Selling a house isn’t just picking a price, staging it, and listing it. Timing matters. Just like some seasons are great for harvest, some months are better for selling homes. If you list at the wrong time, you may wait longer, accept a lower offer, or see fewer interested buyers. In this blog, we’ll explore what constitutes the worst time to sell a house, which months tend to be the slowest or least profitable, what causes those slowdowns, and how you can plan smart to avoid losing money or momentum.
What does the worst time to sell a house mean?
The “worst time” refers to months when:
- Fewer buyers are looking.
- Homes tend to sell for lower premiums (i.e., less above market value).
- Properties spend more days on the market (DOM) before selling.
- Sellers may have to invest more in repairs, staging, or price reductions to attract buyers.
These effects combine to reduce profit and increase stress for the seller.
Which months are usually the worst to sell?
Based on historical real estate data in many markets (especially in temperate climates), the months that tend to perform badly for home-sellers are:
- October: Frequently cited as the worst for seller premiums. Homes listed in October often bring significantly less above market value.
- November: Low buyer activity because the weather’s turning, holidays are approaching, and people are less focused on moving.
- January: Right after the holidays, many people are busy, finances might reset, colder weather, and less curb appeal. January often sees slower action.
- February: Though slightly better than January in some markets, it still lags behind spring and early summer months in both buyer interest and pricing.
Depending on where you live, winter months in general (December through February) plus late autumn (October, November) often represent the slower, less profitable time window.
Why are those months bad for sellers?
Several consistent reasons:
- Weather & Holidays
Cold, snow, rain, and shorter days make home viewings less pleasant. Plus, holidays like Christmas, New Year bring distractions, travel, and delays. Buyers are often mentally or financially focused elsewhere. - Buyer behavior & seasonality
After the holidays, many potential buyers wait for tax refunds, school schedules, or better weather. Spring & early summer are more energetic times for moving, with families preferring to move during school breaks. - Competition & marketing challenges
In the worst months, fewer listings might be active, but also fewer buyers, so your marketing has to work harder. Also, homes may show less attractively (yard looks dull, landscaping less vibrant), which reduces appeal. - Lower offer premiums, slower sales
Data shows that homes listed in poor months often sell for lower premiums above market value, waits are longer (more DOM), and sellers may need to reduce price or accept more concessions.
Regional differences & exceptions
- Climate matters: In warmer climates, winter isn’t as harsh, and seasonal differences are smaller. For example, in mild weather regions, buyer activity may be steadier through the winter.
- Local market cycles: In some cities, other factors like university schedules, local job markets, tax deadlines, or regional festivals may shift what “slow” or “busy” months are.
- Your readiness matters: Even in a “bad month”, a well-prepared home (good photos, maintenance done, staged well), priced right, aggressively marketed, can still attract good offers. Sometimes sellers have to sell in “bad” months due to personal timing, so preparing helps.
What to do if you have to sell during the worst months
If you can’t wait for spring or summer and must list in a slow month, here are smart strategies:
- Price it competitively: Expect less demand. Being realistic (not overly optimistic) with price will generate more interest and reduce days on market.
- Make your home shine: Curb appeal counts even more when competition is weak. Stage well, maintain landscaping (if any), declutter, and do cosmetic updates.
- Enhanced marketing: Use high-quality photos, maybe twilight shots, and virtual tours. Emphasize features that are attractive even in winter (cozy spaces, heating, insulation, etc.).
- Flexible showing times: Buyers are busy; offer more open house times or allow viewings after work, etc.
- Incentives: Consider covering some closing costs, offering flexible move-in dates, or including appliances/furnishings to make your listing more appealing.
- Work with a good agent or tool: Someone who knows your local market well can advise timing, pricing, staging, and negotiation tactics to mitigate the “bad month” effect.
Data sfummary: How large is the drop in value/premium?
To give perspective:
- ATTOM data shows that homes sold in October tend to have seller premiums of about 8.8% above market value, compared to about 13.1% in May.
- November and September follow closely behind October, with lower premiums (~9-10%) versus peak months.
So listing in a “worst month” could cost you several percentage points off the sale price compared to listing in peak season, and that’s before factoring in longer carrying costs (mortgage, maintenance, utilities) while waiting for a sale.
Read More: How to Generate Commercial Real Estate Leads
Conclusion
Knowing the worst time to sell a house, especially which months generally perform poorly, gives you a real advantage. If you can wait, avoiding months like October, November, January, and sometimes February can help you get better offers, faster sales, and a higher net profit. But if your timing is fixed, smart preparation, pricing, and marketing can reduce the penalty of listing in a slow month.
If you’re thinking about selling and want help figuring out when to list and how to get the most value even if the timing isn’t ideal LeadMills CRM can help you plan, automate outreach, optimize listings, and stay ahead of the market.
Book a consultation with LeadMills now to pick the best month for your home sale and maximize your return: https://leadmills.io/contact/