First-Time Home Seller: How to Get the Best Return

Thinking about listing for the first time and want to make sure you get the best possible return? Since your home is likely the biggest investment of your life, it's completely normal to feel nervous about it.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay for the last 10 years.

Continuing on condition: curb appeal is the first real impression a buyer gets. A rented or hired power washer on the driveway, sidewalk, and exterior removes years of buildup fast. Pay attention to the front door specifically, it's what a buyer stares at for the few seconds it takes an agent to open the lockbox, so peeling paint, cobwebs, or grime around the windows all register.

Staging comes next. 77% of buyer's agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to picture themselves living in a home, and professionally staged homes can sell for as much as 10% more. Professional photos matter just as much, cell phone pictures aren't enough when 67% of buyers, per the National Association of Realtors, will walk through a home they first saw online.

Finally, have a real showing plan. Until you're under contract, being ready to leave at a moment's notice matters, simpler meals for easy cleanup, an alternate spot to work if you're home during the day, and a plan for pets during showings.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay. All of this together is what actually gets a home sold faster and for more money.