We are all about the seasons and seasons affect
our lives and activities. So what is the best season to sell your LAND?
If you are selling a house, you probably want it
ready to show in the spring. The flowers are in bloom, pools look inviting, the
grass is green and lush and the kids are easy to move while school is out.
What about LAND? Well that depends on the type
LAND. Land breaks down into categories: agricultural (row crops and ranches),
timberland, development, recreational etc. The type LAND you are selling will
dictate the best time to sell.
AGRICULTURAL – Typically
these properties should be on the market when crops are growing. These
properties should be shown in the spring and summer.
TIMBERLAND – It gets nasty hot and
humid here in the deep south and honestly folks just don’t like walking around
in the woods looking at property. Cool weather brings folks out and the
activity picks up. These type properties show best in the fall and winter.
RECREATIONAL – Recreational
activity sort of mirrors timberland. The hunting season generally starts in the
fall and goes into the winter. These properties show best in the fall, the food
plots are green, the weather is great and the buyer envisions himself shooting
that big buck. Waterfowl properties should be shown when ponds are full and
there are plenty of ducks.
Following is a chart of land sales by quarter
provided by a Farm Credit Bank.
What you see bears out quantitatively the above
on timber and recreation properties. The buyers start looking in the fall and
winter and these properties sell and close in the 1st and
2nd quarters of the following year.
There are other thing just as important when
selling your land and they are price and appearance.
There are other factors you should consider when
selling....
Appearance - I
have had folks clear-cut their timber then ask me to try and sell their land.
It looked like a nuclear bomb went off…..DON’T DO IT. It is all about the curb
appeal. If your property does not look nice, it probably won’t get looked at.
Mowing roads and a nice gated entrance go a long way!
Price - Last and maybe most
important is the PRICE. If you are using a highly qualified ‘land broker’ then
the advertising and marketing is being taken care of. There are some premium
websites to advertise property. If your property is not selling, then you have
it priced too high.
In summary, pick the best season to sell your
type property, pick a highly qualified "land broker" and price it
correctly. If your property is on the market for over 9 months, you have
it priced too high!!
To see my listings visit AllSouthLandandHomes.com Buying and
Selling LAND? Contact G. Kent Morris, ALC, RF @ 706.457.0090
