With Fairfield and Westport Connecticut real estate markets favoring sellers since 2020, it’s easy to assume that every home magically flies off the shelf. The reality is that the homeowners who seek a savvy agent, align with the strategy they propose, and take advantage of the resources they provide are the ones who enjoy success!

Every successful sale is the result of more than marketing alone. It begins with a shared commitment between homeowner and agent, followed by strategic planning, careful preparation, and ongoing collaboration throughout the process.

Aligned Vision

We met to confirm the end-goal and priorities before a plan was established. The goal was to sell quickly for the highest price, but remain in the property for an extra month or so to finish a work commitment.

Proposed Plan

In my role of sharing information to help my client make informed decisions, I told her that optimal presentation and attractive pricing were both key success factors before creative and comprehensive marketing could begin. We toured the property together, and I compiled a list of key selling points, potential objections, and recommendations for how to get top dollar. We drafted a schedule together and got to work.

I connected my seller with an excellent local attorney upfront, because the antique home had numerous property easement changes on the deed over the years, so we could be proactive in sorting that out.

Conservative pricing

We reviewed the market data on both town-wide and neighborhood levels, and then looked at the closest comparable sales and potential competition for her property. We agreed to price conservatively to attract buyers and elicit enthusiasm versus critique when they came through. This also created competition for the home.

I invited a handful of agents from my office for a preview and endorsement of our price since there was very little immediate market data available to pinpoint a number.

Intentional home prep

Since curb appeal makes the first impression, we began there. A tree in front of the house was cute when she bought it three years earlier, but it since grew to hide the charming front porch and adorable covered terrace beneath, two key assets of the home. So it was important to the mission to remove it. The brick terrace had also been covered by a layer of green growth since it was last purchased.

So I connected her with my best landscaper to complete full landscape refresh including tree removal, weeding, trimming, power-washing, and mulching.

The interior was well-maintained and had been updated by the prior owner, but it was packed full of large-scale furnishings from a prior residence that was more than three times the size. Most of the furnishings were cherished finds from chic furniture stores or specialty antique shops. So we focused on what had the biggest impact. We relocated some chairs to open the space and showcase the fireplace. We moved smaller pieces from window sills into storage to capitalize on the beautiful views of the gardens. And we identified other pieces that could be stored in the garage or sold.

That’s when I shared my estate sale contacts who helped to sell several armoires and an extra bed.

We used staging as a key marketing strategy to showcase the home’s assets and best use of space, streamline the focal points, and make a powerful emotional impression for buyers starting with the first glance at the curb.

Strategic timing & comprehensive marketing

It was going to take a few weeks to get the home ready amidst my client’s work and family obligations, but once the paperwork was complete, I began a marketing campaign to promote the Southport Village neighborhood where the house was located. This included a series of blog posts about the history and amenities of Southport Village that were shared across multiple social media channels.

Because the location was as much of an asset as the house itself, we filmed clips all over town, which also drew attention and conversation about the upcoming sale among passers by.

Once the house preparation was complete, I brought in my professional photography, video, drone, and floor plan crew.

The rollout capitalized on in-office announcement just before the listing approached the market, use of the Coming Soon status in the Multiple Listing Service, and a yard sign with my agent rider to build momentum and fill the upcoming showing schedule. This was followed by activating the listing for showings along with a full promotion on all websites and social channels to announce the new listing, broker tour, and the weekend of open houses.

I shared the new listing launch to my vast network via text thread, networking groups, social media groups, and email contacts.

The beautiful images and video were shared across dozens of websites and social media channels, email, and printed brochures, so that news could reach everyone wherever they were, whenever they looked, 24/7.

Potential roadblock

My client had replaced the cedar roof on the detached garage with a licensed contractor but without obtaining a permit. The buyer insisted on the seller obtaining permit. The added layer was that the house was in the Southport Historic District and a flood zone, so those added departments needed to sign off in addition to the building and zoning departments.

I connected my client with the Fairfield zoning department and historic commission to begin the permitting process. Ultimately, I also had to press them to come out for the final inspection in time for the closing!

Resources provided

Landscapers, staging insights, estate planners, photographers, videographers, drone specialists, the right attorney, town officials, office colleagues, and my vast network were key resources I provided to my client as we worked together to implement the plan.

This network, along with the countless technology platforms, digital subscriptions, and APPs I employ, helped to pull it all together.

The result

Several showings were pre-scheduled for the first few days of the active listing. The broker tour and two open houses had a non-stop flow of interested agents and potential buyers. We received an offer well-above the list price right away. We knew we could not keep that buyer waiting but wanted to honor the previously scheduled showings and open houses. So we made an offer deadline of noon on Monday, and by then, we had three offers to review. We reviewed the benefits and risks of each offer, accepted one, and sold the house for 17% above the asking price with a rent-back to my client at an agreed-upon rate, for a month and a half.

• Address: 494 Pequot Court, Southport
• List Price: $1,495,000
• Sale Price: $1,750,000
• Percent Above List: 17%
• Days on Market: 13