There’s a lot to consider when it comes time to sell your home in Noe Valley, San Francisco—or anywhere for that matter—especially in today’s constantly shifting real estate market. Should you sell your home in San Francisco or not? If so, when? And which top SF real estate agent should you hire to represent your property and advocate on your behalf?
These are deeply personal questions that take time to answer. If you are not on a set timeline to sell (for reasons of work, family, etc.), you might be tempted to observe the market and wait till the time is right. You might then discover that the “right time” is a moving target. Eventually, you may even feel like you missed the boat to sell entirely! That’s how our clients felt in the real estate case study below. (Spoiler: With our help, they were NOT too late.)
There is always another economic headline or San Francisco real estate newsletter from your favorite agent to factor into your home sale. However, as top SF Realtors for over 20 years, there are a few more important things we’d like you to know.
First off, the “right” time to buy or sell property is when it’s right for you. Your financial and lifestyle goals are priority one, period. We’re here to help you understand your options and make smart investment decisions within that context.
Another key to our market is the way top San Francisco real estate agents sell their listings. In the high-stakes, high-valued world of SF Bay Area real estate, price and presentation are everything. This does not really change whether the market is trending up or down. With so much on the line in a home sale, both personally and financially, would you not do everything you can to maximize your chance of the best possible outcome?
In this edition of our San Francisco Real Estate Case Studies, we will share the story of our recent home sale, and how we helped the sellers navigate the San Francisco real estate market, the decision-making process, as well as the key strategic pricing and preparation, to sell their home quickly for the best possible price. Maybe it will resonate with your own situation or someone you know! If you have a question, please feel free to contact us.
Let’s set the stage for how we helped our clients to successfully sell their single-family home in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco.
Our clients had opened up a new business outside of the city, and they wanted to live closer to it. We began talking about their plans about 18 months earlier, but at that point they were not quite ready to pull the trigger.
When they were eventually ready to make the move, unfortunately, the market dynamics had shifted. Between the interest rate hikes of 2022, the recession, Ukraine war jitters and tech stock declines, it was no longer a slam-dunk to get the price they wanted that would make all the numbers work.
In our analysis, the property presented both opportunities and challenges. The Noe Valley home to sell included 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a garage and newly remodeled finishes. It was located in a desirable area of Noe Valley, close to parks and 24th St, but it faced other challenges such as a small footprint and a large apartment building next door. Additionally, while the property had outdoor space, it was rocky and vertical with no yard.
To overcome these obstacles, we developed a plan to accentuate the positives and de-emphasize the negatives. This included updating the interior with fresh paint, refinishing the hardwood floors, and landscaping improvements. We also staged the home with a clean, contemporary yet warm design to appeal to the young tech professionals who are typical homebuyers in the Bay Area.
Despite the shifting market conditions, the sellers were aware of the importance of proper staging in the San Francisco real estate market and were willing to invest in the updates.
Another crucial factor in the sale was the listing price. In the competitive San Francisco market, a quick sale is often determined by the list price. We advised the sellers to price their home on the low end of the range to attract interest and create a sense of excitement and urgency among potential buyers.
The sellers were wise to our advice, having gone through a previous home sale during the last market downturn. They had a bad experience that time, following advice to price their home at the upper end of the range even though the market was going down. Ultimately, the sale took way too long and sold for much less than they expected.
Learning from their previous experience, they were fully on board with our strategy to emphasize their home’s strong points, make it beautiful and move-in ready with updates and staging, and attracting lots of interest with a desirable listing price.
This is extra true when there are conflicting messages in the real estate market. Right now, many listings are getting stale, sitting on the market, while many others are selling with multiple offers way over the asking price within the first two weeks.
Our approach proved successful, with the property attracting interest and ultimately selling quickly at a great price.
We are happy to talk your ear off about the results, but our clients often say it best! Here’s a snippet of the seller’s 5-star review of working with Vivre Real Estate:
“To get that sort of outcome in such a difficult market was truly remarkable and we couldn’t be happier. Prep, pricing, marketing…all the way through to close was handled with expertise and professionalism.”
This case study highlights the importance of expert advice and a tailored approach in navigating the complex San Francisco real estate market. Whether you are facing unique challenges or simply looking to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, our boutique team of specialists is ready to help you reach your real estate goals.
When the time comes for you to sell your current home and/or buy your next home, or if you know someone who could use trusted real estate advice, please reach out to our team. Contact Danielle Lazier Vivre Real Estate Agents.
Meanwhile, stay in touch and up-to-date on all things SF Bay Area real estate, culture, events and more by signing up for the Vivre Real Estate newsletter! We value your trust and privacy, so we never share your information with third parties—no spam or games. To get our latest SF real estate updates in your inbox, sign up below!
