It's common wisdom that springtime is a good time to sell a home. It's also common wisdom that real estate listings don't improve with age. So when, exactly, is the best time to put a home on the market? Consider this question from a reader about selling a home in Medford:

The realtor, who originally told us we should list in "March to April timeframe" is now saying we should list at the end of April. I am feeling right now that I should raise this issue, and the house should have been listed by now. What are your thoughts on the peak season? I think we should have been listed by 4/1 or even before. ... We could lose very valuable selling weeks, since we need a quick sale and will price it to sell quick.

I'd welcome your thoughts on this question. I'd also welcome your thoughts on the precise timing of a new listing: Which day of the week do you favor? What time of day? How do you make your listing stand out from the other new arrivals?

Finally, if you've got a question you'd like to see discussed on this blog, send it to bappelbaum@globe.com. I'm constantly impressed by the quality of your comments, and I'd love to draw on the wisdom of the crowd to address reader questions more regularly.