Optimal Time to Sell

Written By: Illinois Land Broker, Matt Cox.

Optimal Selling Time and Value Factors

Many sellers are surprised to learn that late fall, winter, and early spring are the optimal times to sell tillable and recreational land. While the housing market typically slows during these months, this season offers unique advantages for listing your property. Understanding how these timing benefits align with key factors driving land values can help you maximize your sale.

Why Late Fall, Winter, and Early Spring Are Ideal for Selling Land

Easier Property Access: Crops are coming out of the field or are completely out, making property access easier. This season allows potential buyers to view and assess the property more thoroughly, which is especially beneficial when considering land uses such as hunting or marketable timber.
More Potential Buyers: Many non-resident hunters visit the Midwest during these months, looking for properties to buy. By listing during this period, you attract buyers who are already in the area and interested in recreational land, aligning with the factors of location and land uses.
Clearer Land Visibility: With underbrush and foliage dormant, buyers can see more of the land. This clear visibility enhances the appeal of the property, allowing buyers to better evaluate its size, development potential, and various land uses.
Enjoyable Showings: Cooler temperatures and fewer pests make for more pleasant property showings. Buyers can focus on assessing the land’s value and potential without the distractions of summer conditions, which might affect their perception of the property.
Preparation for Hunting Season: Buyers have time to familiarize themselves with the land and prepare for the next hunting season. This preparation is crucial for assessing travel corridors, pinch points, and stand placements, factors that can increase the property’s value for hunting enthusiasts.

Factors Driving Higher Land Values

Size of Property: Smaller properties often attract more buyers, resulting in a better “price per acre.” Selling during the optimal times when access and visibility are favorable can enhance the perceived value of your property.
Location: Properties closer to metropolitan areas or with historical quality can command higher prices. Listing during the off-peak season can still attract buyers looking for land in desirable locations.
Land Uses: Diverse land uses such as hunting, fishing, and timber can drive up value. The benefits of selling during the optimal times—such as better visibility and easier access—help showcase these uses more effectively.
Development Potential: Features like a potential homesite or pond location can increase property value. During the optimal selling times, buyers are better able to assess these potential improvements, making the property more attractive.

Conclusion: By understanding and leveraging the benefits of selling during late fall, winter, and early spring, and by focusing on key factors that drive land value, you can optimize your property’s appeal and achieve a successful sale. Knowing how these elements interact helps you make informed decisions and maximize your land’s potential.

MEET MATT COX – Local Expertise Within Reach

Matt, a full-time Licensed Realtor, with LandGuys of Illinois. He lives in Fulton County with his wife Ashley and two sons Easton and Camden. Matt specializes in rural land sales which include recreational land, tillable land, rural home sales, and waterfowl property sales. Over the years, Matt has sold rural properties. He has also assisted numerous clients in navigating unique circumstances and obstacles specific to rural real estate ownership. Through this blog, he aims to aid rural landowners in making informed decisions and calculated improvements to their properties. Matt hopes these efforts will enable landowners to maximize their enjoyment, enhance their return on investment, and ensure the land retains its value, both aesthetically and financially.

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