Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
“Serena was an essential part of supporting me in this major move in my life.” –Diane Saint Marie
I find that I am often inspired and humbled by my client’s strength and tenacity. Moving is never easy. My client Diane was in her late 70’s with some major health issues, so it was so much harder.
Diane had lived in her house for more than 20 years, and we had met and talked for a few years about her plan to eventually move to an independent living residence, as living alone was getting to be too much.
“Two years before selling my house, I had Serena and two other brokers do a walk through,” said Diane. “Serena noticed details such as a retrofit, and other details the other two brokers missed. Her preparation in coming to my house with comparisons of nearby sales were thorough and skillful, totally outshining the other brokers. So when the time came, she was my first choice.”
Understandably, it was not an easy decision to make, plus the logistics of down-sizing from a three-bedroom house to a small one-bedroom apartment was overwhelming. However, she finally decided it was time to make that hard transition.
Luckily Diane had a great support system of friends and family, and several months to prepare. Her house was full to the gills, including 70 collector’s dolls that had sentimental value and needed to be re-homed.
She admitted that clearing the house out was quite an undertaking.
“It was stressful downsizing, leaving a house after 20 years and moving into a retirement home,” she said. “But Serena was consistently steady and calm. She worked with other brokers, and did all kinds of behind the scenes work that simplified my life.”
Initially plans were to put the house on the market while Diane was still living there. It soon became evident, though, that it would be easier for her to move out, as the house really needed an interior paint job and I suggested we stage the house, get the yard cleaned up, and generally spruce up the place.
I hired my team of contractors and the house was ready to list within two weeks of Diane moving out.
“The people she hired to paint, stage, and repair were affordable and did a fabulous job,” said Diane.
By this time it was late October, and not the best time to list, however the house looked great and we received multiple offers.
“Serena asked potential buyers to write about why they wanted to buy the house,” said Diane. “Giving me a wonderful sense of the new owners who were going to become the new caretakers of this 100-plus year old house, including a display cupboard that couldn’t leave!”
Diane was very relieved and very happy that the house sold for way more than she had expected with a 20% price increase.
“Serena knew the market; and honed her viewpoints with other skilled brokers,” commented Diane. “My house sold in a week for $173,000 over asking price!”
It really was a pleasure working with Diane. We had a lot of laughs as well as some tears, during the process.
“Serena was an essential part of supporting me in this major move in my life,” concluded Diane.
Ready to sell your home? Go here to see what you’ll gain by having me by your side during this complex process. Ready to get started? Contact me today, or go here to learn more about me. Want more information? Check out my Top Secret blog post of FAQs for Sellers.
