Some people start planning the sale of their home years in advance. Others call me on a Tuesday and want to know if they can be on the market by Friday or sooner. Anything within that continuum is possible — and I have done both.
That said, a typical timeline looks something like this. Think of it as a roadmap, not a rulebook.
We sit down together — no rush, no pressure — for a relaxed and detailed conversation about how the whole process works. Then we walk the property together, inside and out, and talk honestly about what improvements or repairs, if any, might make sense.
Along the way we will cover:
Meanwhile I will be taking detailed notes on your property so I can research how it compares to recently sold homes in your neighborhood.
We meet to go over my market research and land on an approximate listing price — which we can fine tune closer to launch, if needed.
I will accompany every inspector, walk through their findings with you and help you decide what to address and what to leave alone. If additional specialists are needed — an engineer, a roofer — we get those scheduled, too.
We will also:
This is where everything comes together:
No off-the-shelf templates. Every photograph studied carefully, every marketing piece built around the personality of your specific property.
This is the moment. Open houses, broker tours, private showings and the full launch of your marketing campaign — all at once, with intention and energy.
In general, my listings receive offers within the first two weeks on market. That is not luck. That is preparation.
Time to move. The house needs to be free of all personal belongings and broom clean — and then we are ready.
You are done.
Start to finish, the process from preparing for market to receiving your check generally runs about three months. But this timeline is infinitely adaptable — and it will be tailored entirely to your situation, your pace and your life.
“. . . I lost count of how many times I called Mary for advice—or simply because I needed someone to talk to—throughout the process of selling our home. The truth is, we were going through a very difficult chapter in our lives, and somehow she made what could have been an overwhelming experience feel manageable.
She always answered her phone, always made time for us, and never made us feel like we were asking too many questions—even when we needed to hear the same explanation more than once. She was patient, transparent, reassuring, and professional from beginning to end.
On top of all that, she's simply exceptional at what she does. Her judgment, experience, and genuine care for her clients were evident in everything she did. That kind of dedication doesn't happen by accident—it comes from years of experience and a sincere commitment to the people she represents. Thank you, Mary. . . ”
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