I am often asked by home owners, “When should I put my house up for sale?” Timing the market perfectly we know is difficult.  Those who have managed it attest to their luck rather than great insight if they are honest.

We usually want to know the best time to market our homes so we can sell as quickly as possible and at the optimum price.  The truth is, the real estate market is in a constant state of change so it is impossible to predict the exact best time to list your specific home.  The market does not repeat itself exactly from one year to another.

The market is after all the sum total of all buyers and sellers seeking to find solutions to their problems.  This aggregation of buyers and sellers changes daily as some people find the home they seek and others enter the market replacing those who leave.  It is impossible to predict with certainty what the market will be like at the very time you may wish to sell?

Fortunately, the best time to sell is not a single day or even a single month.  It is often within a broader time period of a few months.  Historically in Newfoundland, the spring market has been the most active.  After the winter freeze, the new leaves begin to emerge, and sunshine thaws the ground allowing flowers to spring into view.  This sign of life contributes to a heightened demand from prospective buyers.  As the sun shines, sold signs begin popping up around town.  By this time, many potential sellers will have prepared their homes for the market, painting the few rooms that needed freshening and cleaning out the garage from the winter’s stock pile; “stuff creep”.  Spring brings the inspiration that buyers need to get the market moving again.

That’s where we are now.  Each day more and more listings are coming on the market and buyers are looking for their dream home.  Many are beginning to find the properties they like.  It is during this period that we see the local market demand reach a peak.  To sell your home at the optimal time requires listing it for sale during the period when demand is increasing.  Over the next four months I expect you will be exposed the maximum demand for 2009.  To learn how to sell your home for top dollar, check out Seven Do's For Selling Your Home Fast For Top Dollar.

R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor serving St. John’s and surrounding areas, Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years and can be reached at 709-895-2500. Visit http://www.rgregosmond.com/ for further information.