Transforming a Home to Maximize the Sales Price

Often putting a little money into preparing a house for sale can yield big rewards when it comes to the ultimate sales price. But knowing exactly what to do (and what not to do) and finding good, reliable vendors to do it all in a timely manner is challenging for many homeowners. That’s where Colleen Foraker comes in.

Colleen not only knows the market and what buyers are looking for, but she has proven, dependable designers, contractors, painters and landscapers who can transform a home quickly and on budget. Her hard work, knowledge and attention to detail helped Bill and Sandra Davidson get more for their home than they ever dreamed.

Time to Move

Bill and Sandra Davidson bought their home at 71 Park Drive in Atherton, knowing that it needed work. But after four years of renovations, there was still more to do and their needs had changed over the years. In spring of 2014, they realized that the local real estate market was doing well, so they decided that it was time to sell and to move on.

They interviewed four real estate agents, and Colleen Foraker emerged as the clear winner. “She just seemed right,” said Sandra. “She was enthusiastic about our house—she didn’t see it as a problem house. She presented herself really well. The marketing materials she brought were very well done and she had a personality we knew we could work well with.” Little could they imagine just how important Colleen’s expertise, advice and contacts would be in making the process so easy and profitable for them.

Trusted, Expert Advice

The house, which Bill described as a “very Tahoe looking house,” was dark with lots of wood, giving it a dated feel. Colleen knew that to appeal to young, contemporary buyers in the market today, they would need to make some changes. She brought in a colorist and a designer and began advising the Davidsons about work that could be done to transform the property to appeal to buyers in the current market.

“Colleen brought in some very competent people and we listened to them and they listened to us,” said Bill. “She was open to our input and she had really good ideas.” The Davidsons moved out and completely turned the process over to Colleen and her team. “We wrote the checks and left the house at the mercy of the magicians. We absolutely trusted Colleen’s advice about what changes would be cost effective. She even talked us out of some things that we planned to do.”

Colleen brought in her own vendors and managed the entire project, with the Davidsons’ full support. “They jumped in with both feet once they could see the transformation that was happening. They even increased the scope a couple of times, realizing that they would get a big bang for their buck,” said Colleen.

Everything Matters

Throughout the process the Davidsons were delighted with Colleen’s devotion and the time she spent on the project. “She had an amazing attention to details. She even went shopping for small things like lighting fixtures and faucets. It was incredible. She was a fabulous project manager. We were dazzled,” said Sandra. “I spent a tremendous amount of time with the designer and the stager—making sure that the details were right,” said Colleen. “That’s how I like to work. It’s something you can do when you focus on a small number of listings at a time. I can handle all the details. Everything matters.

”The result was a home with a more modern, light and spacious feeling. Even Bill and Sandra were surprised with how well it turned out. “By the time it was painted and staged, it had a lot of style,” said Sandra. “It was remarkable,” said Bill. “I joked that she might need security because she might have to drag me out of there.”

Strategic Pricing and Patience

Once the home was prepared, it was time to set the price. Colleen was following the market closely all through the process. They were planning to list the house in the $1.7 million range, when another house in the neighborhood, that was extensively remodeled (including full kitchen and all bathrooms), came on the market at $1,688,000. “They went to market on Tuesday and we were planning to go on Thursday, but I suggested we wait to see what would happen on that house before proceeding. There was no advantage to competing directly. Scarcity drives prices. And I didn’t want go to market at a higher price since our home had not been remodeled,” said Colleen. “I was also hoping they would have strong interest and a high closing price that would then support a higher price for our sale.”

The strategy paid off. That house nearby sold quickly for over $2 million, with five offers. Colleen knew they were in a good position since there were at least four disappointed buyers still looking in that price range in that neighborhood. She and the Davidsons agreed on a price of $1,750,000.

Exceeded Expectations

When Colleen first asked Bill what he expected to sell the house for, he told her $1.5 million. “When we sat down and looked at the offers, I was blown away,” said Bill. The final sales price? $2,142,000. “I was shocked and surprised and happy. Colleen exceeded our expectations.”

“The most memorable things about the experience is how smoothly it went,” said Sandra. “Colleen is just so capable and poised. She put more into this sale than any other realtor would have. It was fantastic.”

“Colleen was very competent in leading us, but she was also adaptable and open to what our concerns and fears and hopes were,” said Bill. “We’re extremely happy and looking forward to having her help us with the next stage—finding another house to buy.”