Your home is personal.
The sale needs a plan.

“Start with the life you want after the sale.”

Before discussing the listing, finish this sentence: “This move will be successful if…”

The answer might be a smaller house, a different neighborhood, less maintenance, or a move closer to family. It might also involve a deadline or a financial requirement.

Write those things down. Separate what must happen from what would simply be nice. Then discuss the priorities with your agent. When a decision gets difficult, those priorities give you something useful to return to.

“Don’t just count the years. Ask what those years have taught.”

An agent’s tenure is worth knowing. So is what happened during that tenure.

Ask for a real example of a difficult transaction. What was the problem? What choices did the seller have? Why was a particular approach recommended?

If an agent describes a fast sale, ask about the circumstances. What preparation went into it? How was it priced? What did “fast” mean? Listen for a clear explanation, not just an impressive result.

“A number becomes a strategy when you can explain it.”

A pricing recommendation should come with an explanation. Ask which properties are relevant comparisons and why. Discuss the home’s condition, its presentation, and the alternatives buyers will consider.

Ask how the strategy will be reviewed after the property reaches the market. Understand both the initial recommendation and the process for reconsidering it.

Keep two numbers separate: the proposed sale price and the estimated amount remaining after costs and obligations. Your next move needs a conversation about both.

“Give every preparation dollar a job.”

Before buying materials or hiring help, review the property with an experienced agent.

Make a list. Put a reason beside each item. What issue are you addressing? What will the work improve? What will it require? What alternatives should be considered?

A preparation plan should reflect the property, the selling strategy, and the household’s practical limits. Distinguish a known concern from a cosmetic preference. Advice first. Decisions second. Spending third.

“Compare the responsibilities—not just the percentage.”

Ask what the proposed brokerage service includes. Who helps coordinate preparation? How will the property be presented? How will showing requests and feedback be handled? What support continues after an offer is accepted?

Discuss communication, too. Who is the contact? When should updates be expected? What happens when an urgent decision arises?

“Full service” needs specifics behind it. Once responsibilities are clear, evaluate the offering and the fee together.

“The house is for sale. The household still has to function.”

Before appointments begin, discuss how showings will work.

Cover notice, scheduling, access, household routines, and relevant constraints. Ask how photographs and a virtual tour will introduce the property and how appointments will be coordinated.

Include pets in the plan. Who handles them? What arrangement suits them? What happens if the usual person isn’t available? Answer these questions before a showing request arrives.

“Ask what happens next—not just how soon it might happen.”

“How long will it take?” is reasonable. Ask what information supports the answer.

Then ask how progress will be evaluated. What response will the agent monitor? What feedback will be discussed? When will the strategy be reviewed?

A useful plan includes communication and a way to respond when expectations and reality differ. Distinguish the time needed to find an acceptable agreement from the work required after acceptance.

“A good number deserves a complete reading.”

Start with the price. Then examine the rest.

What is the buyer requesting? What conditions are included? What costs or contributions are proposed? What dates matter? What possession arrangement is requested?

Have the agent explain important terms and the choices available. Compare the proposal with the priorities established at the beginning. An offer can be attractive in one respect and inconvenient in another. Understand the tradeoff.

“A plan is only as useful as the assumptions underneath it.”

If the sale is connected to another purchase, bring a mortgage professional into the conversation.

Ask about down payments, financing options, costs, timing, and the information needed to evaluate your situation.

An agent can coordinate transactions and make introductions. The mortgage professional should explain financing particulars. Keep those roles clear so important decisions rest on appropriate advice.

“The finish needs as much attention as the start.”

Once an offer is accepted, review the next steps with the agent. Know what needs your attention, who coordinates the work, and how changes will be communicated.

Before closing, ask the title company to explain expected proceeds, delivery method, required information, and anticipated timing.

Confirm the possession arrangement in the agreement before finalizing moving plans. Raise any need for additional time early. Ask for explanations all the way through the handoff.