If you're considering selling your home, timing and preparation are everything. This 11-step checklist provides a clear, proven path to success — from 90 days before closing day. With over 2,200 successful sales across 70+ San Diego communities, I’ve refined this exact process to help homeowners like you get top dollar with fewer surprises.
A Proven Plan to Sell for Top Dollar — With Less Stress
Step 1 – 90 Days Out: Set Your Timeline & Goals
✓ Define why you’re selling: downsizing, relocating, retirement, financial goals, etc.
✓ Outline your ideal move-out date and lifestyle goals for your next chapter.
✓ Start thinking about contingencies (e.g., selling before buying or vice versa).
✓ Working together, we’ll align your timeline with the current market trends for maximum leverage.
Step 2 – 75–90 Days Out: Get a Pro Home Valuation
✓ Don’t rely on online estimates — they miss 10% of real value, here in San Diego, on average.
✓ Request a custom Market-Backed Valuation tailored to your property, upgrades, and location.
✓ I’ll provide a complete pricing strategy with recent comps, buyer behavior data, and positioning recommendations.
✓ This is where I separate from most agents — with 40 years of pricing accuracy and predictive analytics from real buyer traffic.
Step 3 – 60–75 Days Out: Pre-Inspection or Walkthrough
✓ Optional: Get a pre-listing consultation to uncover potential issues early.
✓ I also offer a Complimentary Walkthrough Consultation to flag red flags and easy value-add repairs. Most sellers who make the cost-effective improvements that we recommend will have a 5X to 10X return on their investment.
✓ Fixing minor issues now can boost buyer confidence and reduce closing stress.
Step 4 – 60 Days Out: Declutter, Clean & Repair
✓ Start decluttering room by room.
✓ Deep clean high-touch and high-traffic areas (kitchen, baths, floors, windows).
✓ Make minor repairs (leaky faucets, chipped paint, light fixtures) — these matter more than you think.
✓ You’ll get a “Room-by-Room Prep Guide” from me with tips used by top stagers.
Step 5 – 45–60 Days Out: Strategic Staging
✓ Highlight your home’s strengths while downplaying flaws.
✓ Rearrange furniture, improve lighting, and depersonalize.
✓ I’ll advise which areas to stage and what to skip — to get the most significant ROI.
✓ Homes I prep, through recommendations, typically sell faster and for more.
Step 6 – 30–45 Days Out: Photography & Listing Prep
✓ I coordinate professional photos, drone footage, 3D Matterport video walk-throughs, and lifestyle shots.
✓ Create a “buyer experience” through visuals and headlines. I’ll also prepare the listing description with SEO-optimized, emotionally compelling copy.
Step 7 – 30 Days Out: Digital Launch Strategy
✓ Your listing is syndicated across the MLS not only in San Diego, but also in LA, Orange County, and Riverside, putting your property in front of over 75,000 agents and their buyers. 200+ websites, including Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and Google.
✓ I launch a custom social media campaign, YouTube property video, and email outreach to my private buyer network. I will also conduct deep research and provide you with a ‘Buyer Report’ that will let you know precisely who your Buyer is.
✓ From there, we will run Targeted digital ads to reach the ideal buyers using my Digital Marketing Expert tools — a designation held by less than 1% of agents nationwide.
Step 8 – Listing Day: Go Live on MLS
✓ We launch at peak time for buyer traffic.
✓ Your property hits the MLS, with high-impact photos, optimized copy, and marketing already in motion.
✓ Expect showings, inquiries, and possibly multiple offers quickly if priced right.
Step 9 – Days 1–14 On Market: Showings & Feedback
✓ We schedule and track all showings.
✓ Gather and review real-time buyer feedback.
✓ Adjust strategy (if needed) to maintain momentum.
✓ I personally handle every buyer or agent question to keep control of the narrative.
Step 10 – Offers & Negotiation
✓ Review offers together — not just price, but terms, timing, contingencies.
✓ I negotiate aggressively to protect your bottom line, timing, and peace of mind.
✓ My goal: net you the most money with the least risk.
Step 11 – Escrow, Inspections & Closing
✓ I’ll guide you through every step of the escrow process.
✓ Coordinate appraisals, inspections, buyer contingencies, disclosures, and timelines.
✓ Avoid delays and surprises with a proactively managed close.
✓ I stay in constant contact from contract to closing, so you’re never left guessing.
