Spring’s arrival usually signals renewed hope for vendors, but 2025 has proven anything but predictable. With an oversupply of listings and buyers behaving cautiously, simply putting up a “For Sale” sign is no longer enough. That said, there are lots of active buyers out there, and as interest rates continue to come down, there’s more reason than ever for them to secure a great opportunity in a more level playing field.

Chris Farhi, Bayleys Head of Insights and Data, says the new season comes with a lot of positives.

“Generally, the weather through spring and summer is going to be better, and that can help you when it comes to open homes, photography and the general presentation of your home.”

“There's also a lot more positivity. The mood of people generally is up, because you've got some good public holidays like Christmas just around the corner, and that helps with the selling season.”

But with a backlog of listings already on the market, Farhi says the flipside of all this is that vendors are more motivated to put their properties on the market too.

“So there tends to be a build-up of supply which balances some of the uptick in demand.”

“People assume sales rates will be much higher too, but when we compare sales levels against the number of homes listed, we see the sales rates are actually quite similar between the seasons.”

Meaning the spring market may not soak up as much of the oversupply as you might think.

HOW MANY MORE LISTINGS CAN WE EXPECT?

Farhi says each year the supply of homes for sale tends to bottom out at the end of winter before peaking again in February and March.

“We see big tranches typically come through in September, October, and November, while December and January are quite quiet with people on holiday.”

“We then see some more listings coming through in February and then in March.”

But he doesn’t expect those numbers to be any higher than usual.

“Rather than being due to a high flow of new listings, the current high supply of homes for sale is more a story of slower sales for a subset of vendors who have set their price expectations above realistic market levels.”

“As a result, we expect the buildup of stock over spring and summer will likely be similar to prior years.”

WHAT BUYER GROUPS WILL COME THROUGH?

Farhi expects the busiest part of the market to mirror what we’ve seen in recent months.

“Which has been people moving houses and then first home buyers.”

“We have however seen an uptick in investors, particularly for properties that are getting reasonable yields, such as your classic investment units, which are benefiting from interest rates coming down.”

HOW CAN I MAKE MY LISTING SHINE?

So, with increased competition from other listings, what can you do to make sure that your property stands out among the rest?

Farhi says focusing on the elements that really shine during spring is a great place to start.

“It's making sure that your garden's looking really tidy, and if you've got outdoor areas, make sure that they're looking good. If you’re selling the outdoor lifestyle, it’s important that you make sure you're doing the best for it.”

That includes things like mowing lawns, repainting fences and water blasting paved areas, and if you’re looking to upgrade your landscaping, making sure you give it enough time to settle in before open homes begin.

“Be mindful of how long it might take to pull off, and then how much time it will take to grow.”

With established gardens, vendors are encouraged to start preparing them around two weeks before going to market. But if you’re dealing with gardens with a lot of flowers, you should consider starting preparations around five to seven weeks beforehand.

Farhi says there’s always an emotional element involved when purchasing a home, and leaning on that appeal can help to secure a sale.

“Matching the vibe to the season is really important. So, make sure you showcase outdoor living, and the potential for evening BBQs and sunny family gatherings. You just have to be a little bit smart about it and think through it all in your marketing.”

“It also pays to be strategic in the hours leading up to your open home too. Perhaps you’ve got your open home in the middle of the day when it’s warmer, so think about whether you should switch your aircon on, open windows or have fans running to get the right temperature.”

WHAT SHOULD MY PRICING STRATEGY BE?

Farhi says the best place to start is by speaking with your sales agent, but generally speaking, auctions have the greatest chance of success.

“That has always been the go-to and that doesn’t change by season, and we get good results in any period with that method.”

He also says it’s important to forward plan your strategy in case your sales campaign doesn’t play out as expected.

“It’s sensible to think about the next steps particularly with the disruption over Christmas and the holiday period. “That might change how you deal with some of your marketing, advertising packages, social media and staging.”

“For example, if your home has been staged, how will that work during the holiday period? On the flipside, there are some locations that almost work better during that period, like in the Coromandel when it’s really humming.”

Ultimately sellers who invest in presentation, take a strategic approach, and remain realistic about pricing are best placed to capture buyer attention. The oversupply won’t last forever, and as the season unfolds the key is to position now for success, because even in a crowded marketplace, well-prepared properties still shine.