Preparation, presentation, pricing: how to geta home ready to sell
SellingOctober 30, 20261 min readBy Téa Eristavi
The three decisions that shape how a home performs on the market, and how I approach each one with sellers.
When a home sells well, it is rarely luck. It is usually the result of three decisions made carefully before the listing ever goes live: how the home is prepared, how it is presented, and how it is priced.
Preparation
Preparation starts with a walkthrough. Together we decide what to fix, what to leave alone and what to stage. Not every update is worth the money. Fresh paint, good lighting and small repairs often matter more than a big renovation.
Some homes also need work behind the scenes, like resolving a permit question with the city or gathering inspection reports so buyers have what they need up front. I help sellers plan these steps and connect them with contractors and stagers I trust.
Presentation
Buyers decide quickly whether a home is worth a visit. That first impression comes from photography, video and how the home is described.
With the backing of SERHANT., my marketing goes beyond the usual listing sites. Targeted digital campaigns reach likely buyers where they already spend time, and my Instagram audience at @teyfromdabay helps new listings get seen by people who care about San Francisco neighborhoods. I also reach out directly to agents with active buyers.
Pricing
Pricing is where strategy matters most. A price that is too high can leave a home sitting while buyers wait. A price that is grounded in recent nearby sales and real buyer demand tends to draw stronger interest from the first weekend.
I study comparable sales closely and explain my recommendation in plain terms, along with a plan for how we will respond to every kind of feedback once the home is live.
Putting it together
These three decisions work together. A well-prepared home photographs better. Strong presentation brings more buyers through the door. And the right price turns that attention into offers.
Thinking about selling, now or someday? Request a home value estimate or send me a note, and I will take a thoughtful look at your home and what is selling nearby.
