As the weather cools and the market slows, John McGrath has shared how to make the most of the autumn selling season, anticipating healthy buyer interest in the coming months.
McGrath CEO John McGrath has shared his top tips for selling in autumn, as he anticipates healthy numbers of buyers at open homes and auctions.
McGrath said this year’s autumn market was seeing combined challenges of interest rates and geopolitical issues, contributing to volatility.
He said two rate rises this year have “almost eradicated” the three cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia last year, marking a return to the February 2025 figure of 4.1 per cent.
However, he said the auction market remained resilient, with more than 4,000 homes having gone under the hammer this past weekend.
With the approaching Easter holidays and Anzac Day long weekend for NSW, McGrath said these will be the usual drop in open homes and auctions, but buyer activity will persist.
“I’ve always maintained that long weekends, and similar, rarely deter committed buyers,” he said.
“Equally, there can be a strong ramp up and rebound in these events prior to, and after, long weekends.”
According to McGrath, the cooler temperatures of autumn don’t necessarily mean it’s a bad time to sell, as enthusiastic buyers won’t be deterred by colder weather.
“But the window-shopping people will be, which gives vendors a better chance of a faster sales result,” he said.
He noted autumn was known for being a transitional season, quieter than the traditionally active spring and summer, but not as still as winter.
“Christmas is well behind us, and children have gone back to school, giving buyers more time and space to consider their property decisions.”
He also said in Queensland, northern locations were beginning a cooler, but sunnier season, making attending open homes and auctions more appealing than in the summer.
According to McGrath, to get the most benefit out of the selling season, agents should help sellers set a reasonable and attractive price for their home.
“Your agent can help you compare prices with similar properties nearby and understand values in your area,” he said.
He also said a strong marketing campaign and powerful presentation were essential, advising agents to leverage the weather to make the property’s best features stand out.
“Autumn gives sellers the chance to show that their property easily stays warm and dry – a crucial point for buyers in many locations.”
“And, wood, or even electric or gas fireplaces, can easily give your home a cosy ambience on a chilly day.”
Ultimately, McGrath said that even with the recent cash rate increases and some plateauing growth, there were plenty of ways to make the most of the autumn selling season.
“Vendors should expect to enjoy genuinely strong competition this season, and for buyers, this cooler, quieter period is the perfect time to make smarter property decisions than they might have made in hot, hectic summer or spring,” he concluded.
