Selling Steps 13-14: Decluttering, Staging, & What Stays

Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025

STEP 13


Once all of the paperwork is complete, we’ll walk through your home room by room with you to create a comprehensive list of items that need to be decluttered and furniture that needs to be moved or put in storage. Together we’ll determine whether we need to bring in a professional stager to stage either certain rooms or the entire property. Unless the property is vacant, we usually don’t need a stager. If your home is vacant and we determine a stager is right for your situation, we’ll provide several companies for you to interview. Once you’ve picked a stager, you would pay the staging company directly for their services.


See our article “81+ Staging Tips that help Buyers Fall In Love.” Remember, we’ll create a personalized list just for your home. Once the staging/decluttering is done, let us know so we can schedule an appointment with our top-notch professional photographer for your home.


Home Staging That Delivered Big Results

Great design helped to bring about quicker sales that surged high above list prices.

Home staging can show a home in its best light and attract more home buyers—and possibly bidding wars. Several of last month’s “Best of the Best” home staging winners showed what a difference staging can make. Each month, the Home Staging Resourcerecognizes top designs from its members. Check out some of the designs featured recently on the Styled, Staged & Sold blog as well as more of October’s honorees below.


Budget-Friendly Updates

Addie Ashworth, a sales associate at Coldwell Banker Realty in Columbus, Ohio, and owner of Ashworth Staging + Design took on a listing that her client inherited from his father. “Nothing had been updated in years, and everything was original,” Ashworth says. “The seller did not want to spend a lot of money on updates.”


Ashworth suggested low-cost fixes with a big impact, such as removing the dated carpet to expose the original hardwood floors underneath. The entire house was painted in “Agreeable Grey” by Sherwin-Williams. Some of the kitchen cabinet doors were starting to fall off, so Ashworth recommended removing them and adding baskets. Everything in the kitchen was painted white, and the aging linoleum floor was swapped out for luxury vinyl planks. Ashworth also brought in modern furnishings, staging the home with a midcentury vibe to compliment the 1958 ranch-style home.



The property had more than 270 showings and 43 offers—all above list price. The seller accepted a cash offer with no contingencies for $165,000 over the asking price. The home closed in five days.

 

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Photos courtesy: Addie Ashworth, Ashworth Staging + Design

Toning Down an Artsy Interior


Jodi Kelly of Kelly Home Designs, LLC in Ridgewood, N.J., toned down the artsy vibe in this two-bedroom home in Midland Park, N.J. “The homeowner had an artistic personality, and it reflected in her décor, which was very colorful and fun but would not have appealed to many buyers,” Kelly says. The house also appeared very dark inside. Kelly neutralized and lightened up the interior by repurposing the homeowner’s belongings. Kelly removed wallpaper in the dining room, switched out area rugs, adjusted some of the furniture, and added in a few accessories. The home was listed for $549,000 and had multiple offers over list price within two days. The house ended up selling for $30,000 above asking price.

Photos courtesy Jodi Kelly, Kelly Home Designs, LLC

Brightening the Look


Megan Bond of Complete Transitions: Home Staging & Design, which serves several Pennsylvania and Delaware counties, staged this house that sold in a few days for more than $100,000 above asking price. “The client asked to keep our staging in place until after the appraiser went through,” Bond says. “We knew the staging shouldn’t have any impact on the appraisal, but we were flattered that the client thought our staging showed the house in its best light. “

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Photos courtesy Megan Bond, Complete Transitions

A Quick Refresh


Laura Jones of Cozy Curated Home in the Denver area recently completed a partial stage of a three-bedroom, three-bath home that had been lingering on the market. “The home was being occupied by the sellers and lacked an emotional connection for target buyers,” Jones says. “It had challenges and needed improvements, but the sellers needed to sell quickly and did not have the luxury of completing upgrades before listing.” Jones recommended a partial stage using the homeowners’ existing belongings but new smaller items, like artwork, pillows, rugs, and accessories. “The home was staged quickly, new photos were taken, and within 24 hours of the photos being published on the MLS, the home was under contract,” Jones says.

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Photos courtesy: Laura Jones, Cozy Curated Home


By: Audra Slinkey, president and founder of the Home Staging Resource, a home staging, and redesign certification training company. November 15, 2021

 

Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

Step 14


Selling your home is a significant milestone that can be both exciting and overwhelming. Navigating the complex process of selling real estate requires careful planning, expert guidance, and a clear understanding of each step involved. To empower you on this journey, we present "ANDI'S GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR HOME," a resource designed to provide you with insights, tips, and strategies to ensure a successful and seamless selling experience. Each step provides a brief overview of what you can expect during the process.

However, to access the full guide that delves deep into these steps, offering detailed information, expert advice, and practical strategies, we invite you to contact us directly.

 

Introduction: Preparing for a Successful Home Sale

 

Selling your home is not just about putting a "For Sale" sign in your yard. It's a multifaceted process that involves thorough preparation, effective marketing, and skillful negotiation. Whether you're a first-time seller or have been through the process before, our guide is tailored to meet your needs and equip you with the knowledge required to make informed decisions.

 

Unlocking the Path Ahead: A Glance at Each Step

 

The world of selling real estate is multifaceted, and our guide is your compass, guiding you through each twist and turn with confidence. Feel free to delve into the full spectrum of insights, wisdom, and guidance offered within "ANDI'S GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR HOME" by connecting with us directly. Below, we offer a glimpse into this journey, but bear in mind that the full guide delves far deeper, providing in-depth information, expert counsel, and tangible tactics for every stage. We welcome you to connect with us directly to access the complete treasure trove.


Now, let's take a glimpse at the steps involved: Getting Started:


1.    Find the Perfect REALTOR®: Begin by finding a trusted REALTOR® who suits your needs.

2.    Choose the Best Service: Compare services and select the best REALTOR® for you.

3.    Understanding the Process: Learn about the escrow process and what to expect.

4.    My Role in the Process: Understand the support I provide throughout the sale.

5.    Prepare for Success: Get ready to work with us by completing your homework.

 

Selling Preparation:

 

6.     Easy Electronic Signing: Sign documents easily with Authentisign's electronic signing.

7.     Listing Agreements and More: Learn about important agreements and disclosures.

8.     Zillow Accuracy: Understand Zillow's accuracy in estimating home values.

9.     Zestimates Demystified: Learn about Zillow's "Zestimates" and their limitations.

10.   Handling Zillow Conflicts: Address potential conflicts over Zillow home prices.

ll.     Claiming Your Home: Learn why and how to claim your property online.

12.   Harness Social Media: Use social media for self-promotion and property visibility.

Preparing Your Home:

13.   Declutter and Stage: Get your home ready by decluttering and staging it.

14.    What Stays with Your Home: Understand what fixtures and items stay with the house.

15.    Address Repairs: Make necessary repairs before listing your home.

 

16.   Home Staging Tips: Discover over 81 staging tips that attract buyers.

 

17.   Thorough Cleaning: Ensure your home shines with a deep clean.

 

18.    Use ShowingTime: Learn about the mobile opp for managing showings.

 

Navigating the Selling Process:

 

19.   Homeownership Terms: Understand important homeownership terms.

 

20.   Showing Best Practices: Follow these tips for successful showings.

 

21.   Expected Seller Events: Prepare for common occurrences during the process.


22.   Protecting Your Property: Set up a Google Alert to safeguard your property's online presence.

23.    Your Listing Goes Live: Understand what happens once your property is listed.

24.    Receiving Offers: Prepare for the possibility of receiving offers.

 

25.    First Week on the Market: What to expect during the initial week of listing.

26.    Your Listing on Zillow: Learn about putting your listing on Zillow.

 

27.    Offer Received: Understand the significance of receiving an offer.

 

28.    Mutual Acceptance: What to anticipate during the mutual acceptance phase.

29.    Home Inspection: Navigate the home inspection process.

 

30.    Appraisal Process: Learn about the home appraisal and its significance.

31.    Dealing with Low Appraisals: Understand your options if the appraisal is low.

32.    Set Closing Date: Prepare for the closing by scheduling it.

 

33.    Beware of Fraud: Protect yourself from wire fraud during the transaction.

34.    Moving and Packing: Hire movers and start packing your belongings.

 

35.    Utility End Dates: Schedule the end of your utility services.

 

36.    Insurance Updates: Cancel or transfer your homeowners insurance as needed.

37.    Cleaning Guidelines: Understand cleaning expectations before closing.


38.    Final Walkthrough: Know what to expect during the final walkthrough.

 

39.    Mortgage Approval: Prepare for mortgage approval and finalization.

 

40.    Closing Essentials: Key information about the closing process.

 

41.    Closing Costs: What are you expected to bring to the table?

 

42.    Thank You: Wrapping up the selling process with gratitude.

 

Selling your home involves many steps, but with this guide, you'll be well­ prepared to navigate the process smoothly.


Please Note: The above list is a summarized overview of the steps involved in selling your home. Each step provides a glimpse into what you can expect during the process. However, to access the full and comprehensive guide that covers these steps in detail and offers valuable insights, tips, and guidance, feel free to contact me directly. I'll be more than happy to provide you with the complete guide to ensure you have all the information you need to successfully navigate the journey of selling your home. Don't hesitate to reach out, and I'll be here to assist you every step of the way.

 

Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

ENTER TO WIN A $500 GIFT CARD

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
Help Me Out, Win $500! Hey friends, If you’ve ever chatted with me about the housing market, asked a quick question, or just know me as someone who’s passionate about real estate—I’d love your help! I’m gathering reviews to help others feel confident when choosing someone to trust in this wild market. You don’t have to have bought or sold a home with me—your kind words, insights, or character reference are more than enough. 🙌 And as a thank-you… I’m giving away a $500 Gift Certificate to AMAZON! (Comedy + community? Yes, please.) Here’s how to enter: 👉 Leave me a 5-star Google review here: 🔗 Leave a Review That’s it! You’ll be entered to win. 🗓️ Deadline: July 15th 🏆 Winner announced: July 16th Thanks so much for your support—it means more than you know. 💛 ~Andi

Selling Steps 1-2: Finding a Realtor® & Comparing Services

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
Step 1 Many homeowners start the selling process by looking at sites such as Realtor.com, Zillow, or Redfin to see what similar properties have recently sold for in their neighborhood to determine the current value of their home. That’s fine and understandable, but keep in mind: The sites aren’t 100% accurate as listings that were never listed in the NWMLS, or For Sale By Owners, will be missing. The information on the online sites is often out of date or not accurate as NWMLS. Therefore, a property might show that it’s still Active on Zillow, even though it sold 9 months prior. When professional appraisers conduct an appraisal, they only take into account homes that have sold in a particular neighborhood within the last 90 days. It’s not possible to sort the data by date on the online sites so it’s difficult to only look for properties that have sold within the last 90 days. Therefore, Step 1 to buying a home should be to interview REALTORS ® to represent you and ask them to provide you with a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis). Find a Realtor® How do you find a really good REALTOR®? Hopefully, you’ll contact us at 360-734-6479 or andi@andidyer.com so we can see if we would be a good fit. Remember, not all REALTORS® are right for all people. It would be best if you found someone who is not only great at his or her job, but someone you like and trust as you’re putting a big piece of your financial future in their hands. Ask friends and family for referrals. Contact those Realtors® and set up initial phone screenings with them. Notice how quickly each REALTOR® responds to your initial phone call or email. The REALTOR® should get back to you within 24 hours; if not, that’s a bad sign. This business moves fast, and deals can be lost if your REALTOR® doesn’t respond quickly on your behalf to showing requests, offers, inspection negotiations, etc. Initial Phone Screening During the initial phone screening, find out if the REALTOR® knows your neighborhood and if they’ve ever helped a client buy or sell property in your neighborhood. Ask about their experience. If your gut reaction says this person might be a good fit, ask them to do a CMA on your home and set up a time to meet with them in person. Be prepared for the REALTOR® to ask questions about your home, how much you owe on your mortgage and if any repairs are needed as they need this information to do an accurate CMA. Meet In Person and Review the CMA When you meet with the REALTOR® in person, ask them our Interview questions for hiring a REALTOR (see the next article we send). You will go over the CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) together and evaluate your competition. Ask them not only what they think your home is worth, but what the average days on market (i.e. the number of days from when your home goes on the market until you have an accepted contract) are in your area. If the REALTOR® doesn’t know this, move on. Ask them what they charge, how much the closing costs will be, and what approximately you’ll net if you sell your home for X price. Most importantly, be honest with each REALTOR®. If you need to sell your home for a certain amount of money or in a certain time frame, tell them. Only when REALTORS® have a complete picture can they come up with the best strategy to fit your situation. Lastly, trust your gut. Sign the paperwork Once you’ve picked a REALTOR®, expect to sign a Listing Agreement authorizing that REALTOR® to represent you. That starts the ball rolling to get your home on the market. Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

Selling Step 3: Understanding the Escrow Process

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
STEP 3 THE ESCROW PROCESS

Selling Steps 4-5: Understanding Your Realtor's® Role & Homework for Sellers

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
Step 4 What I Do For You Not all real estate practitioners are REALTOR®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTOR® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. When looking at all the factors that an Agent influences, it’s easy to see how important it is to choose the right one for you. Navigate a complicated process Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Information and opinions REALTORS® can provide objective information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property most likely have a good resale value when I am ready to sell? Negotiating skills There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and including or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections, and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your Agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required. Property marketing power Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property. Someone who speaks the language If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language. Experience Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handles hundreds of estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical. Objective voice A home often symbolizes the future, rest, and security – it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the largest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you. Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

Selling Steps 6-7: Electronic Signatures & Exclusive Sale Agreements

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
Step 6 Signing Electronically Authentisign is a secure, online, document signing service that enables multiple parties to participate and sign real estate documents electronically. Electronic signatures have been approved for use since June 30, 2000, when Congress enacted the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. In an electronic signing, the action of you approving the documents is your signature. Instead of actually signing your name, you are approving the documents by clicking on signature or initial blocks. When you click on each block, the document will replace the block with your name or initials. The entire signing process is tracked, including the IP (internet protocol) address of your computer and the date and time you signed. This electronic process is convenient, efficient, and reduces the amount of time and paper used in the transaction. Respond to Invitation You will receive an invitation email with a link to access the signing transaction. Click the blue icon (shown below) to open the Authentisign electronic signature service.

Selling Steps 8-11: Zillow Accuracy & Zestimates

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
Step 8 You see a home on Zillow or the like (we’ll call them portals from here on out) and inquire about its availability with us…and it’s not for sale. You’re looking to sell your home and you LOVE the Zestimate (I don’t need to talk to anyone to find out how much my home is worth; squeeee! And even better my home magically increased in value by $50K in the last two weeks according to Zillow; double squeeee!), yet the number is completely wrong when you talk to a REALTOR®? Why? Let’s start with the availability of homes part. The dirty secret about online real estate is that it’s built upon you being a leader. The online real estate world is inaccurate and untrustworthy. Portals don’t care about their data being accurate; they are an advertising website, not a real estate website so there’s no incentive for them to make sure that a home that sold six months ago is changed from active to sold on their website. They just care about getting your contact information, they sell advertising. Now that you know that the baseline of portals is garbage, let’s move on to estimates of home value. First of all, Zillow itself calls it a “Zestimate,” as in estimate. Zillow has a helpful chart which can be seen below showing that in the Seattle area the Zestimates are off by 9.8% on average. That means on a $500,000 home the Zestimate could say it’s worth either $450,000 or $550,000. That’s a $100K swing in price. Instead, Zillow says it’s a starting point for a pricing discussion. If it’s not even close to accurate, why are you taking these estimates as gospel? Wouldn’t it be called a “Zaccurate” if it was accurate? So why they aren’t accurate and what are these Zestimates based on? In Whatcom County, most of their data come from public data derived from the county, city, and state. The problem with this data is that it is out of date, to begin with. Anyone who has lived in Whatcom County for any length of time knows that the data is often inaccurate and this, in part, is what Zestimates are based on. The portals do not have access to sold home prices – en masse – which adds another layer of inaccuracy to the mess. The portals then apply an algorithm – a computer program – to these disparate incorrect pieces of data to derive an estimate of value. How can an accurate price be determined for a home when the data it is based on is out of date and incorrect? It can’t. So how should the value of a home be determined if you want it to be accurate? Sold home data – hard dollars spent – in a recent time period on homes that compare to each other is the most important way to determine the current market value of your home. Appraisers only use comps that have sold within the last three months which have a similar number of bedrooms, baths, square footage, and features, and are located within a 1-mile radius of the subject property. This is the reason why the beautiful new construction 3-bedroom single-family home that sold a year ago on your street doesn’t help the value of your 100-year-old 2-bedroom four-flat condo. Only real estate professionals and appraisers have access to this sold data; portals do not. The condition of your home is a factor. All things being equal, an updated home will be of more value than an identical home in the bedroom, bath, and square footage count no matter how much you love your “charming!” 50-year-old kitchen and asbestos-filled basement. Whether a neighborhood is appreciating or depreciating in value will affect the price of your home. Often a Seller’s perceived value of their home and the actual market price are very different numbers. You might be willing to overlook that your home has no AC and that the third bedroom is the size of a storage closet because you think the home has a ton of character which makes it worth the same as a home with Central AC and three large bedrooms, but these issues affect the price whether a Seller wants to admit it or not. This is why determining the fair market value of a home is a mixture of art and NWMLS data. My job as a REALTOR® is to help you determine where the actual market price of your home is based on the accurate information we have at my disposal, not the perceived price based on your emotions. So, in lieu of talking to us or any other REALTORS®, where can you go for accurate information? We will send you a link, to my system that is accurate, and an app HomeSpotter which it is integrated with. See a house on Zillow, Trulia, etc. that you like? Look it up on my App or NWMLS to be sure it’s actually available. Our sites are updated constantly. Zillow’s website sometimes has information on it that is 6 months old. In a fast-moving market, this could make or break your buying experience – specifically how much time you waste online. You’ll need to find every home in your general area and neighborhood which matches your home’s bedroom, bath, square footage, parking, etc. which has sold in the last three months since that is the time frame appraisers use. Then you need to go inside of them (or find recent photos of the interior) to make sure they match your home in terms of quality, condition, and finishes to determine a somewhat accurate value. Or you can pay for an appraisal every year until you’re ready to sell. Or we can generate an NWMLS report of sold homes in your neighborhood for you whenever you’d like, which is free. One tip we do recommend for Sellers is to claim your home on Zillow so you can make the data as accurate as possible.  The bottom line for these and other websites is this: They are nothing, but advertising sites meant to monetize your eyeballs. Next time you log on to a portal such as Zillow and Trulia, look for an ad for a bank, or three-plus Agents (who pay to make it look like it is their listing which it isn’t), or a mortgage person or any of the myriad of advertising partners these companies have. Every time you look up a home as a Buyer or try to ascertain the value of a home as a Seller you’re selling an ad for these people and companies to the tune of multiple millions of dollars every year. They aren’t in the business of accuracy, only your eyes on an ad. Want accuracy? Want to know the market value of your home? Tired of wasting your time online? Give us a shout. Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

Selling Step 12: Social Media & Self Promotion

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
Step 12 You’ve picked a REALTOR® (us!). Yeah! Now what? Now we need to get your home ready for the market. This involves: Change the privacy settings on all your social media pages so only friends can see your posts We don’t want potential Buyers Googling you learning that you just got a big promotion at work, are moving across the country or are buying a new house because you’re having a baby. All of these items can hurt my negotiation position, therefore, it’s imperative you change your security settings to make your posts and photos private to strangers. And while you can mention on your social media page that you’re selling your home, don’t say why. Top 10 List Write a top ten list of reasons you love living in your home. We don’t want these reasons to be things the Buyers can easily see for themselves such as your gorgeous kitchen. Rather, we want them to be intangibles that only you know such as the beautiful sunsets visible through your living room windows, that you have great neighbors, the Farmers Market down the street every Tuesday, see the next page for an example of a Top 10 List. We then use this list in our marketing of your home. The Top 10 Reasons You’ll Love Living Here 1. Location, location, location! Only 3 blocks to the shops and restaurants of Sehome Neighborhood. Plus, everyday conveniences like Haggen’s, Starbucks, Blue Fin Sushi, Walgreens and a gas station are just steps away. 2. Work downtown? Drive there in 5 minutes, walk there in 20 minutes. Take an Uber to enjoy the night for $8. 3. Want to take the scenic way Western Washington University? The trail is literally off the side yard and walk there in twenty minutes. Or take the off-leash dog trails to the tower for a scenic overview of Bellingham, the Bay & Mt. Baker. You will never get bored with the variety of trails in this 175-acre oasis. 4. Have a dog? Zip out back to the Arboretum trails, or it’s a quick drive to the Lake Padden Dog Park and off-leash trails, or Fairhaven Dog Park. 5. 2 ½ miles to Fairhaven , walking distance to Sehome High School. 6. FANTASIC alpenglow sunsets behind Mt. Baker. Watch the moon & stars from the warmth of your living room. 7. Enjoy wildlife? We have squirrels, deer, racoons and even Barred owls in the summer. 8. The privacy in the backyard makes coming homing home at the end of the day to our sanctuary absolutely restorative. Sunbathing in the afternoons, drinking coffee in the mornings and watching the hummingbirds, or having a movie night party on the back deck, we get 8 months of living out here. 9. We don’t have green thumbs and love the low maintenance yards. 10. We wanted a convenient location in town, but to feel like we were in the middle of nature. We’ve Loved Living Here and Know You Will Too Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

Selling Steps 15-17: Repairs, Home Staging Tips, & Deep Cleaning

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
STEP 15 REPAIR TIME If together we have gone through the house and identified a list of items that need to be fixed. If your dishwasher hasn’t been working for years or your air conditioning unit has been making an unusually loud noise, we need to have those items repaired before your home goes on the market. It’s better to get items fixed now before they come up in an inspection report and potentially scare off a Buyer later. We have access to affordable repair people, electricians, handymen, etc. In general, we always recommend: Touching up the paint in your home. Installing new caulk around every shower and tub. Hiring a professional HVAC company to service and clean both your furnace and AC, if applicable. Hiring a professional to clean your carpets. Making sure all light bulbs are working and that every light fixture contains the highest wattage light bulbs it can bear. Having chimneys professionally swept. Changing outdated cabinet hardware in kitchens and bathrooms. Repairing any broken window screens. Testing all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. Making sure downspouts aren’t improperly sloped or damaged in single-family homes. If they are, have them repaired. Repairing any damaged, broken, or missing roof shingles. Email us to see our updated list of recommended service providers such as handyman, appliance repair people, etc. Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

Selling Steps 18-19: ShowingTime Mobile App & Homeownership Glossary

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
STEP 18 Have us send you the ShowingTime App. The ShowingTime mobile app makes it easy for Sellers (you) to manage and take part in the home-selling process. By keeping up to date with your home’s showing activity, Sellers can: Confirm/decline showing requests See all upcoming appointments Review their home’s showing and feedback activity Easily contact your agent Adjust your notification preferences Lorri Briggs, who’s sold five houses in four states, said using the ShowingTime mobile app helped her take the inefficiencies out of the home-selling process . “I fell in love with ShowingTime immediately,” Lorri said. “I was amazed at how user-friendly the app was. It had everything I needed to know in one handy place … past showings, future showings, how many showings last week, and how many in the last 30 days. It was so awesome. “Not only did it help me keep organized and on top of prospective Buyer traffic, but it clearly showed anything that I still needed to respond to. Every morning I would review our showing times and plan accordingly.” Lorri’s not alone. Many of our customers continuously comment on how much their homeowners enjoy having access to their listing’s information via the app: “The feedback is an excellent way to communicate with Sellers!” — Ofe Polack, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage “This makes the homeowner very happy.” — Gail Smith, Brokers Guild “As a direct result of using ShowingTime, I have been able to service my clients right away and maintain showings and feedback in one place.” — Tommy Burdett, RE/MAX Coast and Country Click here to see the video tutorial.

Selling Step 20: Best Practices for Showing Your Home

By Andi Dyer • May 16, 2025
STEP 20 Here are a few things to keep in mind before every showing: Have your home look just like it did for the photographs (i.e., clean, all dishes put away, floors free of dog hair, etc.) Put all toilet seat lids down. Open all curtains/blinds. Turn on all lights before you leave for a showing. Hide any valuables such as jewelry, prescription meds, firearms, etc., or, better yet, take them with you. Turn off alarm systems and lock all doors. The Buyer’s Broker will use the lockbox key to enter/exit and is supposed to leave all of the lights as they found them and lock the door when they leave. Showings usually last 15–30 minutes, however, in case clients come early we like to have you out 15 minutes before the showing is scheduled to start and stay out for at least 45 minutes in case the Buyer is running late, or the showing goes long (that’s a good thing and usually means they like your home!). Therefore, plan to be gone for 45 minutes to 1 hour for each showing. Take pets with you unless they are friendly and mellow around strangers, then they can be crated in the garage. Leave marketing material in your kitchen on the counter for showings. If you have any questions, please let us know! Now let’s get your home sold. Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.
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