When it’s time to sell your house in Bernal Heights, the right strategy makes all the difference between an ‘acceptable’ outcome and an exceptional one. This case study showcases how our team of top Bernal Heights Realtors helped longtime homeowners achieve a sale price of $1,350 per square foot - well above the neighborhood average at the time of $1,070 per square foot.
After nearly three decades of ownership, our clients faced a common transition. They had purchased their 1928-era Bernal Heights home in the 1990s and lived there for years before relocating out of state for retirement. Rather than selling immediately, they kept the property as a rental investment.
When their tenants moved out, the time felt right to sell their house in Bernal Heights and close this chapter of their lives. However, they faced several challenges that many out-of-state sellers encounter.
Distance and logistics
Managing a sale from out of state requires coordination and trust in your real estate team.
Property condition
After years as a rental, the home needed a refresh and some strategic updates to highlight its best features and maximize the potential for a great sale price.
Market positioning
Understanding how to price and market a 1928-era home with original period details in today's Bernal Heights real estate market, where some buyers are looking for contemporary and others value that SF charm.
Timeline pressure
The sellers wanted an efficient process without sacrificing maximum value.
As top real estate agents in Bernal Heights since 2002, we have more experience than most in the neighborhood. With the sellers on board, we developed a comprehensive plan for preparations, marketing, and a timeline that honored both the home's character and our clients' top priorities.
This lovely 1928 home still retained most of its original architectural features - something increasingly rare in today's market. We resonated with the sellers who saw this as a significant selling point, not a liability, that would appeal to buyers who appreciate historical character. Part of our services for SF home sellers is a detailed market analysis, which helped us understand exactly how to position this home with regards to both market trends and other active listings.
Rather than generic improvements, we focused on updates that enhanced the home's original charm. Our team coordinated contractors and staging professionals to highlight the property's best features while ensuring everything was move-in ready for potential buyers.
Learn more about our approach to staging for San Francisco home sellers.
We developed marketing materials that told the story of this special property. Our approach included professional photography that captured the period details and targeted buyers who would appreciate the home.
We networked the property to other top agents in both the local San Francisco Bay Area and wider national market, expanding our reach and getting valuable early feedback to refine our positioning. We sent "just listed" postcards and mailed neighbors about the new listing to give them a heads up and invite them to showings, along with anyone they know who might be interested in the home.
We also created a beautiful, informative custom property website where prospective buyers could get detailed information, including photos and video of the home. This gave interested parties a curated view of the property before they visited in person.
The results were fantastic and exceeded everyone's expectations:
Here’s what the seller shared in their review:
"After interviewing two other realtors, we chose Danielle Lazier to sell the Bernal Heights house I'd owned for almost 30 years. She really listened and understood our appreciation for the 1928-era house's design and the fact that it retained most of the original features, and that we hoped it would attract a buyer who similarly appreciated its period details. She created a strategy and timeline that gave us confidence in her expertise, and we were floored when she brought in an offer far above the asking price. We feel strongly that she deserves our highest recommendation as a partner in selling our home."
If you're interested in reading about more client success stories, explore our case studies to see how we've helped other San Francisco homeowners achieve their goals.
If you’re looking to buy a home in Bernal Heights, or elsewhere in SF, our buyer services page is a good place to start. You can also explore San Francisco neighborhoods to get a feel for the right fit.
If you’re thinking of selling your Bernal Heights property, or exploring other options in San Francisco real estate, we'd love to help you get great results too.
Keep in touch on the latest market trends and opportunities by signing up for our newsletter. Only interesting stuff - we never spam or share your information.
Ready to explore your next move? Let’s schedule a consultation over Zoom. At no obligation, we’ll discuss your personal situation and see if we’re a good fit. Contact us today. We’d love to help!
