We’re an independent, family-owned, hometown team of 18 awesome Realtors with one goal in mind: selling your home.
Valerie Powell Brown

Powell Realtors

Resources for Selling Your Home

Selling your home is serious business! We have 46 years of experience selling real estate on Delmarva. We approach selling a home like a partnership. We’re in this together, working toward a common goal.

Read on for resources that will help you sell your home. Ready to get your home listed now?     Let’s Chat

How to Price Your Home

One of the most important aspects of your marketing plan is the pricing strategy. We recommend setting a list price based on comparable sales, current market conditions, and the unique attributes of your home. We’ll meet with you in person to review our pricing recommendations and reach an agreement on the list price.

Sounds simple, right? While we certainly try to make pricing your home as easy as possible, it can be a difficult decision. This article about how to price your home offers a lot of helpful advice.

Marketing Strategy for Selling Your Home

We take a modern and integrated approach to marketing our listings. Your Realtor will work with you to develop a marketing plan specific to your home that includes the following:

MLS Listing

Your home will be included in MLS listings, meaning it will appear on all popular home search sites like Zillow, Trulia, etc. It will also appear to other realtors who are working with buyers in the area.

Listing on Our Website

Our website incorporates search engine optimization (SEO) to help buyers find your listing. Your home will be listed on our site, which is visited by buyers from throughout Delmarva and beyond. We’ve developed extensive content for home buyers, which helps draw buyers to our site to see our latest listings.

Social Media

We can feature your home on our popular Facebook page. We feature new listings, price reductions, and homes scheduled for an open house. We encourage you to share the post(s) from our page. Ask your friends and family to share as well. This dramatically increases the number of people who see your listing.

Email Marketing

Your listing will be sent out to our email subscribers, which includes hundreds of active buyers.

Open House

We host a lot of open houses for our clients. We’ll take care of all the marketing and will be on site to welcome buyers and show them around. You just have to get the house ready for the big day. This article about how to host an awesome open house provides some good tips.

Print Advertising

We publish new listings in many local print publications. These include the Dorchester Banner, Star Democrat, Attraction Magazine, Tidewater Times, and Delmarva Farmer, among others.

Professional Photography

If possible, we’ll arrange to have a professional photographer take shots of your house. Quality photos make a HUGE difference in your listing. Bright, clutter-free photos will pull buyers through your front door!

Articles & Advice for Selling a Home

5 Reasons Why You Should Sell Your Home This Winter

5 Reasons Why You Should Sell Your Home This Winter

You’ve done the repairs and slapped a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Now you’re twiddling your thumbs, waiting for spring. After all, you’ve heard time and time again that spring is the best time of year to sell your home… All those picturesque real estate photos...

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10 Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

10 Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Curb appeal (or lack thereof!) is the first impression your home makes. There’s no denying the power of curb appeal for a home. Whether you’re planning to sell your home soon or just want it to look...

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FAQs about Selling Your Home

What is the selling process like? What steps should I take to sell my home?
The first step in selling your home is to find the right Realtor to represent you. Your Realtor will walk through your home, then sit down to discuss your expectations. Your Realtor will conduct a market analysis and develop a pricing strategy and marketing plan for your home. You’ll meet together again to review and reach an agreement on how to proceed. Then your home will be listed, and your Realtor will begin implementing your marketing plan immediately.
How do I choose the right Realtor to sell my home?
Your relationship with your Realtor is extremely important, just as with your attorney, accountant, or any other professional service. It’s important to find someone you trust. You also want someone experienced with your local market. A Realtor with a large network of contacts will be better able to trouble-shoot any issues that may arise. It’s a good idea to interview two or three Realtors before you make a final decision.
When is the best time of year to sell my home?
Many people will tell you that the spring and summer are the best time to sell your home. And these are indeed the busiest seasons. But the truth is, if your house is priced correctly, you shouldn’t have too much trouble selling your home any time of year. The summer has more buyers, but it also has more sellers, which means more competition. There are fewer listings in fall and winter, so your home will really stand out to buyers.
Should I do any upgrades or renovations before I list my home?
If you’re aware of repairs that are needed, it’s definitely a good idea to take care of those. You’re legally required to disclose any problems to potential buyers, so it’s better to fix the problems before you list. This also helps ensure that your contract doesn’t fall through due to a problematic home inspection. As for renovations, simple things like fresh paint are probably a good idea. But don’t undertake any major projects like a kitchen or bathroom renovation without talking with your Realtor. Depending on local market conditions, you may not add enough value to justify the cost.
Do I need to have an open house? How do I prepare for an open house?
You don’t have to have an open house, but it’s often a good idea. Sometimes you only get a few visitors, but they’re often the ones who are most interested. This article about how to host an awesome open house will help you get ready.
How long will it take to sell my house? What do I need to do to sell my home fast?
Market conditions and the average days on market can vary widely throughout the year. Ask your Realtor for his or her insight. A house that is priced right for current market conditions can sell in just two or three weeks. If you’re in a hurry to sell, this article about how to sell your home fast offers some good advice. Once you’ve reached an agreement with a buyer, settlement is usually scheduled to take place within 30 – 90 days. There’s no rule about this; the length of time to settlement depends on what both parties agree to.
Will buyers expect me to pay for their closing costs?
Who pays for closing costs is always a matter of negotiation. But more and more, buyers are looking to sellers to help cover at least some of their closing costs. Discuss this possibility with your Realtor as part of your pricing strategy. You want to be prepared to pay these costs if necessary. You may even consider advertising that you will pay a certain amount of the buyer’s closing costs as a marketing strategy.
What are common mistakes to avoid when selling my home?
One of the most difficult things about selling your home is remaining objective. Unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment and frustration. Market value is what it is, and buyers won’t offer more based on what you paid or how much you love your home. So you definitely want to try to avoid letting emotions cloud your judgement. Also, avoid listing your house before it’s ready to show. Clean and declutter to make a strong first impression. Make any repairs that are needed. Have a plan for how you will handle your pets during showings. Finally, don’t let buyers drive you nuts! Remember that the process is emotional for buyers too. Be patient with showings and with negotiations. Try to work together collaboratively and you’ll achieve great results.