These pages explain how the decisions in a Palo Alto sale work — preparation, pricing, timing, and what comes after a move. What they can’t tell you is what I would recommend for your house. That takes seeing it, and understanding what you want the sale to do.
Whatever brought you here
Each situation changes what matters most in a sale. Start with yours, and you will see how I think it through.
Understanding the cost
My standard listing commission is 2.5%, and a 2% rate applies in three qualifying circumstances. See what’s included—from preparation management and luxury staging personally designed by Maggie to marketing and representation—along with those three conditions and the additional seller expenses to plan for.
What’s included →When to sell →What preparation costs →As-is or fix it up? →
Read more on one subject
Thoughtful preparation starts with deciding what will make a meaningful difference for your home, and what to leave as it is. These answers explain how I think about that decision; for your house, I’ll tell you what I would do.
An asking price is one part of a larger selling plan. Preparation, current competition, timing, marketing, and the terms buyers offer all influence the result. These guides explain the decisions behind a listing strategy, and how I think them through before I make a recommendation.
Whether you’ve inherited a home or are helping a parent plan a move, you don’t need to have everything sorted before we talk. I’ll help you understand the home’s selling potential, decide which improvements are worth considering, and coordinate the details when you’re ready to sell.
A busy street, an older home, or questions about condition call for a more individual plan. I recommend where preparation is worth it, where the price should sit, and how to introduce the home’s strengths while giving buyers clear information.
If your home didn’t sell, the useful question is why. I look at what the previous listing did — price, presentation, timing, how the home was introduced — and tell you what I would change before trying again, and when.
You don’t need to be getting ready to sell to have a real-estate question. These answers are for decisions homeowners make while they’re still living in and enjoying the house.
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Not planning to sell? That’s fine.
Sometimes homeowners simply want a current perspective on the house they’ve lived in for years — how it fits today’s market, what I would or wouldn’t change, or what recent nearby sales may mean for it.
I’m happy to stop by and give you my perspective. No need to prepare the house, and no selling timeline required.
Thank you. I’ll reach out personally to talk about what would be helpful.
— Maggie
The people I call
The right painter, gardener or inspector depends on the house and the job. Tell me what you need below, and I’ll send the names I would call myself — people I’ve worked with on my listings, or who have come highly recommended to me. There’s no charge for the list, and you’re welcome to ask whether or not you’re planning to sell. You would hire any provider directly.
On its way. Thank you—your request is in. I’ll review what you need and follow up with the contacts. Thank you—the names are in your inbox now. If anything you asked for isn’t there yet, I’ll follow up on it myself.
Local market insights
Explore local sales, market reports, and observations to help put your decisions in context. Check each report’s date and reporting period when comparing figures or considering what they may mean for your home.
A helpful place to start.
A practical guide to prioritizing improvements before a sale: where to focus your budget, what may be worth leaving alone, and how to weigh the tradeoffs.
On its way. — Maggie
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