With more than enough buyers to go around and excellent results for sellers across the board, it’s a good time to be listing.

The Christchurch property market never got to the over-inflated point of some other cities, and as a result we’re not seeing a big correction. House sales are moving along very well.

In fact, with people returning from overseas and very low interest rates, people perceive that it’s a great time to buy, particularly in Christchurch. Locals aren’t spending money on travel and are looking to invest and get settled down. Buyers are looking for some certainty in uncertain times – with time to spare, it’s an excellent year to find a house to call your own and settle in for some renovations and handymanning.

I’m seeing big attendance at auctions, and with the transparency of auction bidding and competition between buyers, excellent sales are coming through. And that’s across the board, including at the low end of the market.

I’m very focused on auctions right now. For the buyer, it’s an open process where you can see what everyone else is bidding. And for the seller, it’s the platform to achieve the best prices in the current market. And auctions are cash unconditional, so if the hammer goes down, it’s sold.

As we come into spring I’m expecting listing numbers to go up. Spring is one of the busiest times of the year for good reason: your house looks good in the sun, the flowers are out and the birds are chirping.

Having more stock gives buyers more choice. While there are certainly enough buyers to go around, my advice is that with the current great results, the sooner you get on to listing your home for sale, the better.

Mary’s top tips for the spring market

Presentation is critical when looking for the best price. Keep these tips in mind when presenting your home.

Declutter, but don’t depersonalise.

Embrace the spring market by arranging seasonal blooms in decorative vases.

Clean windows make rooms look more inviting, brighter and help highlight fresh paint, hardwood floors and other characteristics.

Keep lawns mowed, paths edged, hedges trimmed and gardens weeded.

Maximise indoor-outdoor flow. Open doors, unblock doorways, make your outdoor space inviting.

maryturnbull.harcourts.co.nz