WHY sELLERS CHOOSE US

Work ethic, market knowledge, trusted relationships, and then some.

As third-generation residents, we’ve seen every market cycle in Piedmont and the Oakland Hills, and we’ve worked with most real estate agents in the area.

Our commitment to clients sets us apart. Securing a great return on your investment is what we’re after, and we’re not afraid to move heaven and earth to achieve it.

What to expect when you work with Heafey Baum GrouP

As advisors and guides for sellers, we have a lot to review with our clients. Just as with buyers, we work hard to make sure that all aspects of the transaction are clear. We want our clients to feel confident in their understanding of what’s needed to earn top dollar on their investment on terms that meet their needs.

Our Process

As fully-licensed, full-time real estate agents and long-time Piedmont residents, we abide by a strict code of ethics and take our fiduciary responsibilities quite seriously. Integrity, respect, and discretion are a given.

Understanding market conditions depends in part on knowing the comps – the pricing of comparable homes and how they fared. We’ll review that analysis, and set our sights on a target return.

We’ll discuss the best way to prepare and stage your home, and provide a list of subcontractors to review.

Next, we’ll oversee all the renovation or upgrades, prepping a strategic marketing plan while repairs are completed and curb appeal soars.

When the going gets tough, we really get going. One holiday season we hired local teens to earn their “pizza money” by helping to haul trash to the dump when Waste Management was too busy. We were on deadline and determined to have the property ready on time!

Then comes strong negotiations, and a buttoned-up escrow close.

Beyond escrow, we’re available to help with your move and provide resources and recommendations long after you have moved in.

All along the way we’ll be communicating regularly. Rest easy, we’ve got your back.

Answers to common Seller questions

We hope our answers give you a taste of how directly and honestly we communicate in our collaborations.

And if you have other questions, just reach out. We’d be happy to assist.

Simply put, a seller’s agent can help you make more money selling your home than you could earn on your own.
Visibility, expert staging, vendor relationships, and seasoned advice on everything from repairs to signage can make a huge difference in your return.
You want your house listed in the MLS to get full exposure. You want someone that knows the other agents (and how they work). You want someone to negotiate smartly for you at every stage. Perhaps most importantly, you want someone to give you great advice on everything from timing to staging to pricing and beyond.
Too many, honestly!
We want your home to look its best, so floors, paint, fixtures, small remodeling projects, and a little garden cleanup is typical for most homes. One of us takes the lead on each property, but we are always working together on our clients’ behalf. When you list your home with us, you can be confident it will reach its highest potential.
20-30.
Our broker tours are among the best-attended in the entire East Bay.
On average, we’d say 30+ serious buyers show up.
We have active buyers who are always browsing the open homes list (as well as curious neighbors!). Sometimes these individuals are trying to get data points so they can make great decisions when they ultimately buy a home, but on average you can expect to see 20 serious buyers tour an open house.
3+
At least three offers is the norm, but we wouldn’t say 10-15 offers is uncommon. Anything above three offers is gravy; the more hats in the ring, the more competitive the bidding.
3% down shows that a buyer is serious.
If you’re offered less than that, it’s probably not a very serious offer. Enough said.
Hmmmm. It’s fair to say we regularly net 10-30% over asking.
It’s obviously impossible to know exactly how each sale will go. But pricing your home appropriately is key. Overpricing based on unrealistic expectations limits the number of buyers who will make an offer, and ultimately nets you less.
6 - 10 weeks
Most homes have about 3 weeks of prep, two weeks of active marketing, and require around 7- 30 days to close, with conventional financing.
That said, we’re seeing roughly 30% of all sales for cash in this market, and if your home is one of those, you’re looking at about three weeks.
Spring!*
The Spring market is by far the busiest time for real estate sales, as most families make school decisions then for the following school year.
*People tend to change focus during the holidays and tax season, but our market remains active throughout the year. There’s really not a bad time to sell.
30-60 days
We think it’s great to open the conversation a couple of months ahead of time. Prepping a home for sale typically takes a month, and many of our trusted vendors are quite busy. Plus, most people don’t realize how many things they’ve accumulated over the years, so the decluttering (read: purging) might take more time than initially estimated!
Inventory remains light so it’s a relatively good time to be a seller.