It’s human nature to want to go with a ‘sure thing,’ when we set an expectation and see an outcome exactly as was expected. This is especially true when it comes to making big decisions like selling a home. It’s a sizable investment and you want to have at least some level of confidence that things will work out in your favor. 

That’s why one of the most common questions we get asked is, “How long will it take to sell my home?” Even with all the data and experience at our fingertips, it’s a question that can’t be answered by a blanket statement. 

It depends on multiple factors. Some of these factors we can control, some of them you can control, and others are out of our hands entirely. 

Here are some things that can influence how fast your home sells.

Above All Else, Consider these Three Things 

We’re going to get into full details shortly, but when it comes to how fast your vacation home will sell, you need to consider these three common elements: 

• Condition – What does the property look like? Is there a lot of work to be done? Has it been renovated? Is it a new build? 
• Access – How accessible is the home to Park City or Deer Valley amenities? Is it a ski-in, ski-out property? Is it located in a sought-after area? 
• Price Point – What is the property worth? The price range will dictate the potential buyer pool, which could impact the time in which the home stays on the market. 

Here’s How to Find the Best Park City Real Estate Team to Sell Your Home. Read more.

How the Condition of Your Home Impacts Selling Time 

Let’s start with Condition. This is an important aspect of your home sale and something that we can control. Condition refers to the physical attributes of the property. A home that has been recently renovated with high-end appliances and beautiful decor might present a little better than a “fixer-upper.” In real estate, we know that a picture is worth a thousand words, and it only takes one beautiful shot to capture the attention of a buyer. 

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Learn more about the intricacies of selling a home in Park City here: 

• Park City Winters are Fun AND Hard on Your Home
• Six Signs It’s Time to Sell Your Park City Vacation Home 
• Park City Home Selling FAQ

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Complex Vacation Homes Require a Little More Attention 

The sale of your home could potentially take longer if your property has a ton of features and attributes that could add a level of complexity. For example, does the property have a ton of features that need to be maintained? Is there an elevator that needs to be inspected? Does the sprinkler system require maintenance? Is the roof missing shingles? All of these things impact the way a buyer interacts with your property, and in many cases requires more extensive inspections and surveys that all take time.

You can get ahead of some of this by doing pre-listing inspections if you expect any part of the home to require a little extra attention. 

Condition Also Means How the Home is Prepared 

Preparing a luxury vacation property for sale is more than just writing a short MLS® description and installing a For Sale sign on the lawn. It takes strategy, preparation, and care. 

Preparing your home for sale often involves decluttering, deep cleaning, and staging if necessary. Minor repairs or renovations that increase your ROI are also done at this stage and the purpose is to improve the overall appearance and condition of your home. 

Once your home is fully prepared, it is photographed. Looking at the final product, it’s easy to see why real estate experts unanimously agree that a well-prepared home will show better and sell faster than a home that was not prepped for sale. 

Should you update your home before selling it? Read more on our blog right here.

Proper Preparation Paves the Way for Effective Marketing 

The way your home is marketed also affects how quickly the home sells. If no one knows about your property, how will it reach the right buyer? 

Marketing is essential when selling a luxury vacation home and using a combination of innovative digital strategies and tested print marketing techniques, your home should be able to reach the widest possible audience, resulting in more eyes on the home, and a greater chance that the home will sell quickly. 

Read our Top 10 Touchups Before You List Your Home right here.

What Does Access Mean When Selling a Luxury Vacation Home? 

In Park City, when we talk about Access, we’re referring to the property’s proximity and access to amenities. Selling a vacation home is less about selling four walls and a roof and more about selling a lifestyle. 

These types of buyers are looking for easy access to skiing and other amenities in Park City. Your home’s unique Access features will dictate how the property is marketed.

When is the Best Season to Sell Your Home in Park City? 

Seasonality plays a big role in how quickly your home will sell. In Park City, it’s even more nuanced because of the types of properties we have on offer. 

For example, did you know that resort properties follow a different seasonality than neighborhood properties? 

Buyers who are looking to permanently relocate to Park City typically follow a similar path to what is considered a “traditional” real estate cycle. The spring and fall seasons are usually the most busy for sales. 

Park City resort properties, on the other hand, follow a different path. These sales are primarily driven by tourism, and the busy season for resort real estate in Park City is tourist season with the winter being the busiest part of the year for resort sales. 

Listing a resort property during the off-season may result in a longer sale. 

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Read more about the best time to sell a home in Park City with these posts next: 

• Is it a Good Idea to Sell My Park City Home in the Winter?
• When is the Best Time to Sell a Home in Park City?
• How to Sell Your Park City Vacation Home when You Can’t Be There

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How Does Pricing Affect Selling a Home in Park City? 

Selling a luxury vacation home is a lot different than selling an ordinary residential property. However, the pricing and price point of the property all have an impact on how much time the home will spend on the market. 

• Price Point – This is the perceived value of the home. Typically we talk about the price point as a starting range for how to price the property. The price point also helps real estate agents develop marketing strategies to ensure the home is promoted to an appropriate audience looking to buy in that specific price range. 
• Pricing – Pricing a home for sale is not about picking a number out of thin air. There is a science to it. Realtors® use comparative market analyses, experience with other sales, current market trends, economic insights, and more to price your home as such that it will attract buyers. Depending on the market and strategy, your agent may recommend pricing above market value or below market value, however, in general, we have found that pricing a vacation home at the median value often increases the chances of a quicker sale. 

Wondering how much it costs to sell your home? Read How Much Does it Cost to Sell a Home in Park City right here.

How Long Does it Take to Sell a Vacation Rental? 

If you’re thinking about selling your vacation home and you’re currently using it as a rental, you might have a few other obstacles blocking the way to a fast sale. 

For example, does your property have rentals on the books currently? Are you expecting guests? This could impact the timing of your sale. 

Additionally, the location of your property might not work for specific buyers who are looking for properties to use as vacation rentals. Some neighborhoods in Park City restrict vacation rentals. You can see an interactive map of areas where rentals are limited right here. 

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Do you have questions about vacation rentals in Park City? Read these posts next:

• Is Park City Good for Investors?
• Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Property Manager in Park City

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How Long Does it Take to Sell a New Construction in Park City? 

You see this sometimes in Park City, where the real estate listing is for a home that is not yet built. The marketing for these properties usually revolves around beautiful renderings. 

In most cases, selling the idea of a home rather than a physical brick-and-mortar property can take longer. 

Buyers Usually Know What they Want

As an experienced Park City real estate team, we have a pretty solid understanding of buyers in our area. We know all the best ways to help influence a faster sale, but at the end of the day, some things might be beyond our control. 

For example, perhaps the buyer is taking longer to obtain financing, or maybe the insurance is taking longer than expected. Perhaps the buyer requests more extensive due diligence and you need more inspections or surveys. 

All of these things could stall your sale, making it even more essential to work with an experienced Park City and Deer Valley real estate team that can help get ahead of any potential issues, expedite the process, and keep you updated if expectations need to evolve. 

At CMFH, we’ve been helping homeowners buy and sell in Park City and Deer Valley for over 30 years. If you’re thinking about making a move, call us directly at 435-647-8035 or email info@CFHparkcity.com.