Realizing the time has come to sell your home can create some forms of confusion.  When to put your home on the market is one issue to solve.  Timing is everything in real estate and some believe one season is better than another to sell your home.

Real estate today is a year-round business, and statistics prove that homes sales are just as strong in December as in June.

If that is the case, then how do you decide which is the best time of year to list your home? Each season has its own characteristic. Let's review each one.

According to most real estate professionals and sales statistics, Spring is the busiest time of the year for buyers and sellers -- Spring offers the opportunity to showcase a home at its best. There is always something nice about listing your home when it's not too hot or too cold out and the air is fresh.  Plus the end of the school year is when families are willing to change schools, so they are willing to premarket their home for sale so they can get a jump on their new home selection.

If you have a green thumb, Summer might prove to be the best time to show off your garden. Potential buyers come through houses looking for such amenities as a well-cared-for garden. Also, if your kids are away for the summer, you might be able to keep their rooms clean from one showing to another.  This is also a great time to boast about any access to summer recreational activities such as a beach, a lake, or community tennis courts or swimming pools.  If you're in a HOT climate like Texas or Florida, we can't keep homes with swimming pools in supply.  They fly out the door in the hot summer months, so get your pool and landscaping in shape ahead of time and be ready for a great offer and to move quickly!   A possible downside to showing a house in the summer is that most kids are home, and you'll have to work harder to ensure their rooms are maintained clean enough for buyers to get through them.  Many parents make a game out of keeping their rooms clean and reward the children at intervals during the showing period and when the home has sold.

Even though falling leaves could make for extra work in the Fall, with children back at school, daytime showings might be easier to accommodate.   Because of school demands on families the Fall is historically a shorter and less productive selling season, which makes it a perfect time to buy at a lower price.  The tax benefits of home ownership is incentive for homebuyers to get into a new home by December 31.    A home that doesn't sell in the fall can be stigmatized as being held over on the market until the New Year.  If you list your home for sale in the fall it should be priced competitively (lower!) than other homes in similar condition.  As in any time of the year, if your home shows like a "model" home it will bring in top dollar.

If you decide to sell your home in the Winter, expect the unexpected. You will come across buyers who want showings at odd hours, or during your family holiday parties.  These are typically very serious buyers so Realtors encourage sellers to accomdate them as much as possible.    Most buyers are conscientious but at this time of year, you can expect potential buyers to track water, mud, snow, or salt through your home.  It's always good to make preparation for buyers to "dry" their feet at the front door.  Real estate professionals agree that only the most motivated buyers and sellers are active in the market during the fall and winter season.  Buyers often want to be in their home for Thanksgiving and Christmas so you should have many personal items prepacked and ready to go.  Be prepared to get a good offer too, buyers are excited about getting into their new homes this time of year.  It is usually a very joyful occassion.

Another TIP:   An old listing number in the MLS can give buyers the impression that a home has been on the market for a long time and the seller might be willing to accept a lower offer.

In conclusion, how do you decide which is the best season to sell? As discussed, every season offer some pluses and minuses. If you want to sell your home in the spring, you might want to list in mid-January, rather than waiting for February or March. On the other hand, you might get even more attention if you wait until mid-April, when many of the spring houses have already come on the market and buyers are hungry for something new.  

Real estate is an industry of immediacy. It's always a good time to sell your home if the price is right, no matter what the season