Guide ยท Sellers
The selling guide: protect your equity, know every step.
Selling a home is a financial decision with real consequences, and the process can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks it into clear stages, from valuation to closing, so you always know what's happening and why.
The process
Eight steps from "should I sell?" to sold.
Get an honest valuation
A comparative market analysis of recent sales sets a realistic price range. Pricing right attracts qualified buyers; overpricing costs momentum.
Prepare the home
Declutter, deep clean, and handle obvious repairs. A well-presented home sells faster and for more, whether you fix, stage, or sell as-is.
Plan your marketing
Professional photos, video, listing details, and targeted exposure across the right channels put your home in front of the right buyers.
Hold showings and open houses
Hector coordinates showings and open houses, gathers buyer feedback, and keeps you updated on how the market is responding.
Review offers
Offers are compared on price, contingencies, and timeline. Hector negotiates terms that fit your goals and protects your bottom line.
Navigate inspections and appraisal
Buyers order inspections and the lender orders an appraisal. Hector manages the timeline, negotiates repair requests, and keeps the sale on track.
Work through escrow
Escrow coordinates title, disclosures, and funding. You'll know exactly what's happening and when, from mutual acceptance to signing day.
Close and move forward
You sign the final documents, proceeds are distributed through escrow, and you hand over the keys with a clear picture of your next chapter.
Fix it or sell as-is?
Repairs pay off when they return more than they cost.
Cosmetic updates like paint, flooring, and refreshed kitchens and baths often earn back more than they cost. But if the home needs a new roof, foundation work, or major systems, buyers will discount for those costs anyway, and as-is may be the smarter move, especially for estate sales and inherited homes.
Either way, California sellers complete a transfer disclosure statement covering known defects. As-is never means undisclosed.
Read: as-is vs. repairsWhat selling costs in California
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Agent commission
Typically 5% to 6% of the sale price, split between buyer's and seller's agents
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Closing costs & escrow
Title, escrow, and recording fees, typically 1% to 3% of the sale price
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Seller concessions
Sometimes negotiated, such as credits for repairs or buyer closing costs
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Pre-sale preparation
Repairs, paint, staging, and professional photography
Kind regards, Hector
Thinking about selling? Start with the number.
Get a free, no-obligation home valuation and a clear plan for your sale, whether you're ready to list this month or next year.