When is the best time to sell? That is a question on many homeowners' minds when thinking about putting up that "For Sale" sign. Like in any market or industry, the law of supply and demand prevails in real estate. But, there are peak seasons and at times, the weather does play a role. However, in the end, the best time to sell may be determined by what is the best time for you.

Peak seasons do exist, but it's important to note that they change from year to year and vary across markets. Early spring and early fall are typically prime listing seasons because homeowners often prefer to spend time during those months preparing a home for sale. Also, it is during those months when houses look their best and are not affected by the harsh winters or hot summers.

Above all else, when thinking of selling, you have to make sure you are ready and prepared. A qualified, professional REALTOR® can work with you to determine when that time may be. In the mean time, there are some things you can think about before that yard sign goes up.

Consider your lifestyle and other happenings in your life; remember to not base your decision solely on the season. You must also be ready and willing to stage your home for sale; think about the buyer and remember what it was that attracted you to your home. In addition, discuss the current state of the market with your REALTOR® and decide on the best time to showcase your home.

Your REALTOR® can also provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), which will show you the facts and figures on the state of the market. The market analysis will include homes in your area that are currently on the market, expired from the market, pending a sale and already sold within the last three to six months. Of course, the best indicator of your home's value is the price for similar homes in your area that have already been sold. The comparison is based on the proximity to your home and the similarity of characteristics such as lot size, square footage number of bedrooms and baths, other home updates, etc.

No matter the time of year or the weather conditions, maintaining your home, setting the right price and marketing it well, will help make it sell.