Keep more of
what you’ve earned.

Not necessarily — it depends on your home’s condition, your price point, and the buyer pool you’re targeting. In some cases, pre-listing repairs generate more in sale price than they cost. In others, pricing to reflect the condition and selling as-is makes more financial sense. I give you a straight assessment of what to fix, what to skip, and what the math actually looks like — before you spend a dollar.

Washington State has an excise tax on real estate sales — currently 1.1% on the first $500,000 and 1.28% above that. You’ll also pay title insurance, escrow fees (typically $800–$1,500 depending on the company), recording fees, and any agreed-upon buyer concessions or credits. Total seller closing costs in Wenatchee, excluding listing commission, typically run 2–3% of the sale price.

Selling with a mortgage is completely standard — the vast majority of home sales involve paying off an existing mortgage at closing. Your mortgage is paid from the sale proceeds before you receive your net. Your lender will provide a payoff statement showing the exact amount needed to satisfy the loan as of the anticipated closing date.

A comparative market analysis (CMA) is a detailed analysis of recent sales of comparable homes in your area — used to determine a realistic listing price. It’s significantly more accurate in a local market like Wenatchee where neighborhood differences, lot characteristics, and condition vary dramatically from property to property. I provide CMAs for free — no obligation, no pressure.

Rural and acreage properties require a different approach than standard residential listings — and a specialist who knows what buyers in this category care about. Water rights, well production reports, septic inspection records, irrigation access, zoning, and road easements all need to be documented and presented correctly.

As of early 2026, Wenatchee is still technically a seller’s market — inventory remains constrained and demand from Seattle migration continues. However, it’s a softer seller’s market than 2021–2022. Days on market have increased, price reductions are more common, and buyers have more negotiating leverage than they did at the peak.

If a listing expires without selling, it’s almost always a pricing or presentation issue — rarely a demand issue in Wenatchee’s market. The most common cause is overpricing at launch, which leads to a listing that sits, accumulates days on market, and gets passed over by buyers who assume something is wrong with it.

No — and in fact, sellers being present during showings typically hurts more than it helps. Buyers feel watched, uncomfortable, and reluctant to speak honestly with their agent. I use a Bluetooth lockbox (included in every package) for secure, tracked access. You’ll receive showing notifications and feedback after each showing through my system.

Buyer broker compensation is what the seller offers (or doesn’t offer) to pay the buyer’s agent. Following the 2024 NAR settlement, this is now fully negotiable and must be agreed upon separately — it is not automatically included in the listing commission. You are not legally required to offer buyer broker compensation in Washington State.

Simultaneous buy-sell transactions are common and manageable with the right coordination. Options include a contingent offer (less competitive), a bridge loan to fund the purchase before your sale closes, or negotiating a rent-back agreement so you stay in your current home after closing while you finalize your purchase.

Washington State has a real estate excise tax (REET) paid by the seller — 1.1% on the first $500,000 of the sale price and 1.28% above that. If you’ve lived in the home as your primary residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years, you may exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains from federal income tax ($500,000 if married filing jointly). Washington State has no state income tax.

Washington State requires sellers to complete a Seller Disclosure Statement (Form 17) disclosing known material defects and conditions. Failure to disclose known defects can result in legal liability after closing. The general principle: if you know about it, disclose it.

Selling a tenant-occupied property adds complexity but is absolutely manageable. Washington State tenant laws govern notice requirements, showing access, and lease termination. Showings require proper notice (typically 24 hours in WA). Options include waiting out the lease, negotiating a buyout, or selling to an investor willing to assume the tenancy.

A pre-listing inspection is a home inspection you order before putting your home on the market — at your own expense, typically $400–$600. The benefit: you know what buyers will find before they find it. I recommend pre-listing inspections for most sellers, particularly older homes or properties that haven’t been updated recently.

Pricing is the single biggest lever in how quickly and profitably your home sells. The first two weeks on market generate the most buyer attention. An overpriced home gets showings but no offers. A home priced 5% too high often sells for less than if it had been priced correctly from day one — because the price reduction signals desperation.