By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Remember when there were hard and fast rules about seasons, such as “don’t wear white after Labor Day”? A lot of those rules have gone by the wayside.

Similarly, rules pertaining to when it’s the right time to sell your house are also being challenged. Who’s to say the only time you can sell your house is in the summer? Spring means more sun and, more importantly, signifies an end to winter’s darkness.

Mary Wolfe, certified property staging consultant and personal moving  consultant at Fox Run, in Novi,  says although she recommends listing before spring to avoid more competition, selling at this time can be a great prospect and should not be overlooked.

“Historically in Michigan, spring has proven to be a wonderful time to place the home on the market because buyers are out looking at this time,” Wolfe says. “While there may be less showing appointments during winter months, buyers who are looking are serious. With the use of the Internet, buyers are able to preview properties from the comfort of their own home, only venturing out to seriously consider a property,” she says.

“That being said, spring is upon us. There is always a strategy to allow a property to shine above the rest, regardless of the season,” she adds.

According to Wolfe, a few benefits of spring include warmer weather, an opportunity to show off landscaping and yard, sunny photos for advertising, more walk-by traffic, and higher turnout to open houses.

“While there are generally more properties entering the market at this time, if a property is well-prepared prior to being shown, it will stand out from the unprepared competition,” Wolfe says.