My Clients Were Selling Their Dream Home

The two bedroom, two-bath Craftsman bungalow that Della and Scott had lived in for 35 years wasn’t going to be the perfect fit for everyone, but I knew it would attract the right buyer.

Over the years, they had completed a luxurious 800 square foot primary suite addition and lovingly added numerous design elements and special touches – a Lee Ledbetter designed library/office, custom kitchen cabinetry, and an enclosed breezeway connecting the primary wing. Della and Scott had made 600 State Street their dream home and adored living there, but they were planning to retire in Asheville, NC.

That was April 2022, and the market was hot -- but there were rumors that interest rates were about to go up. That prompted Della and Scott to move forward with selling their home.

It's About Asking The Right Question

They interviewed three different realtors and offered me the job. During the interview, I asked what price they were hoping to get for their home – a question the other two realtors didn’t even ask.

Instead, the others wanted to price the property low, in the hopes of encouraging a bidding war – a common tactic in a hot market.

But that’s not what Della and Scott wanted. They weren’t comfortable with it, and they were unsure if that approach would work. So, based on my asking that question – and their comfort level – we priced the home honestly, just under the number they were hoping to receive.

As Scott satisfyingly put it, “We hit the sweet spot.”

A Strategy That Worked

Initially, there was interest from an under-bidder. But then a couple came along and offered full price. They’d been looking for a year, had lost out on a house across the street, and didn’t want to miss out again!

We agreed to a quick 30-day sale so the buyer could lock in a favorable interest rate. The timeline was a little tight due to some work Della and Scott had agreed to do, but I made sure all the loose ends were tied up, inspections went smoothly, and the closing went off without a hitch!

I love that Della and Scott had this to say about working with me:

“The first realtor we interviewed was too soft, the second was too hard, but Tracey was just right. She had a straightforward plan that suited us, and we felt it would be the most successful. Through it all, she was holding our hand and making sure everything went through. We left three days before the closing, and she took over -- making sure all the work was complete, and the house passed final inspections. She did it all! It was a real relief because we needed that extra help.” - Scott

“We have good friends who highly recommended Tracey -- two people we really respect who thought she’d do a great job. She understood the house and its design elements and how we had fleshed out the rooms with storage features. I think she really understood it and got the quality of it.” - Della