And most of that is decided before the listing ever goes live. What happens after a quiet opening fortnight is damage control, negotiated from a weaker position than you started with.

What to know

Four things worth knowing first.

Overpricing to “leave room” costs money

The showings you lose in week one are the ones that would have competed with each other. A price cut three weeks later arrives from a weaker position than the right initial number would have, and buyers read the history.

Consider inspecting before you list

Finding the sewer line problem yourself is dramatically cheaper than a buyer finding it under contract, when it becomes a renegotiation rather than a repair.

The disclosure is a real legal document

Colorado requires a seller’s property disclosure. It is not a formality. Disclose the thing — the cost of doing so is almost always smaller than the cost of not having.

Exteriors and photographs pay back; kitchens often do not

In Denver, exterior condition, roof and the first photograph do most of the work. Full kitchen remodels rarely return their cost at sale, however satisfying they are to live with.

Before you commit

Three questions to ask.

What are you basing this list price on, and what is the plan if week two is quiet?

What should I fix before listing, and what should I simply disclose and leave alone?

What is my total cost at closing, all in?

Who can help

We are taking applications for this.

No agent in the directory currently covers selling your home in denver. Rather than hand you someone who does not do this work, we would rather say so. Tell us what you need and we will point you to one as soon as we have coverage.

Common questions

Selling your home in Denver — the questions people actually ask.

What is the biggest mistake Denver sellers make?

Pricing high to leave negotiating room. It costs the competitive first-week showings, and the price cut that follows lands from a weaker position than an accurate opening number would have.

Should I get an inspection before I list my home?

It is worth considering. Discovering a significant issue yourself lets you price or repair on your own terms, rather than renegotiating under contract when a buyer’s inspector finds it.

Which improvements actually pay back at sale in Denver?

Exterior condition, roof and presentation for photographs tend to return their cost. Major kitchen and bathroom remodels usually do not recover fully at sale, though they may be worth doing for your own use.

Other situations

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