Days on Market – Why Time is Not Your Friend

When selling a home, time is not your friend.

The longer a property sits on the market, the more stale it becomes.

Buyer urgency drops, lowball offers creep in, and the campaign can lose momentum.

The first two weeks are when buyer interest is at its peak. This is when your inspection numbers are highest, your property is fresh on realestate.com.au and Domain and buyers are still feeling that “we can’t miss this one” energy.

Why This Matters Right Now

As of August 2025, we’ve had yet another interest rate cut, and Melbourne prices have risen steadily for six months in a row. That combination has supercharged buyer confidence – and shortened selling times.

CoreLogic data shows Melbourne’s average Days on Market has dropped from 51 in February to around 36 – 39 today.

Some suburbs are selling even faster – Skye, Carrum Downs and Tecoma are moving houses in just 14 – 16 days.

And while the Melbourne average is in the high 30s… my current average is 25 days.

That’s almost two weeks faster than the broader market.

Shorter Campaigns Win

During COVID, when stock was tight and demand was fierce, we experimented with shorter campaigns – sometimes just 10-14 days – and it worked brilliantly.

Less disruption for the vendor, faster results, and more competitive tension among buyers.

And while the tried and tested four-Saturday auction campaign remains the optimal choice for most properties in Stonnington, slighter shorter campaigns may be back on the agenda in some circumstances if stock levels remain tight and demand continues to build.

In a rising market with limited stock, buyers who hesitate risk missing out.

By keeping a campaign tight, we capture the urgency and competition before interest starts to fade and buyers get distracted by newer listings.

The Takeaway

If you’re thinking of selling, now is the time to make the most of this momentum.

Days on Market are coming down across Melbourne, and properties that are priced fairly, presented beautifully, and marketed effectively are selling with strong competition.

Feature property: 51 Andrew Street, Windsor