As a realtor, I have access to up-to-the minute updates on mls. And I'm checking-in periodically throughout the day, scanning the hot listings for anything that might be a good match for my buyer clients.
Additionally, I have all of my clients set-up to receive daily automated emails with any new listings that hit the market the day before. For example, they receive an email early Tuesday morning with listings that were posted between 12:00am and 11:59pm on Monday.
So, regardless of whether or not I forward a specific listing that looks good, they are still going to see a full list of everything that hits the market. This is a great way for them to get a sense of what's popping-up in their price range, and it provides context for when a really great listing does come along.
Of course, I'm not the only realtor who does this. Every morning, all over the city, buyers receive automated emails with links to new listings that were posted on MLS the previous day.
I'd say the majority of these automated emails arrive on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. They arrive on Fridays as well, although this is less common.
What about Saturdays and Sundays?
Simply put, Saturdays and Sundays are less-than-ideal days to have your property reach the market.
By the time Saturday rolls around, buyers and realtors have already compiled their list of properties to view for the weekend. Anything that lands in their inbox on Sat/Sun is more likely to fall through the cracks.
The odds are just better that a buyer is going to see your newly listed home if it's put in front of them on a weekday.
Sifting through the MLS updates becomes a part of many buyers' Mon-Fri routine. They open the links in the morning at breakfast, then they connect with their realtor during the day to highlight the best of the bunch, then they run through them again at home later that night. It becomes ritual. A weekday ritual.
That's not to say that buyers aren't looking at listings on Saturdays and Sundays. Real estate is addictive and many buyers are plugged-in 24/7.
Generally though, weekends are spent on social obligations, trips away from the city, and running a week's worth of errands.
Not to mention that weekends are when a lot of buyers are actually out viewing properties!
Despite all of the above, sellers still list on Fridays and Saturdays (which means buyers see these listings on Saturdays and Sundays).
Why?
Why would a seller (and/or their realtor) actually choose to have their home pop up on a Saturday or Sunday?
Why would they choose to have their most valuable asset make its debut on a day when the least number of potential buyers are going to catch it?
I think there are probably two main reasons;
Some realtors struggle with the ins-and-outs of how to best market a home.
It's no mistake that a lot of the listings I see pop up on Sat/Sun are also the ones that have crappy photos...
Some realtors are afraid that waiting a few more days to list will also be giving the seller a few more days to possibly change their mind.
Sad but true. Some realtors have been burned in the past and they think, "Hey, I need to get this place under contract and listed IMMEDIATELY, whether or not it's what's best for the seller."
I think there's a third reason to consider as well. It's possible that, despite their realtor's advice, some sellers are in a position where they need/want their home on the market ASAP. "Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, New Year's Day... doesn't matter. We need it on the market NOW."
And what's a realtor to do in that situation? Of course they're going to list the property. They've given their best advice and now they're going to follow their client's directions.
For those sellers who have the option of waiting just a few more days though, listing on a weekday is almost always the way to go.
And if you're realtor is insisting that timing isn't crucially important to a successful listing, maybe it's time to find another realtor.
If you’re thinking of making a move and would like to know how I can help, feel free to contact me for more info.