Before You Sell, Get Clear on What You Actually Want

By Brandie Jones

With nearly 20 years of experience and hundreds of homes sold since 2006, Brandie Jones is known for putting people first.

When you decide to sell your home, it’s rarely a snap decision. Several motivations usually drive it, and for couples, those reasons can be different or even conflicting. Before you settle on a price or a timeline, the most useful thing you can do is sit down and get specific about why you’re selling and what you really want out of it. That upfront thinking makes every later decision feel easier.

Start by writing down your why. List everything that matters to you in the sale, and don’t filter it. Then, next to each item, ask yourself why. You might write “sell for $650,000,” but the real question is what’s behind that number. Is it because a neighbor sold for that much? Because it’s what you need to pay off the mortgage and put money down on your next home? Because it’s funding your retirement? The number means very little until you understand the reason underneath it, and that reason is what should guide your choices.

What you net beats the sale price. Here’s something a lot of sellers miss. How much you walk away with matters more than the number on the sign, because your net proceeds are what actually fund your next move. Your home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay in a given market, so anchoring to a headline price instead of your take-home number can lead you to the wrong decisions. Knowing what your home is really worth in today’s market is a better starting point than a figure you have in your head.

Name what you don’t want. Your goals aren’t only about what you’re chasing. Think about what you’re not willing to do. Maybe you don’t want showings at certain times, or you’d rather not fix something you know needs fixing. Write those down as well, and ask why. Just keep in mind that every restriction you place on the sale narrows the pool of buyers and offers you’ll attract, so talk with me about the real impact before you lock any of them in.

Let facts balance the emotion. Selling a home is emotional, and that’s normal. You might want to keep a room exactly as it is for sentimental reasons, but if it’s turning buyers off, it’s worth reconsidering. The same goes for price, which should track market conditions rather than your attachment to the place. Part of my job is helping you weigh which repairs or upgrades are actually worth doing, because sometimes a small investment noticeably raises your value and speeds up the sale.

Keep your list close during negotiations. Once you’ve written all of this out, keep your prioritized list handy through the entire process, especially when offers start coming in. It helps you make informed decisions and stay focused on what matters most to you instead of reacting in the moment. That focus makes the process smoother for both of us and makes it far more likely you’ll hit the goals you set at the start.

If you’re thinking about selling and want help getting your priorities straight before you list, I’d love to sit down and build a plan with you. You can reach me at 310-930-5495, email me at bjones@kingdomrealtyteam.com, or visit blog.kingdomrealtyteam.com. I look forward to helping you sell with a clear plan in hand.