What Is the Average Time to Sell a House in Utah?
- Published on
- 13 min read
-
Richard Haddad Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive EditorRichard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.
If you’re a homeowner in Utah making plans to sell your house, it’s likely you’re balancing several timelines. You may be counting the days until you can finally retire, or perhaps you’re pressed against a deadline to start a new job. When a life change and move are imminent, the big question on your mind might be, “How long will it take to sell my house in Utah?”
In this post, we explore the average time to sell a house in Utah and share proven strategies that can speed up your home sale in the Beehive State.
Consult With a Top-Performing Utah Agent
It takes just two minutes to match you with the top-performing real estate agents in your Utah market. Our data shows that the top 5% of agents in the U.S. sell homes quicker and for as much as 10% more than the average agent.
What’s the average time to sell a house in Utah?
According to transaction data collected by HomeLight, the average time to sell a house in Utah ranges from 40-52 days. This range represents the period of time it takes from listing to receiving a signed contract. Within the industry, this metric is known as Days on Market, or DOM.
If your buyer is financing the purchase, you’ll also need to factor in the time it takes for them to close on their mortgage loan, which, based on estimates from ICE Mortgage Technology, can be up to an additional 43 days. However, the processing time can be less if a buyer is preapproved for their home loan.
How long it takes to sell your Utah home will depend on your listing price, the property’s condition, regional market trends, and the location of your home. In a larger market like Salt Lake, a home may receive a signed purchase agreement in less than 30 days, while in a smaller market like Draper, it might take two months.
While the typical range is 40-52 days, with the right pricing strategy, a top-performing Utah agent, and timing your listing, your home could sell even faster. Later in this post, we’ll provide a list of selling tips and options that might fit your timeline.
What is the best time to sell a house in Utah?
The spring and summer months of April, May, June, and July are typically considered the best months to sell a home in Utah, but that’s not necessarily the case in all parts of the state. Other factors can shift the prime selling time, such as whether your home is a retirement destination, located near a ski resort, or if a major employer in town has a hiring season that significantly influences local home sales. Available housing inventory in your city also plays a big role.
In addition, the “best” time depends on your selling objective. The best time to sell a house for the most money may be different than the best time to sell a house fast.
Let’s look at some city examples taken from our Best Time to Sell Calculator, which uses housing market data HomeLight has collected to estimate the best and worst months to sell your Utah home — first for proceeds, and then for speed.
In the Salt Lake City area:
- Best time for more money: If you’re in the Salt Lake City area and your goal is to get the most money from your home sale, the best month to close on your sale is November. Since it typically takes about three months from listing to closing, you would ideally list your home in August to achieve a selling price that’s 9.96% higher than the yearly average. On a $600,000 Utah home, that can be up to $59,760 more in proceeds.
- Best time to sell fast: If you want to sell your Salt Lake area house fast, listing in April or September could mean selling your house 6-7 days sooner than if you listed in other months, with the fastest sales closing in July and December.
In southern areas like St. George
- Best time for more money: If your home is in St. George and you’re looking to get the most money from the sale, the best month to close is also November. This means you would put your home on the market in August to achieve a selling price that’s 6.9% higher than the yearly average. On a $600,000 home, that can be up to $41,400 more in proceeds.
- Best time to sell fast: If you want to sell your St. George house quickly, listing in March or April could mean selling your house 4-8 days sooner than if you listed in other months, with the fastest sales closing in June and July.
In a ski resort community like Park City
- Best time for more money: If your house is in a ski resort community like Park City and you want to get the most money from the sale, the best months to close the deal are March or November. Since it normally takes about three months from listing to closing, you would list your home in August or December to obtain a selling price that’s 11.97%-15.4% higher than the yearly averages. On a $600,000 Utah home, that can be $71,820-$92,400 more in proceeds.
- Best time to sell fast: If you want to sell your Park City area house fast, listing between March and June will yield similar speed benefits. This would mean closing the sale between June and September, 13-18 days quicker than if you listed in other months.
In a University city like Provo
- Best time for more money: If you’re in the University community of Provo and your aim is to get the most money from your home sale, three months stand out for the best closing dates — January, September, and November. Accounting for the three months from listing to closing, you would list your home in October, June, or August to achieve a selling price that’s 15%-25% higher than the yearly averages. On a $600,000 home, that can be up to $90,000-$150,000 more in proceeds, with January being the best closing month.
- Best time to sell fast: If you want to sell your Provo house fast, listing in August or September could mean selling your house 12-27 days sooner than if you listed in other months. The fastest closings are in November and December.
It’s important to note that while these Utah selling trends above offer helpful insights, the ideal selling time for you can vary depending on market conditions and your personal circumstances. Visit HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator for a more customized estimate based on your home’s location, or reach out to a top local real estate agent.
What factors influence the home selling timeline in Utah?
In most cases, the biggest factor controlling your home-selling clock is your asking price. (More on this in our next section.) Beyond price, other factors, such as the property’s condition, attributes, and proximity to amenities, also affect how fast your home can sell. Here’s a list of things that can impact your home sale timeline:
- Seasonal demand
- Retirement and snowbird market
- Vacation and resort market
- Climate and weather
- Major events and festivals
- Proximity to parks, schools, churches, or temples
- Smaller or larger garages and storage space
- Smoking inside of a home
- A fenced yard or play areas
- Quality of marketing materials
- The experience of your real estate agent
How Much Is Your Utah Home Worth Now?
Get a near-instant real estate house price estimate from HomeLight for free. Our tool analyzes the records of recently sold homes near you, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.
What will help my Utah house sell faster?
While selling times can vary widely based on the factors we’ve discussed above, there are certain steps you can take to help your Utah home sell faster. Below are some time-tested selling tips:
- Prepare your home: While you may be facing a selling deadline, a speedy on-market sale still requires careful preparations, such as fresh paint, new or freshly-cleaned carpets, a deep cleaning, and landscaping or yard work. We’ll provide some specific preparation recommendations in the next section.
- Highlight outdoor living spaces: In Utah, outdoor living spaces can significantly influence a buyer’s decision. If you have a backyard deck or patio, make it as inviting as possible. In your listing and photographs, highlight features like an outdoor kitchen, garden, large fenced yard, or play area.
- Stage your home: Well-staged homes often sell faster and for more money. Consider using a professional staging company that can showcase your home in its best light.
- Price your property correctly: Work with your agent to set a competitive price based on recent nearby sales of comparable homes in your Utah city. Overpriced homes typically linger on the market and create a “stale home” stigma.
- Use professional photography: Quality photos significantly impact online property searches. Even if you think you’re a good photographer, be certain you or your agent hire a professional with real estate shooting experience.
- Emphasize unique features: Tell home shoppers if your home has a view or proximity to popular amenities or desirable locations. Provide specific details about what makes your home special.
- Get a home inspection: A pre-listing inspection can help you identify potential home-selling obstacles ahead of time and speed up the entire process. An advance report can also provide hesitant buyers with peace of mind.
If you need to speed up your Utah home sale, see our post: I Need to Sell My House Fast: What Are My Options? For a custom analysis of your home’s potential selling timeline, consider speaking with a knowledgeable Utah real estate agent in your market.
How should I prepare my Utah house to sell?
Getting your Utah home ready for sale is a vital step to making a good first impression and securing a swift sale. Top real estate agents know that most buyers prefer to walk into a clean, inviting, turnkey home. For a fast sale, your house needs to be in good condition with everything in working order.
The preparation tips below can tilt the scales in your favor. Often, even simple improvements can be the deciding factor for a buyer choosing between your Utah home and another property down the road.
Here are some key tips to prepare your Utah home for a faster sale:
- Deep clean the house: An immaculate home will make potential buyers feel welcome. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service for the best results.
- Upgrade your landscaping: Utah buyers love outdoor spaces. Invest in professional landscaping to enhance first-impression curb appeal.
- Improve the home’s energy efficiency: Install energy-efficient appliances or solar panels to appeal to eco-conscious Utah buyers.
- Add a fresh coat of paint: A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint can make your Utah home feel new and well-maintained.
- Strategically fix and repair: Ensure any necessary repairs are done, from fixing leaky faucets and loose knobs to replacing worn carpets and polishing out scratches. Your agent can also advise you on what not to fix.
- Enhance curb appeal: To attract more buyers, improve the exterior of your Utah home with well-maintained landscaping, freshly painted doors, or new outdoor lighting.
- Declutter and personalize: Keep your Utah home tidy and free of personal items to help potential buyers envision their own lives there.
- Pay for a HVAC checkup: Ensure your air conditioning and heating unit is serviced and working optimally, as Utah buyers will likely check this, especially in the southern regions of the state.
How can I sell my Utah home fast for cash?
You may be facing an imminent financial or logistics deadline and need to sell your Utah home quickly. One immediate option is to request an online all-cash offer. While a cash offer will typically mean accepting a lower purchase price, the speed and convenience may be just the solution you need. A fast cash offer can be especially helpful if you are relocating for a job, battling a major financial challenge, or managing an inherited property that you aren’t able to maintain.
While you could reach out to individual Utah house-buying companies or look for “We Buy Houses” websites, there’s a more efficient and trusted way to sell your house for cash — through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform.
Simple Sale connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the country, streamlining your home sale and letting you control your move-out date. By answering a few questions about your property and selling plans, you can receive a no-obligation cash offer in 24 hours and close on your Utah home sale in as few as 10 days.
Move now, sell later with a ‘buy before you sell’ program
If your main concern is moving into your next house quickly, consider HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program. This innovative solution lets you easily tap into your existing home equity and start shopping for a new house without waiting for your current property to sell.
Not only does this modern program help you make a stronger, more attractive offer with fewer contingencies, but you won’t need to move twice, saving you time, money, and frustration. Once you’re in your new home, you can sell your old home unoccupied and staged. According to a recent HomeLight survey of more than 1,000 top agents across the U.S., a well-staged home can sell for 13% more than an unstaged home.
Here’s how HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program works in Utah:
Ready to sell your Utah home?
Selling your Utah house can be a major undertaking, but knowing the average time it takes to sell and the factors that can speed up (or slow down) the process can give you a competitive edge.
By effectively preparing your house, pricing it right, and timing your home sale, you can achieve a faster sale and a higher selling price.
If you’re planning to sell a house in Utah, get expert advice tailored to your specific situation. HomeLight can connect you with trusted local agents who have a track record of selling homes quickly and for the best price. These top-rated Utah agents can guide you through each step and ensure the selling process is moving along at a faster-than-average pace.
Header Image Source: (dropthepress@gmail.com/ Depositphotos)
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
