Selling a Home

I know the market and how to make the most of it, leaving you in the best possible position for your next move.

Step 1

Identify Your Goals

Selling a home can be emotional, and I am by your side the entire way. 

I am obsessively dedicated to my profession and sweat even minor details. Once I understand your goals, I identify a personalized, best-in-class market strategy for preparing your home. My checklist below helps identify areas of focus and provides project management services.

Step 2

Determine the Correct Price

My goal is to get you the highest price for your home from a qualified buyer. So pricing is hands down the most crucial aspect. 

Choosing the correct price is critical to avoiding money loss, which can happen if your home is overpriced. Many considerations play a factor, including the condition and location of your home, recent nearby sales, and similar homes currently for sale.

I provide a complete market analysis of your home, and together, we discuss pricing.

Step 3

Prepare Your Home

A seller pre-inspection is vital. This alerts us to the potential impact of the sale and allows us to handle any issues ahead of time. Most buyers waive their inspection contingency option if the seller provides a pre-inspection with receipts for any repairs.

First impressions are key so it’s important to ensure your home is in top condition. Fresh paint, clean closets, flowers … there’s a lot you can do to make even the humblest of homes look like a million bucks.

Staging

Staging has an enormously positive effect and I have seen the return equate to more than TEN TIMES the investment. (Most homes are now professionally staged.)

Step 4

Execute Marketing Plan

Once your home is properly prepared for the market, I’ll identify the most effective marketing tools needed to maximize your net proceeds and/or meet your other goals.

Photos are the most essential component of selling. They are the face of your listing across the internet, social media, and all marketing pieces. Here are some of the photo-related tools I use to showcase your home:

  • Social media: I employ a professional social media manager who advertises your home across all social media channels

  • Open houses

  • Networking with other agents; I work in our state’s most productive office and rub shoulders with many other top producing agents

  • Professional HD photography services

  • Drone photos 

  • Walk-through videos

  • 3D Matterport tour

  • Floor plan

  • Custom page on my website with all information 

Step 5

Find a Qualified Buyer, Close the Sale

Once your home is listed on the MLS and the marketing plan is executed, we secure a buyer. This begins our client-to-contract process. When a buyer is interested in purchasing your home, their real estate agent submits an offer which I present to you. In addition to any legal requirements, the offer also includes the price, earnest money, closing terms, contingencies, and other conditions of the purchase.

When we reach mutual acceptance on the purchase and sales contract, we begin the last step: contract-to-close phase. This is where we manage the process of executing the contract. Once the offer is accepted and a closing date agreed upon, escrow allows the buyer and the seller to have an outside party ensure all parts of the contract are complete.

At closing, all paperwork is signed by the buyer and seller, both parties pay any settlement fees, and all documents are officially recorded. Prior to closing, you'll receive a settlement statement outlining any fees which may apply to you.

I am a Premier Director with Windermere and consistently rank among the top-selling agents nationwide. I strive to make the selling process as seamless as possible by walking you through every step, keeping you informed, and minimizing surprises. I know the market intimately and know how to make the most of it, leaving you in the best possible position for your next move.

When selling your home, you want to maximize your return on investment. Small things like house cleaning, yard care, furniture staging, and professional photographs make a massive difference in the final sale price, and how quickly we get your home sold. I have cultivated relationships with many excellent service providers to ensure you get the most out of your home sale.

Downsizing

Since 2008, Jim has guided more than a hundred individuals and families through the process of downsizing and moving. Many seniors find the eventual need to downsize, whether to simplify their lifestyle, cut costs, or be closer to family. Jim is happy to offer support and guidance to their clients during every step of this emotional and often confusing transition.

As regional experts in Senior Downsizing, Jim is often called upon to speak at community events, has been quoted in The Seattle Times, offered guidance to other agents and is trusted by the area’s best senior communities.

Services Include

  • A personalized schedule with the steps explaining the entire process and needs to accomplish your move.

  • Preparing your home to sell for its highest potential including cleaning and repairs.

  • Coordinating and working with licensed, bonded and insured contractors that we trust, from a simple cleaning to a full remodel.

  • Marketing of your home with professional photos and Windermere’s exclusive online marketing tools.

  • Arranging expert organizers, movers, packers, cleaners, charity donations and other needs before and after moving-day.

  • Follow ups after closing to ensure you’re getting settled into your new home.