With the festive season fast approaching us, time is running out to list your property before Joburg scatters across the country. Most people are planning to take a well-deserved holiday: either lying on the beach and working on a tan, or taking some time to recharge the batteries after a stressful year. With everybody out of Joburg, it doesn’t make sense to list your property, right?
Actually, it makes a whole lotta sense. Leadhome’s Insights Team conducted a study of property search behavior over the last 7 years on Google, and contrary to what most people may think, early December is a great time to list your property. Research shows that during the traditional holiday period of middle December to middle January, interest in residential property on the market increased on average by 17% compared to the rest of the year.
In Graph 1 below, this search behaviour is clearly shown: during the festive period (highlighted in grey) interest peaks, whilst interest decreases markedly during the rest of the year.
In Graph 2 below, we compare the average interest during the year with average interest during the holiday period. With the exception of the 2013/14, interest is significantly higher during the holiday period.
And when thinking about it, it makes sense: as one start to unwind and reflect on the past year, inevitably thoughts wander to the next 12 months ahead. Whether it’s needing an extra room for the small bundle on the way, or downsizing now that all the kids have left the house, this is the period when the biggest decisions are made.
So what does this mean for you?
If you are considering selling your home, be sure to let us know. Leadhome’s highly qualified Area Property Experts will assist you with a free valuation, professional photographs, and the optimal strategy to ensure your property is marketed to the maximum amount of buyers. Let us help end 2016 on a high by getting you the best possible result for your property!
Source: Google Trends
