Working with sellers is my favorite part of the business! When you contact me to sell your home I’m excited to meet with you and gather lots of information. I like to know your whole game plan and how selling this property is going to get you to where you want to go. I completely understand that most times selling a property can be exciting and fun, and other times sad and stressful. After selling hundreds of homes for all kinds of different sellers since 1980, I have dealt with all that life throws at people in the selling process. I will take the sale of your property seriously and with knowledge, experience and compassion. I have a great team of vendors:
- Inspectors
- Contractors
- Painters
- Landscapers
- Flooring companies
- Handyman services
- House cleaners
- Stagers
- Photographers
- Electricians and plumbers
I work with a licensed assistant who keeps the process flowing and helps with technology, photo management and paperwork. I know how to prepare your property, properly price it and give you advice to get top dollar in the time frame you need! Please check my seller testimonials!
FAQ for Sellers
What is the total commission % that the seller pays and how is it divided?
Commissions in California are NOT set by law and are negotiable between brokers and sellers. 5-6% is the commissions that has been normal for many years. The buyer’s agent usually receives half of the total commission. Meaning a total 6% commission will result in each brokerage firm receiving 3.0% of the sales price. The agents then split that with their respective companies (commissions belong to the broker, not the agent) minus a small transaction fee. So, a listing agent that charges a seller 6% of the sales price for a total commission would probably receive about 75% of 3% and the buyer’s agent would receive the same. Agents usually pay for the professional photography, signs, brochures, food for broker tour and any costs they pay to their assistants or transaction coordinator. Discuss this in detail with your agent.
How should I price my home?
In the current market we are in, it’s a good strategy to price a home at the lower end of the scale for homes that have recently sold in your area. Rather than to shoot ahead of the target price and leave room for negotiation, it’s better to shoot behind the target, and price a home under where you think it will sell. This creates multiple offers, a lot of buzz, and results in the home selling over list price with buyers competing to purchase the house. A recent example in Castro Valley… List price $699,950 Sold price $780,000 with 14 offers. A good agent will discuss these strategies with you and determine whether this is a good idea in your specific situation and segment of the market. It’s not always the right strategy, but usually is. There are exceptions to this rule.
Should I stage my home and what are the benefits and costs?
Staging both occupied and vacant homes became the normal protocol about 10 years ago. A stager and their team can drastically help a seller present a listing in its best light, reduce clutter, eliminate over-furnishing, and give a listing instant appeal with some “wow factor”. Our company statistics at Pacific Union International show that the average days on market since 2016 for staged homes is 36 days and for un-staged homes is 56 days. Staged homes average sales price is 10% higher that un-staged homes. So, staging your home makes life easier for you, the seller, in preparing the house for sale. The property usually sells faster and for more money with multiple offers! Even skeptical sellers say “I’m glad I hired a stager”. The cost ranges from $800 for nominal staging work up to about $5,000 for a fully furnished house including paint color and flooring consultation. My stagers usually can do a good job for about $1000.
