How I Sold 34 Circle Ave. Mill Valley
A Modern, Tea-Garden-Cottage in Marin
Quality outpaces quantity in almost every aspect of life. But it couldn’t be more true for real estate. Assessing a home, for me, is about discovery. Where can I extract value, and where can I add value. With a house, there is ALWAYS room for improvement. It takes a perceptive eye to pick up on everything that could use a touch-up, update or replacement altogether. Even if everything seems perfect, there’s always a touch of something that could be sprinkled. That’s the outlook I have with every home, even a home as quaint as 34 Circle Ave.
…And it's why I’m able to get my clients results that outpace their expectations.
Who I would market it to:
34 Circle Ave is basically English-tea-garden-meets-Cottagecore. It’s the kind of home that isn’t trying to be anything more than what it's capable of. It’s a place sensitive to the mood and energy levels of its inhabitants.
I knew someone with a keen awareness and sensitivity to how their environment would affect their mood, would be exactly the kind of person who would show up to my open house. It had to be a person with a family, someone who wanted the quietness of the neighborhood, but easy access to downtown Mill Valley with its lively culture, movies and fine dining.
With its elegant fusion of Modern and Vintage Design—this house was bound to get offers on offers. Its location was prime, just steps away from downtown Mill Valley.
How I collaborated on selling strategy:
I worked with the seller to make full use of her furniture and home decor. Cesalee, Seana and I styled the home in a way that we believed would speak to the type of buyer most likely to show up for an open house. Sometimes it takes a bit of sprucing up with what you already have, to create a new living room, kitchen or patio. Like I said, there is ALWAYS room for improvement or enhancement with a house.
The cottage had already gone through a substantial renovation since it was built in 1920. It was swept through with the finest in designer finishes. We leaned into the intimate, tranquil vibe of the home by highlighting the flowering garden surrounding the house and incorporated some light trims to give it a posh and elegant look. We also highlighted the private, sunlit deck which made for the perfect hosting space. And of course, we had to mention its proximity to downtown Mill Valley!
How we negotiated strongly to achieve highest and best price for my clients:
While I can’t give away all my secrets, I’ll tell you this: Pricing was structured based on current comparable homes.
Comparable is a real estate term that refers to the properties that are similar to the home whose value is being sought after or assessed. I essentially looked at the properties similar to what this home offered in terms of square footage, architecture, location, surrounding amenities, businesses, etc.
Then, I encouraged as many offers as possible.
I always try to ensure my interactions hold space for prospective buyers to feel comfortable making offers that make sense for their budget and for the value of the property. After I encourage several offers, I negotiate each and every single one of them. I use multiple offers to negotiate up and bring the highest value per square foot for my client. In the end, I was able to get 18% over asking.
The listing price was $2.795M and we sold the house for $3.30M.
Closing thoughts:
I’m a person before I’m ever a Saleswomen. I know that sales are a crucial part of my job, but negotiating and getting the highest price for my client never comes at the cost of making anyone feel like they're paying a premium—they’re not. They’re always paying the value of the home, which ebbs and flows over time. My job is to be an advocate for the home and my client in ensuring that the property is in the hands of a buyer who feels truly matched to their dream home.
I’m also a big believer in the chips falling where they may. In the end, a person will land in the home they were meant to be in, and my job is to make up the difference between the true value of the home, and the offers that are brought to the table.
