There are a lot of people who think they should wait until the azaleas bloom to list their home or to start seriously shopping. And rightly so, because Spring is the peak of the real estate market. But in the Spring, there’s more inventory, which means more buyers and more competition.

The local luxury agents at Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby's International Realty say you’re likely to pay more for a house in the Spring vs. the Winter – and amidst the Spring rush, you’re more likely to get caught up in the market and make an uncalculated decision.

January and the remaining early Winter months are a low inventory time of year, but that means the sellers on the market are not simply testing the waters with their home listings. They're serious about selling. On the flip side, most folks on the market for a new home in a non-peak time like January are more serious about buying, vs. those just haphazardly browsing listings for fun during the Spring boom. (Guilty.)

If you are determined to wait until Spring to list your house, Joan Herlong says now is the time to start getting ready. Deciding to sell your house may be a split-second decision, but being truly ready to sell your house calls for months of preparations.

If you’re ready to list your house now (or start preparing it for Spring), contact Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby's International Realty via (864) 297-3450 or online here.

This content was created in partnership with Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby's International Realty.