Ready to sell your home?
Selling a home is a significant decision, and you deserve more than an agent who simply lists your property—you deserve a trusted partner who is invested in your goals.
Selling a home is a significant decision, and you deserve more than an agent who simply lists your property—you deserve a trusted partner who is invested in your goals. I create a thoughtful strategy tailored to your home, market it with care, and keep you informed throughout every step of the process. With honest guidance, strong negotiation, and close attention to detail, I work to protect your interests and help you move forward with confidence. To me, real estate is about building lasting relationships and treating every client like family.
“From mountain views to Puget Sound shores, every Washington home has a story. My job is to help sellers share that story beautifully—and move confidently toward what comes next.”
When you sell a home, there are many moving parts that need to sync up, with so much to consider. But we have done this selling thing a time or two (or a few hundred times, actually) -- we know what it takes and how to get you to the finish. We have landscapers, painters, general contractors, inspectors, and movers, and stagers to assist with getting your home ready for max value. We know what the red flags on an offer are and how best to knock them down BEFORE we go under contract.
Let's talk about
selling your home
“A successful home sale begins before the sign goes in the yard—with thoughtful preparation, accurate pricing, and a plan designed to help buyers recognize the home’s true value.”
We’ll then talk honestly about anything that may help your home show and sell at its best, from simple repairs and decluttering to staging and larger improvements—always weighing the likely benefit against the cost. We can also discuss whether a pre-listing inspection would be worthwhile, since identifying concerns early may give you more time and control to obtain estimates or address repairs before a buyer’s inspection. To prepare, simply gather any available mortgage information, receipts or records for major improvements, warranties, permits, and a list of updates you’ve made. My goal is for you to leave our first meeting feeling heard, informed, and confident that we have a clear plan built around your priorities.
Our first meeting is centered around you. I’ll take time to understand your reasons for selling, your ideal timeline, and what you hope to accomplish financially and personally. Together, we’ll walk through your home, discuss its updates and special features, and take preliminary photos and notes so I can begin developing a thoughtful pricing and marketing strategy. We’ll also review your estimated mortgage payoff, current interest rate, likely selling expenses, and potential net proceeds so you have a clearer picture of what the sale could mean for your next move.
Our first meeting
How we set you up for selling your home
The first week your home is on the market is often the busiest, so it helps to be prepared for a steady flow of showings. Buyers may request appointments with limited notice, and your agent will coordinate a showing schedule that works as smoothly as possible while giving you time to plan around work, school, pets, and daily routines. Before each showing, aim for a quick reset: clear counters, put away personal items, open curtains, turn on lights, take out trash, and make sure the home smells fresh. Keeping the house show-ready throughout the day makes last-minute appointments less stressful. Before listing, pack away excess belongings, organize closets and cabinets, complete small repairs, and create a simple routine for beds, dishes, laundry, and pet care so the home remains clean and welcoming.
Listing Week
An open house is commonly scheduled during the first or second week on the market, when buyer interest is often strongest. It may also be planned after a price reduction to reintroduce the property and attract buyers who may have overlooked it previously. Your agent will help select a date and time based on local activity, buyer availability, and the showing schedule. Before the event, plan to leave the home for several hours, secure valuables and medications, arrange for pets to be elsewhere, and complete a thorough cleaning and decluttering. An open house gives multiple buyers an opportunity to tour the property at once and can create additional interest, feedback, and momentum for the sale.”
Open Houses
Offer Review Day
Setting an offer-review date gives your home several days of market exposure before offers are considered. This allows more buyers to schedule showings, ask questions, and prepare their strongest terms. When interest is high, reviewing offers together can create competition and makes it easier to compare price, financing, contingencies, closing timelines, and other important details—not simply choose the highest number.
An offer-review date does not guarantee multiple offers and may not be the best strategy in every market. Some buyers may be reluctant to wait or compete, while others may submit an early offer with a short response deadline. If the review date passes without a strong offer, buyers could mistakenly assume the home has been overlooked. We’ll consider current market activity, comparable sales, your timeline, and the early response to your listing before deciding whether an offer-review date supports your goals.
Closing Period
Once your home is under contract, we enter the closing period and begin working through the deadlines outlined in the purchase agreement. The buyer will typically schedule the inspection, and their lender will order the appraisal; we’ll coordinate access to the home and keep you informed throughout both. If repairs or credits are negotiated following the inspection, we’ll track those agreements carefully and make sure any required work and documentation are completed on time.
Title and escrow will also begin preparing the transaction for closing. They may contact you for mortgage payoff information, identification, marital-status details, homeowners-association documents, or other paperwork needed to clear title and prepare the final settlement statement. You’ll have an opportunity to review your estimated proceeds and closing costs before signing. Because real estate transactions can be targets for wire fraud, always verify payment or wiring instructions by calling a trusted, independently confirmed phone number before sending financial information or funds.
This is also the time to finalize your move, pack your belongings, gather keys and remotes, and leave the home in the condition required by the contract. The buyer will generally complete a final walkthrough shortly before closing to confirm the property’s condition and that any agreed-upon repairs have been completed. Keep utilities active until the appropriate time, continue caring for the home, and avoid removing anything included in the sale. Once the documents are signed, funds are received, and the sale is recorded, escrow can complete the transaction and distribute your proceeds.
irst-time buyers receive plenty of attention, but selling a home for the first time comes with an entirely different set of questions. You may be wondering how to prepare and price your home, what you’ll actually receive after paying your mortgage and selling expenses, which disclosures are required, and what happens when an offer arrives. You’ll also encounter inspections, appraisals, title work, escrow deadlines, repair negotiations, and the practical challenge of coordinating your move—possibly while purchasing another home at the same time.
You don’t need to understand every step before you begin. I’ll explain the process and terminology in plain language, help you evaluate decisions without pressure, and keep you prepared for each approaching deadline. Together, we’ll build a plan around your home, finances, timing, and next destination so you always know what is happening, what is expected of you, and what comes next. Selling your first home is a major milestone, and you deserve the same patience, education, and attentive guidance given to someone buying one for the first time.
First time Seller
Sian is amazing. Very knowledgeable about the Puget sound areas and the cost in each county. Because of her, we were able to make an informed decision about which home to buy. 2 years later and I still can't believe this is our home. I'm absolutely grateful for Sian's services and kindness
D & D
Sian is not only the best real estate agent I have ever worked with but an amazingly kind wonderful person as well. Sian helped me buy my house and she made the process so incredibly easy! Buying a house can be stressful but Sian puts in so much effort to make sure it’s not just a house…it’s a home
Laurel H
Sian was very helpful in finding our forever home. She was patient and kind. She guided us through every process making sure we understood everything knowing it was our first time. She answered any questions we had regardless of time. We are beyond grateful to have had her as our Realtor. She was very communicative and honest. Not only were we buying a new home in a new state but she also took us to new places which we have never seen like the farmers market which we loved.
Cristel H.
As a first-time homebuyer, I was incredibly nervous about the process, but Sian was the perfect guide. She showed immense patience, never rushing me and taking the time to explain every document and contract detail clearly. Her professionalism and trustworthiness gave me complete peace of mind. She truly listened to what I wanted and found us the perfect home in my dream neighborhood. If you want an agent who genuinely cares about your future, hire Sian Sheaffer
Katherine B.
Thank you for your patience in helping us find the right home in Federal Way, WA for when we visit our family there from Michigan! We really appreciated it since it was so difficult trying to get the proper documents from Michigan to Washington.
Judi A.
