Selling Your Home
The right agent makes all the difference.
I'm proud to serve home sellers throughout Monterey and Santa Clara County. As a Bay Area native who lived in San Jose and witnessed the rise of Silicon Valley firsthand, I bring deep local insight into the factors that drive buyer demand and property values in these dynamic markets. I have a sharp eye for a home's potential and understand how to position a property — whether turnkey or a fixer-upper — to highlight its strongest features and maximize its appeal. With a passion for home design and organization, I help sellers prepare, stage, and present their homes strategically to stand out and command top value. My approach is hands-on, proactive, and focused on results.
Listing Agent Agreement
Selling your home.
Before we list your home, it's important to understand how my compensation works.
Before we list your home, it's important to understand how my compensation works. This agreement clarifies our working relationship and how I'll be compensated — transparent and upfront. Recent changes in real estate practices emphasize clear communication about agent fees, so we start with a solid foundation.
My services
I market your property, conduct showings, negotiate offers, and manage the closing.
Your role
Provide information about the property and stay available throughout the process.
Duration
A specific timeframe that can be adjusted as needed.
Compensation
Typically a percentage of the final sale price or a fixed fee that we discuss and agree on. Offering compensation to the buyer's agent is your choice and negotiable; while it's no longer listed on the MLS, it can be discussed and negotiated as part of the offer.
Marketing
A tailored plan built specifically for your property.
The benefits
- Clarity
- Advocacy
- Customization
- Reduced stress
Open communication, no pressure
Ask any questions — there's no obligation to sign until you're completely ready.
The Roadmap
Ten steps to sold.
A clear, proven path from first conversation to closing day — so you always know what's next.
- 01
Consultation & Sign Agreement
We sit down to discuss your goals, timeline, and expectations, then sign a listing agreement to make it official.
- 02
Home Assessment & Pricing Strategy
I tour your home, review recent sales, and build a pricing strategy grounded in today's market data.
- 03
Prepare & Stage Property
Together we handle decluttering, repairs, and staging so your home shows its absolute best.
- 04
Pre-Marketing, Photography & Implementation
Professional photos, video, and 3D tours are captured and your marketing materials come together.
- 05
Listing Launch & Going Live
Your home goes live on the MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com, and across the syndication network.
- 06
Showings & Open Houses
Qualified buyers tour your home through private showings and carefully planned open houses.
- 07
Receive Offers
Offers come in and I review each one with you, comparing price, terms, and the strength of the buyer.
- 08
Negotiate & Accept
We negotiate the best terms and accept the offer that best fits your goals.
- 09
Inspections & Appraisals
Buyer inspections, the appraisal, and any contingencies are managed and resolved.
- 10
Closing Day
Documents are signed, funds transfer, and you hand over the keys. Sold.
Pricing Strategy
Pricing your home for success.
The right list price is a strategy, not a guess. Here's how each approach plays out.
Below Market Value
Can increase buyer interest and competition, sometimes sparking a bidding war that lifts the final price.
At Market Value
Attracts a broad range of qualified buyers for a fair, timely sale at true market worth.
Above Market Value
Best suited to homes with unique features or strong market conditions where buyers will stretch for the right property.
Did you know?
- ✦Properly priced homes tend to sell faster and for more.
- ✦Overpricing leads to longer time on market and fewer showings.
- ✦The first few weeks on the market matter most.
- ✦A comprehensive market evaluation is the foundation of the right price.
Price shapes your buyer pool.
The further a home sits above market value, the smaller the share of buyers who'll even consider it. Price closer to — or below — market and the audience widens fast. Here's how list price maps to buyer reach.
Share of active buyers who will consider the home
Marketing
A customized approach.
Every home gets a tailored marketing plan built to reach the right buyers, everywhere they're looking.
Photography & Video
- ✦Professional photography
- ✦Virtual 3D tour
- ✦Professional videography
- ✦Aerial photo & video
Luxury & International Reach
- ✦Featured in global media brands including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Robb Report & MarketWatch
- ✦Syndicated to international real estate sites
Zillow Showcase
- ✦Premium listing with virtual tour
- ✦Interactive floor plan
Social Media
- ✦Targeted ad campaigns
- ✦Instagram & Facebook showcase
Signage & Events
- ✦Yard sign
- ✦Public open house
- ✦Neighborhood VIP open house
- ✦Broker preview
Print & Direct Mail
- ✦Custom brochure
- ✦Print advertising
- ✦Neighborhood flyers & postcards
- ✦Targeted mailing
Networking
- ✦New listing email to 8,000+ local agents
- ✦Team meeting announcement
- ✦Door knocking
- ✦Phone campaign
Get Featured
Your listing is placed on the top home search sites and syndicated to 400+ sites, putting your home in front of buyers everywhere.
97%
of buyers use the internet in their home search (NAR 2023)
51%
of buyers found the home they purchased online (NAR 2023)
Buyer Reach
Where do buyers find their homes?
Knowing where buyers start their search is exactly why the marketing plan meets them there. Source: 2023 NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends.
- Internet50.5%
- Real Estate Agent27.7%
- Friend or Relative5.9%
- Home Builder5.9%
- Yard Sign4%
- Newspaper<1%
- Magazine<1%
- Other<1%
More than half of buyers find their home online — which is why professional photography, video, and broad syndication are the foundation of every listing marketing plan.
Staging
Staging that sells.
With my eye for interior design and love of beautiful spaces, I help you present your home at its very best. Staging isn't decoration — it's strategy.
- ✦A faster sale
- ✦A higher sale price
- ✦A stronger first impression
- ✦Easier for buyers to visualize living there
- ✦A cost-effective investment
83%
of buyers' agents say staging helps buyers visualize the home (NAR 2019)
73%
faster sale for staged homes (RESA 2019)
17%
higher average sale price for staged homes (RESA 2020)
Getting Ready
Pre-listing checklist.
Getting ready to list your home — room by room, so nothing gets missed before we go live.
- ✦Declutter
- ✦Depersonalize
- ✦Deep clean
- ✦Neutralize odors
- ✦Fix minor issues
- ✦Neutral paint touch-ups
- ✦All lights working
- ✦Comfortable temperature
- ✦Protect valuables
- ✦Arrange pet care
Photoshoot Prep
Photoshoot preparation.
The little details that make your home camera-ready — and buyer-ready.
- ✦Declutter — less is more
- ✦Deep clean
- ✦Depersonalize
- ✦Neutralize
Showings
Time for showings.
Make a great impression every time a buyer walks through the door.
Before
- ✦Deep clean
- ✦Declutter
- ✦Stage
- ✦Open blinds and clean windows
- ✦Comfortable temperature
- ✦Fresh scent
- ✦Curb appeal
- ✦Tuck away valuables, medications, and personal items
During
- ✦Leave the house
- ✦Take pets
- ✦Lights on
- ✦Music and TV off
Don't forget
I provide a lockbox and I'm notified every time it's used — and I share buyer feedback with you after each showing.
Open houses
When we host an open house, we put it to work across every channel that brings buyers through the door.
- ✦Posted on popular real estate sites and social media
- ✦Open House signs placed out front
- ✦Flyers handed out to visitors
Imagery
Imagery that gets noticed.
Most buyers meet your home online first. Rich, professional media drives the views and inquiries that lead to offers.
118%
more online views with professional photos (RESA 2020)
403%
more inquiries for listings with video (Inman 2022)
87%
more views for listings with virtual tours (Realtor.com 2021)
32%
faster sale for homes with high-quality photos (Zillow 2021)
90%
of buyers are more likely to view a property with a virtual tour (Matterport 2022)
Offers & Negotiations
Securing the best terms.
Receiving an offer is exciting — but negotiation is often the next step. Here's what's in an offer and how we evaluate it.
What's in an offer
An offer usually includes the following — and each one is a lever we can negotiate.
- ✦Price
- ✦Closing date
- ✦Contingencies (like getting a loan)
- ✦What's included in the sale (like appliances)
- ✦A deposit from the buyer
How to judge it
To judge an offer, consider whether:
- ✦Is the price fair?
- ✦Are the conditions reasonable?
- ✦Does the closing date work for you?
After an offer is submitted
- 1
We can
Accept the offer, decline if it isn't close enough to your expectation, or counter-offer with different terms to the buyer.
- 2
The buyer can then
Accept the counter-offer, decline it, or counter again — you can go back and forth until you reach agreement or someone walks away.
- 3
Offer is accepted
You sign the purchase agreement and are officially under contract. This begins the contingency period, when inspections, appraisals, and anything else in your purchase agreement take place.
Home Appraisal
Verifying your home's value.
If the buyer is financing, the lender orders an appraisal. Here's what it means for your sale.
If the buyer is getting a loan, the lender orders an appraisal to verify the home is worth the loan amount. As a seller, we want it to appraise at or above the sale price — it's very difficult to contest an appraisal, so an experienced agent uses strategies to show the home's value before the appraisal.
Appraisal at or above sale price
You're in the clear and closing can begin.
Appraisal below sale price
Renegotiate the sale price with the buyer, negotiate for the buyer to cover the difference, cancel and relist, or consider an alternative all-cash offer.
From Offer to Closing
From offer to closing.
Once you've accepted an offer, here's what happens — and roughly how long each step takes.
Offer & Acceptance
1–3 days
We review and negotiate offers, then ratify the one that best meets your goals.
Contingencies
1–4 weeks
Inspection, financing, appraisal, and termite contingencies are worked through and cleared.
Meet Contingencies & Prepare for Closing
1–3 weeks
Outstanding items are resolved and we prepare the file for a smooth closing.
Closing
1 day
Documents are signed and recorded, funds are disbursed, and the sale is complete.
Typical timeline: 30–60 days from acceptance to closing
Understanding Escrow
A smooth path to closing.
A neutral third party holds funds and documents until every agreed condition is met — protecting both buyer and seller.
How it works
- 1
Open escrow
Earnest money is deposited.
- 2
Instructions
Buyer and seller outline all sale terms.
- 3
Holding
Escrow holds funds and documents — purchase agreement, title reports, and loan docs.
- 4
Conditions met
Financing and repairs are completed.
- 5
Closing
Funds are disbursed and title is transferred.
What happens during escrow
- ✦Title search
- ✦Appraisal
- ✦Loan underwriting
- ✦Inspections
- ✦Repairs
- ✦Document prep
- ✦Closing
Why it's important
- Protection
- Impartiality
- Security
- Streamlined process
Closing the Sale
What to expect.
Closing is when funds and documents are transferred to move ownership to the buyer.
The escrow officer reviews the contract, determines what's owed, prepares documents, performs the closing, completes payoffs, records the buyer's title, and makes sure you receive what's due to you.
Your costs
Sellers commonly pay:
- ✦Mortgage balance and penalties, if applicable
- ✦Any claims against the property (liens or judgments)
- ✦Unpaid HOA or other assessments
- ✦Real estate agent commissions as agreed in the listing agreement
- ✦Title and escrow fees (depending on county)
What to bring
- ✦Government photo ID
- ✦House keys
- ✦Garage door openers
- ✦Mailbox and any spare keys
After closing
Save these for tax season:
- ✦Copies of all closing documents
- ✦All home improvement receipts
Final Steps
The last details before closing.
A simple checklist to handle once your sale is nearly final — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- 01Cancel policies — once title transfers, contact your insurance agent to cancel your policy and get a refund of prepaid premiums
- 02Close accounts — cancel utilities; keep a list of phone numbers for utility and entertainment companies
- 03Change address — submit a change-of-address form to the post office
- 04Turn everything off — valves to sinks, toilets, appliances and water heater; all lights and fans; call the electric company
- 05Documents — keep the contract and closing documents in a safe place
- 06Gather home paperwork — manuals, receipts and warranties
- 07Clear out personals — check all drawers, cabinets and closets
- 08Clean — cabinets, refrigerator and appliances inside and out, the garage; arrange trash pickup before closing day; leave the home as you'd want it as a buyer
- 09Incidentals — leave all house keys, remotes, gate, pool and mailbox keys in a kitchen drawer
- 10Floors — vacuum and sweep one more time
- 11Lock up — close all blinds and lock windows and doors
Your Questions Matter
Let's make sure this is right.
Selling your home is a significant decision, and I want you to feel assured about our strategy.
?
Is there anything that still raises questions for you?
?
Do you believe this is the right strategy to get your home sold?
✦
I'm confident we can reach your objectives together.
If you are ready, let's take the next steps
- 1
Sign the listing agreement — review the paperwork and officially start working together
- 2
Schedule professional photography and videography
- 3
Prepare for photos — use the photoshoot checklist
- 4
“For Sale” sign installation
- 5
Choose your listing date
- 6
Final review — meet to go over everything before your home is listed
My Mission
“To help you sell your home at the best possible price, within your desired time frame, and with as little stress as possible.”