homes that show their best, are priced competitively and are marketed by professional, full-time realtors tend to be the first ones with sold signs. I would guess that today, more than 25% of what is on the market are homes that have been on the market for months, as they are either priced incorrectly or need work. The average days on market for all homes currently is 30, however another statistic offers a different perspective. The “previous days on the market” is a statistic that indicates the total days before a home sells, with all previous attempts. That number is 45, indicating that the average home has been listed multiple times. 

If you are planning to move and sell your home, it is best to reach out to a full-time realtor to determine the timeline for the selling process. Most homes will follow a similar timeline, but some, surprisingly, will sell at different times during the year. Homes with pools, investment properties and cottages have their active periods. 

A trusted realtor is your best asset when it comes time to sell what is more people’s “most prized asset.” 

I am happy to have a coffee with you and share how we are currently in the best-selling season of the year for most homeowners. 

I can be reached at lindsay@buyselllove.ca or 905-743-5555.

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