When it is time to sell your
house or condominium
So you’ve made the decision to sell. Maybe you are downsizing. Maybe your family needs more room or your are looking for a certain school district.
Maybe you’re moving for a better job. Maybe it is to move closer to the grandkids or perhaps you are retiring.
Selling your home is a significant decision that requires careful planning and execution. This website outlines the journey ahead, introducing the major steps involved in getting ready, hiring a broker, and successfully selling your property.
We’ll cover everything from preparing your home for sale, to marketing, and closing the deal, ensuring a smooth and profitable experience.
One of the most important steps before selling your home is knowing where you’ll go next. It important to plan your future living situation, whether you’re buying, renting, relocating to another city, or moving in with family.
Consider factors like timing—how long will it take to close on your next property or to secure a rental? Work with your broker to coordinate the sale and purchase (or lease) timelines. If needed, explore temporary housing options, such as short-term rentals or staying with family. Budgeting is another critical aspect.
Selling your current home might free up funds, but you need to ensure you’re financially prepared for moving costs, down payments, or deposits. I can help you with your planning.
Researching the local real estate market is crucial to understanding pricing and demand when selling your home.
Start by analyzing recent sales of similar properties in your neighborhood to gauge market value. Look at trends in home prices, days on market, and the number of active listings to determine whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market.
Check online listing platforms, speak with local real estate brokers, and attend open houses to get a sense of competition. Pay attention to seasonal fluctuations, economic conditions, and local factors such as school districts, amenities, and job growth, which can all impact demand.
A well-researched market approach helps you set a competitive price and develop an effective selling strategy.
The most important thing to determine right away is how much cash you will walk away with when you sell. First, get a loan payoff from your lender to know how much you owe. Next get an estimated seller’s net sheet from an escrow officer. This net sheet will itemize every cost of selling your home from broker fees, to closing costs, to escrow and title fees, and will include your loan payoff. This will give you your net sales proceeds. My escrow officer can prepare a free seller’s estimate for you. Let me know and I will have her prepare one for you.
Now if you home has highly appreciated, you may also owe capital gains taxes. It may be a good idea to consult a tax advisor to determine if any taxes will be due. This gives you a clear picture of what you’ll actually walk away with, allowing you to plan your next steps effectively. By the way, I know good tax planners that can help you reduce or eliminate your taxes when you sell. Hit me up if you want more info on eliminating taxes
Gathering important documents is a key step when selling your home, especially if your property is part of a homeowners association (HOA).
Start by locating your property’s deed, insurance policy, mortgage payoff statement, and property tax bill. If your home is in an HOA, you will also need to provide the association’s bylaws, CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions), and recent HOA meeting minutes. Buyers will want to review HOA fees, special assessments, and any pending rule changes that could impact ownership costs.
Additionally, furnish any permits or contractor invoices for and renovations or repairs that you completed on your home.
Having these documents ready in advance helps streamline the sale process and prevents delays during escrow since some of these documents will be furnished to the buyer, escrow company, or the buyer’s lender.
Ordering a preliminary title report before selling your home is a crucial step to ensure a smooth transaction. The “prelim” will reveal any tax liens, clouds on title, unpaid property taxes, paid off loans that still show up, mortgages, easements, or other encumbrances that could delay or derail a sale.
Many sellers assume their title is clear, only to discover unexpected claims or legal issues when escrow is already in progress. Identifying these problems early allows time for resolution, whether it’s paying off a lien, obtaining a release, or correcting errors. A lender won’t fund a loan if itle is not clear, reassures buyers and lenders, preventing last-minute surprises that could jeopardize the deal.
My title company will provide a preliminary title report for you free of charge. Send me an email and I will order one right away.
Hiring a strong, experienced, and knowledgeable listing agent is critical when selling your home, as their expertise can significantly impact your final sale price, timeline, and overall experience. A top-tier agent understands the local market dynamics, pricing strategies, and effective marketing techniques to ensure your home attracts the right buyers. They provide professional guidance on staging, high- quality photography, and compelling listing descriptions to make your property stand out.
More importantly, a skilled agent will expertly handle negotiations, navigate complex contracts, and anticipate potential challenges to avoid costly mistakes.
Without a knowledgeable advocate, sellers risk overpricing, underpricing, or mishandling offers, leading to lost opportunities. A seasoned listing agent not only maximizes your home’s value but also ensures a smooth, stress-free transaction from listing to closing.
Pricing your home properly when selling is essential for a successful transaction. The right price attracts more buyers, generates interest and competition. An accurately priced home that aligns with market conditions, avoids long periods on the market.
Overpricing deters buyers, while underpricing risks losing potential profit. A competitive, market-driven price increases the likelihood of multiple offers and selling at or above the asking price.
With an appropriately priced home, buyers see it as a good value, reducing lowball offers and lengthy negotiations. Proper pricing reflects your home’s true value and signals that you’re a serious seller.
Partnering with an experienced and knowledgeable real estate broker ensures your home is priced to attract buyers and maximize profitability.
Making basic repairs, strategic upgrades, and decluttering your home before selling it can significantly impact its marketability and final sale price.
Small fixes, such as repairing leaky faucets, patching up holes in walls, updating outdated fixtures, and applying fresh paint, can make a home look well- maintained and move-in ready, attracting more buyers. Upgrades in key areas like the kitchen and bathrooms, even minor ones like new hardware or modern lighting, can enhance perceived value without major renovation costs.
Decluttering is equally important, as it creates a clean, open space that allows buyers to visualize themselves living in the home. Removing excess furniture, personal items, and unnecessary décor can make rooms feel larger and more inviting. A well-maintained, organized home makes a strong first impression, leading to faster sales and potentially higher offers.
Staging your home for sale is a powerful strategy to attract more buyers and maximize its appeal. A well- staged home creates a welcoming atmosphere, allowing potential buyers to envision living in the space.
By decluttering, depersonalizing, and arranging furniture strategically, staging highlights the home’s best features and enhances its sense of space and functionality. Professionally staged homes often photograph better, making online listings more eye- catching and increasing the likelihood of drawing buyers to in-person showings.
Additionally, staging can help create an emotional connection with buyers, making the home feel move-in ready and justifying a stronger offer. In competitive markets, a well-presented home can stand out from the competition and even lead to quicker sales at higher prices.
Selling a rental home in L.A. with rent control laws is more complex than selling an owner-occupied property. The L.A. Rent Stabilization Ordinance imposes regulations on tenant rights and evictions, which can impact a property’s value.
Unlike a home that you are living in, selling a rental requires coordinating with renters for showings. In some cases, tenants may refuse to cooperate or vacate unless legally required. You may need to offer a tenant cash-for-keys buyout, which comes with specific legal requirements.
Compliance with regulations is essential to avoid legal disputes. Navigating these complexities often requires working with an experienced real estate broker and legal counsel familiar with Los Angeles rent control laws to ensure a smooth transaction.
In January 2023, the Los Angeles City Council enacted the Just Cause Ordinance (JCO), extending eviction protections to most residential properties not covered by the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO).
This means that landlords of non-RSO properties, including newer multifamily units, single-family homes, condos, and accessory dwelling units, must now provide a valid reason, or “just cause,” to terminate a tenancy. Acceptable reasons include tenant fault—such as non- payment of rent or lease violations—and specific no-fault situations, like the owner or a family member moving into the unit, substantial renovations, or withdrawal of the property from the rental market.
This greatly impacts landlords selling rental houses. Fortunately, I have a lot of experience dealing with tenants and the city. We can discuss the various options if you are in this situation.
Properly marketing your home is more important than ever in today’s digital age, where tech-savvy buyers rely heavily on online resources to find their next property. High-quality photography, virtual tours, and well-crafted listing descriptions are essential to making a strong first impression, as most buyers begin their search on real estate websites and social media platforms.
A comprehensive marketing strategy should include professional staging, targeted online advertising, and exposure across multiple digital channels to reach the widest audience possible. Additionally, features like drone footage, interactive floor plans, and social media marketing can make your listing stand out in a competitive market. Without a strong digital presence, even the best-priced homes can be overlooked, resulting in fewer showings and a longer time on the market. Proper marketing ensures maximum visibility, attracts serious buyers, and helps secure the best possible price for your home.
If your home is vacant, we generally use a lockbox so buyer’s agents can show the home anytime. However, if you are occupying the home, keep it clean, decluttered, and neutral to make it appealing to potential buyers.
Be flexible with showing times and consider temporarily storing personal items and excess furniture in order to create a more spacious and inviting environment. It is also very important to properly store any valuables.
It’s also best to leave the property during showings to allow potential buyers to explore freely. Most buyers do not like a seller hovering around when they are viewing the home.
Whether occupied or vacant, working with your real estate broker to schedule private showings, open houses, and virtual tours can maximize exposure and attract serious buyers.
Having a strong listing broker to review and negotiate offers on your home is essential to securing the best possible outcome in your sale.
A skilled broker understands market trends, buyer psychology, and contract intricacies, allowing them to evaluate offers beyond just price—considering contingencies, financing terms, and buyer qualifications. More importantly, an experienced negotiator can leverage multiple offers to create competition, driving up the final sale price and securing favorable terms for the seller.
Without expert negotiation, sellers risk leaving money on the table or accepting an offer with hidden pitfalls that could lead to delays or cancellations. A strong listing broker protects your interests, ensures a smooth transaction, and maximizes the price on your most valuable asset.
The disclosure requirement process is a crucial part of selling a home, as it ensures transparency and protects both the seller and the buyer from potential legal disputes.
Sellers are legally obligated to disclose known material defects, past repairs, environmental hazards, and any issues that could affect the property’s value.
This includes providing a Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), a Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) report, and other mandatory forms outlining potential risks such as earthquake zones or flood hazards.
Offering reports such as a termite reports and HOA documents (if applicable) can help buyers make informed decisions and reduce the risk of last-minute surprises during escrow. Proper disclosure builds trust with buyers, streamlines the transaction, and minimizes the chances of post-sale liability, making it a vital step in the home-selling process.
The home inspection process is a critical step when selling your home, as it allows the buyer to assess the property’s condition before finalizing the purchase.
A professional home inspector will examine key areas such as the foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, and overall structural integrity. If the inspection reveals flaws, the buyer may request repairs, negotiate a price reduction, or even back out of the deal if the issues are severe.
As a seller, being proactive by addressing known problems beforehand can help avoid surprises and strengthen your negotiating position. In cases where major defects are found, you can choose to fix them, offer a credit to the buyer, or adjust the asking price accordingly. Handling inspection findings transparently and effectively can help keep the sale on track and build trust with the buyer.
The appraisal process is a crucial step in selling your home if the buyer is using a mortgage to finance the purchase. A licensed appraiser, hired by the lender, evaluates the property’s value based on factors such as recent comparable sales, market conditions, and the home’s condition and features. If the appraisal comes in at or above the agreed-upon sale price, the transaction proceeds smoothly.
However, if the appraisal is lower than the purchase price, it can create challenges, as lenders typically will not finance more than the appraised value. In this situation, the seller and buyer have several options: the buyer can make up the difference in cash, the seller can lower the price, the parties can negotiate a compromise, or the buyer can dispute the appraisal and request a second opinion. If no agreement is reached, the deal may fall through, making it important to price the home competitively from the start and ensure it is in its best possible condition.
Having a seasoned, experienced listing broker to oversee the escrow process is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful transaction.
Escrow can be complex, with numerous contingencies, inspections, lender requirements, and contractual deadlines that must be carefully managed. An experienced broker anticipates potential challenges before they become deal-breaking issues, guiding sellers through negotiations on repairs, appraisal discrepancies, and buyer financing hurdles.
They also coordinate with escrow officers, lenders, and other parties to keep the transaction on track and prevent costly delays. Without expert oversight, sellers risk legal pitfalls, unnecessary stress, or even a failed sale. A knowledgeable broker acts as your advocate, problem-solver, and strategist, ensuring that escrow closes efficiently and that you walk away with the best possible outcome.
At the close, the final steps of the sale process take place, officially transferring ownership to the buyer. Both parties sign the necessary closing documents, including the deed, settlement statement, and any loan paperwork. The buyer’s funds are verified, and the seller’s mortgage (if any) is paid off.
Once everything is finalized, the title company records the deed with the county, and the seller receives their net proceeds. The seller must hand over all keys, garage remotes, security codes, and any agreed-upon appliances or fixtures. If the home was occupied, the seller must ensure it is fully vacated by the agreed move-out date. Other important post-sale tasks include canceling homeowner’s insurance, transferring or shutting off utilities, updating your address for mail and billing, and keeping copies of closing documents for tax purposes. Properly managing these final details ensures a smooth transition and avoids any of your lingering responsibilities.
Call me today at
(310)308-3174
Selling your home is one of the most important financial decisions you will make, and having the right broker by your side can make all the difference.
With decades of experience, deep market knowledge, and hundreds of successful transactions, I am uniquely qualified to guide you through every step of the process with confidence and expertise.
Whether navigating complex rent control regulations, maximizing your property’s value, or negotiating the best terms, my commitment to my clients is unwavering.
I take pride in providing strategic, results- driven service while ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience. When you work with me, you are not just getting a broker—you are getting a trusted partner dedicated to achieving your real estate goals. Let’s get your home sold with the expertise and professionalism you deserve.
- 39 years of real estate experience
- Over 500 closed transactions
- Residential, multifamily, probate and trust sales
- Inherited property expert – Hoarder / Fixer Uppers
- Expert in rent control issues and dealing with LAHD.
- Expert at solving complex title & ownership issues
- Capital gains tax strategist
- 1031 exchange expert
- Tenant relocation (cash for keys) expert
- Commercial & residential finance experience
- Triple net commercial experience
- AI, technology, and marketing expert
- I close the toughest most complicated transactions
In addition to my vast experience, I have many contacts that can help you such as landlord attorneys, probate attorneys, contractors, CPAs, painters, plumbers, handymen, architects, and more. Call me for a referral.
