It’s Spring Again!

Homeowners shouldn’t dally if they want to sell their houses in spring, the peak season for real-estate transactions, real-estate agents say. “If they know they want to move by summer, now is not too early to bring somebody in,” said Barbara Nowak, an agent with Long & Foster in Burke, Va.

Now — not when the tulips are in bloom — is the time to start decluttering, cleaning, making repairs, getting paperwork together and interviewing real-estate agents. Homeowners with a lot of junk can take two to four weeks just to get through this step, Nowak said, meaning now is the time to get rid of any books, videos or toys you don’t use. “You can either donate them or put them away.” Many real-estate agents advise renting a storage space if need be. “You want to make it look sparse, but not empty,” said James Brumfield, a Long & Foster agent in Baltimore.