Homeowners can be in a rush to list their property due to job changes, family matters or financial situations. Luckily, in San Francisco there is never really a bad time to list your property, but there are a few months that are hotter than others.

I was with a client early this year and she explained that she is waiting to list her house in late spring because her backyard will be in bloom. She looked at me, waiting for me to agree with her. I had to politely explain that late spring in San Francisco is not necessarily the best time to list your property.

San Francisco’s weather in late spring and summer is typically cold and foggy. We have to enjoy warm days and nights, barbeques, weddings and weekend vacations outside the city in places like Marin, East Bay, Peninsula or Wine Country. I have actually been at open houses where potential buyers can barely see the flowers in the backyard due to the fog.

It is important for my clients’ homes to attract as many potential buyers as possible. I want them to standout among the rest, so I try to apply a little of this saying to the sales strategy:

“Find out what everybody else is doing and then simply do the opposite.”

Most sellers believe the best time to put their home on the market is late spring. Therefore do the opposite — list your property in January. This increases your odds. Being 1 out of 5 condos on the market is much better than 1 of out of 20  in the same neighborhood.

Most sellers don’t believe it, but January through March is a great time to sell your home. There are an abundant number of buyers and very little inventory right now. It brings me back to basic economics: high demand and low supply.

Two images of the Golden Gate Bridge in Spring, taken 1 hour apart, courtesty of hortulus.