Selling Your Home in the Pacific Northwest? Start With These 3 Steps

By Jacqueline Smith

Jacqueline Smith is dedicated to serving the vibrant Vancouver/Portland real estate market. Since stepping into the industry in 2014, I hit the ground running selling 52 homes in my first year and now have my hand in selling over 1700 properties.

If you’re thinking about selling your home in the Pacific Northwest, there’s one thing I always recommend: Start preparing early.

As your go-to real estate expert here at Evergreen Real Estate Partners, I’ve worked with sellers at all stages, and here’s what I know from experience: The earlier you start prepping, the less stressful the process becomes. Below are three smart steps you can take right now to make your home market-ready.

Three Ways to Prepare Your Home Before Listing

1. Fix minor problems before you list. In 2020 and 2021, sellers could list properties with minimal home prep, and buyers were still willing to compete with strong offers, often well above the asking price.

Today, with higher interest rates and tighter budgets, buyers are more cautious. Many don’t have the funds to take on repairs after closing, which means they’re looking more critically at the condition of a home before making an offer.

That’s why attention to detail is more important than ever. Small issues that may have been ignored in the past can now turn buyers away. Taking care of these minor tasks early can make a significant difference:

• Patch any holes or scuff marks on the walls

• Repaint with a fresh, neutral color palette

• Tidy up the landscaping and enhance curb appeal

The goal is to create a strong first impression and reassure buyers that the home has been consistently cared for, because that sense of maintenance and pride of ownership goes a long way in today’s market.

2. Consider staging or decluttering. We recommend staging your home, depending on the situation. And I know that can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re living in a house with kids, pets, and all the things that come with daily life.

But staging doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

If a full stage isn’t practical, we can explore partial staging or simply help you declutter and get things looking sharp for photos and online marketing. Sometimes, just a few thoughtful changes can make a big difference.

When you work with us, we’ll consult with you directly and let you know whether a full stage, partial stage, or no staging at all is the right fit for your home and your circumstances.

3. Make a plan for showings. Preparing your home for showings is important, but it can be especially challenging if you have young children or pets at home.

If this is something that concerns you, there are ways to make it easier. We’ve guided many families through this process and can offer practical tips and flexible scheduling options to help you manage showings without added stress.

With a bit of planning, you can create a showing schedule that works for your household while still presenting your home at its best to prospective buyers.

Even with current market conditions, it’s still an excellent time to sell. The key is to have a clear plan from the start. You can meet with one of our agents to discuss your situation, and we’ll walk you through:

• An estimate of what your home could sell for in today’s market

• Which updates or improvements would make the biggest impact

• What to expect based on your specific goals and timeline

Taking the time to prepare now can help you move forward with confidence when you’re ready to list your home.

Want to Learn More? Join our Seller Seminar

Selling your home this summer is still a great opportunity. But it takes the right plan. I’ll be diving into all of this in more detail at our upcoming Home Seller Seminar on Wednesday, June 25, at 6:00 p.m. at our Evergreen Boulevard office in Vancouver.

Click here to save a seat: Home Sellers Class

Whether you’re selling this year, next year, or even in the future, join us. Bring your questions, and we’ll cover everything you need to know about selling in today’s market.

If you ever need support or want to chat about what we do at Evergreen Real Estate Partners, I’m just a phone call away. Reach out anytime at (360) 800-1334 or email me at jacqueline@evergreenrealestatepartners.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Thinking of selling your home but unsure if it’s the right time? Timing the market rarely works. Focus on your needs and readiness instead. To learn more, check out our post: What Is the Best Time of Year to Sell My Home?

By Evergreen Real Estate Partners – Trusted real estate experts in Clark County and Southwest Washington