Selling a home involves more than putting a sign in the yard. The right preparation, pricing, and marketing strategy can mean tens of thousands of dollars more in your pocket. This guide covers each step — and explains why having a builder-turned-realtor on your side makes a real difference.
Schedule a Home Consultation
The first step is a walkthrough of your home with Val. Unlike most agents who look at finishes and staging potential, Val evaluates your home like a builder — checking the roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, foundation, and overall structural condition.
This walkthrough identifies issues that could come up during a buyer's inspection and, more importantly, identifies low-cost improvements that can meaningfully increase your sale price. Val's 30 years of construction experience means his recommendations are based on real cost-to-value knowledge, not generic advice.
Make Strategic Improvements
Not every upgrade pays off. A $50,000 kitchen remodel might only add $30,000 in value, while a $2,000 fresh coat of paint and new hardware could add $10,000. Val knows which improvements deliver real ROI in the Greater Sacramento market — because he's done the work himself for decades.
Common high-ROI improvements include fresh interior paint in neutral tones, updated light fixtures and hardware, professional landscaping and curb appeal, minor kitchen and bathroom refreshes, and fixing any deferred maintenance items that will show up on an inspection.
Wondering what your home is worth?
Get an instant estimate online, or schedule a free in-person consultation with Val for an accurate, builder-informed valuation.
Price It Right
Pricing is the single most important decision in selling your home. Price too high and your home sits on the market, eventually requiring price reductions that signal desperation to buyers. Price too low and you leave money on the table.
Val uses a detailed comparative market analysis combined with his understanding of your home's construction quality, condition, and improvements to arrive at the right price. He factors in things automated valuations miss — like the quality of materials used in a remodel, the age and condition of major systems, and how your home compares structurally to recent sales.
Stage, Photograph, and List
First impressions matter. Val coordinates professional photography, staging recommendations, and compelling listing descriptions that highlight your home's best features — including construction quality and upgrades that most agents wouldn't think to mention.
Your home gets listed on the MLS, syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and hundreds of other sites, and promoted through targeted marketing. Val's listings stand out because they emphasize real value, not just cosmetics.
Showings and Offers
Once your home is active, Val manages showings, open houses, and buyer inquiries. When offers come in, Val analyzes each one based on price, terms, contingencies, financing strength, and closing timeline to help you choose the best overall deal — not just the highest number.
Val negotiates on your behalf with a clear understanding of what the buyer might ask for after their inspection, because he's already evaluated those same items during your initial consultation. No surprises.
Thinking about selling?
The best time to start planning is before you're ready to list. Val can walk your home and give you a clear picture of where you stand.
Inspections, Appraisal, and Escrow
After accepting an offer, the buyer will conduct inspections and their lender will order an appraisal. Because Val identified and addressed potential issues before listing, you're less likely to face repair requests or renegotiation demands that can derail a sale.
Val manages the escrow process, coordinates with the title company, and keeps everything on track toward your closing date.
Close and Celebrate
On closing day, you sign the final documents, the buyer's funds are transferred, and ownership changes hands. Val handles the details so the process is smooth and stress-free.
Congratulations — your home is sold.
The Builder's Advantage
Most agents focus on staging and marketing. Val does that too — but he starts with something they can't offer: a professional evaluation of your home's construction, systems, and true condition. That knowledge drives smarter pricing, targeted improvements, and stronger negotiations. It's the difference between hoping for the best and knowing what your home is actually worth.