What does it really take to sell your home quickly, with the least hassle and the most money at closing? After more than 20 years and over 400 homes sold, I’ve found that most of what sellers are told about getting top dollar is wrong.
The first big mistake is going overboard on pre-sale renovations. According to Remodeling magazine’s cost-versus-value data, most projects in the San Francisco metro area don’t earn back what they cost. You already have a working kitchen, bathroom, and roof, so replacing them means tearing out value before you can add it back.
The second mistake is the wrong kind of marketing. The real purpose of marketing is simply to get buyers in your door, because that’s where they fall in love with a home. Buyers often use photos and early disclosure packages to rule homes out, so oversharing before they visit can cost you showings.
The biggest mistake is pricing. Sold comps look backward, and most of us naturally overvalue what we own, an idea known as the endowment effect. Compass data shows homes in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties that needed even one price reduction sold for about 10% less per square foot. In San Jose, overpriced homes sold for nearly $150 less per square foot than underpriced ones, about $300,000 on a 2,000-square-foot house.
That’s why pricing strategy matters more than the price itself. Pricing where demand is strongest can bring multiple offers, and competition can bring better terms, like an as-is sale, no contingencies, or a free rent-back.
Then focus on the low-hanging fruit: declutter, clean, freshen the paint, let in natural light, and do pre-sale inspections. Show off bonus spaces like the garage, and make your home easy for buyers to see.
Every home and every situation is different, so the right plan should fit yours.
Does your place need a little work?
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From the Bay Area Wayback Machine
The First Message Is Sent Over the ARPANET (October 29, 1969)
At 10:30 p.m., UCLA student programmer Charley Kline sat down to send the first host-to-host message on the ARPANET to the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park. He meant to type “login,” but the SRI computer crashed after only the first two letters arrived, so the very first message was simply “lo.” About an hour later, SRI programmer Bill Duvall adjusted the system, and the full login went through. That humble two-letter message marked the beginning of the network that would grow into today’s internet, with Silicon Valley right at the start of the story.
This Week in Silicon Valley
Caltrain Warns of Deep Cuts Without Regional Transit Measure
Caltrain is facing a $75 million operating deficit, and agency leaders say a regional sales tax measure on the November ballot could decide its future. Without it, Caltrain warns it may have to run fewer trains, end weekend service, close more than a third of its stations, and run its last trains at 9 p.m. instead of midnight.
The Regional Transit Measure would add a half-cent sales tax in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties and a 1% sales tax in San Francisco, raising up to about $1 billion a year for Caltrain, VTA, BART, SamTrans, and other agencies. Before the pandemic, fares covered 70% of Caltrain’s revenue, but today they cover just 33% as more people work remotely.
There is good news, too. Since electrification, Caltrain has become one of the fastest-growing transit agencies in the country, with systemwide ridership up 124% between August 2024 and August 2026. Palo Alto‘s University Avenue station is now the system’s second-busiest, and Palo Alto leaders have endorsed the measure.
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What Are Homes Actually Selling For Right Now?
Median price, days on market, and how many homes are selling over asking, pulled straight from current MLS data for your neighborhood.
See the Live Sales Data →Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA
Date: Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga
Get ready to dance down memory lane as some of Sweden’s most talented musicians and singers bring ABBA’s greatest hits to life in the beautiful hills of Saratoga. From “Dancing Queen” to “Mamma Mia,” it’s the closest thing to seeing ABBA live, complete with dazzling costumes and plenty of sing-along moments.
An Evening for the Soul: Jazz Vespers with Shedrick Mitchell
Date: Friday, October 30
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Saint Simon Parish, 1860 Grant Road, Los Altos
Unwind with a peaceful, uplifting evening of jazz and sacred music as vocalist Meredith Dean Augustin joins GRAMMY-winning pianist Shedrick Mitchell. Blending jazz, gospel, and spiritual traditions, this first-ever Jazz Vespers at St. Simon is a heartfelt gathering that welcomes the whole community.
Halloween by 365 Night Market
Date: Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
Time: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Grand Century Mall, 1001 Story Road, San Jose
Celebrate Halloween weekend at San Jose’s lively night market, where the air is filled with the aroma of delicious street food and the sounds of music and dance. Wander among dozens of local vendors, discover unique finds, and soak up the festive energy with family and friends.
Jorge Medina: Legendario Tour
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: San Jose Civic, 135 West San Carlos Street, San Jose
Spend Halloween night singing along with one of regional Mexican music’s most beloved voices. Jorge Medina brings his Legendario Tour to the San Jose Civic for an unforgettable night filled with heartfelt ballads, classic hits, and plenty of reasons to celebrate.
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Senior Friendly Homes in Silicon Valley South
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