Carrie's Seller Guide 11.10.2025

SELLERS

guide

Carrie Freeman Pearson REAL ESTATE GROUP

206. 35 5 . 6230 ca rri ef reema n@j ohnls cot t . com

a little about me...

With over 22 years of experience selling homes throughout King, Snohomish, and the surrounding counties, I bring a proven, hands-on approach that consistently delivers top results. My background in real estate, new construction and interior design allows me to expertly prepare and position your home so it stands out from the competition.

HELLO, I'M

Carrie

I'm so glad to meet you!

I pair elevated presentation, professional photography, drone work, 3D tours, professional staging and strategic online exposure with smart, behind-the-scenes AI tools that help your listing reach the most qualified buyers quickly and effectively. It’s modern marketing backed by seasoned expertise.

As a born-and-raised Seattleite and a long-standing top 1% Realtor in Washington and nationwide, I understand our market at a level only decades of experience can provide. I’m known for strong negotiation skills, clear communication, and a client-first mindset that makes the entire process feel informed and supported.

I’ve had the exciting opportunity of being featured on a national TV show but what matters most to me is the service you receive. When you work with me, you get a dedicated professional committed to protecting your equity, maximizing your home’s value and guiding you confidently from start to finish.

contact info

I look forward to helping you make your next move with certainty and success. – Carrie

carriefreeman.johnlscott.com carriefreeman@johnlscott.com @carriefreemanrealestate @carriefreemanrealestate @carrieleighfreeman @carriefreeman

Our expert team - we're here every step of the way Jeff Pearson

BUYER'S AGENT/MANAGINGBROKER

Jeff brings over 25 years of Real Estate experience as a Managing Broker, offering buyers unmatched insight and expert negotiation skills.

He’s a top-tier buyers’ agent known for guiding clients confidently and strategically to the right home at the right price.

Joann Piispanen TRANSACTION COORDINATOR/ ADMIN ASSISTANT

Joann is one of the best Transaction Coordinators and administrative assistants in the business. She is such a wonderful asset to our team and keeps everything in your transactions moving along smoothly.

Matthew Voss

Lindsey Schwarze

Matt is a top notch Designated Broker and brings many years of knowledge & experience to John L Scott as one of the best Designated Brokers in the Real Estate Industry.

Lindsey is our Marketing Guru! There is nothing Lindsey cannot design & create for our seller's listings. From fun Instagram posts to the highest quality custom marketing, Lindsey is the best in the business!

DESIGNATED BROKER

MARKETING COORDINATOR

10 steps to

e m o h a g n i sell

01 FIND A GREAT AGENT

02 ESTABLISH A PRICE

03 PREPARE YOUR HOME

04 MARKETING 05 LISTING

06 SHOWINGS

07 OFFERS & NEGOTIAIONS

08 UNDER CONTRACT

09 FINAL DETAILS 10 CLOSING

Preparing to Sell

01

Find a great agent

A real estate agent(broker) is a huge asset to you as you go through the home-selling process. This is one of the biggest transactions of your life and you need a skilled professional guiding you through the process.

As your professional Real Estate Broker, I will be working with your best interests in mind and can help guide you through all the stages of selling your home. This is my passion, and your best interest, top notch service & communication are my top priority.

CONNECT YOUR HOME WITH PROSPECTIVE BUYERS Real Estate Agents & Brokers often have access to information about homes going on the market before the public. They can expose your home to the largest potential audience.

GET YOU MORE MONEY

An experienced Agent/Broker will be able to help you negotiate top dollar for your home.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

The process of selling a home requires a good deal of paperwork. Your real estate agent will do all the work & fill out all documents and get them submitted properly.

PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATOR

Real Agents deal with many difficult conversations that need to happen. They will also help you consider offers and negotiate with the buyer's agent on your behalf. Working with a proven professional will yield you more money on your home sale.

EXPERT GUIDE

Real Estate Agents are there to help you with any questions you have along the way. They offer an objective opinion and can give you a much needed online presence.

02

Establish a Price

Pricing your home competitively...

The listing price is one of the most important factors in a successful home sale.

Many people tend to list too high and they either have to move greatly on the price or it takes much longer to get any offers. Your real estate agent should be an expert in what homes are selling for in your area & have knowledge of the local market & market conditions. Lean on them to help guide you in setting the perfect starting price. Homes that are competitively priced have a much greater chance of selling in a timely manner.

What determines the price?

Remember that your home is only worth what buyers are willing to pay. Your real estate agent will run a comparative marketing analysis (CMA) and provide you with a list of other houses that have sold recently in your area. This will help you see what homes of comparable size and condition to yours are going for in the current market.

You also have the option of having a home appraisal conducted to give you a better idea of the home's value. Typically this is done though by the buyer's lender.

03 There are many quick and inexpensive things you can do to increase the likeliness of selling.

Do a quick spruce up around the inside and outside of the home.

Include things like decluttering, checking for leaky faucets and pullling weeds in the front yard.

Prepare your home When potential buyers are coming through your home, make sure to keep all valuables and personal information out of sight. Also remove any family photos and replace with art. You want the potential buyer to be able to imagine themselves living in the home.

Home Staging tips...

There are many levels of home staging to choose from based on your budget and the value of staging in your area. Whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional do your best to neutralize and depersonalize as much as possible to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers.

You can increase your number of showings by allowing agents to use a lockbox instead of setting appointments. If you are setting appointments try to be as flexible as possible.

Professional photos, 3D Virtual tours & drone photos will determine the first impression the potential buyer will have of your house.

Preparing Checklist

Exterior Mow lawn

Trim around walkways, trees and bushes Remove weeds from flowerbeds and mulch Remove flaking or peeling paint and repaint or stain Inspect driveway, sidewalks and foundation for cracks Keep the roof and gutters free of debris Wash all windows and window sills

Interior

Repaint in neutral colors that appeal to many styles

Ensure all lights are working and bright

Remove all clutter and personal photos

Ensure CO2 detectors are installed and replace batteries in Smoke Detectors

Keep pets and their belongings out of sight Pair down on toys and keep them organized

Create a warm, inviting space in each room

Finding a Buyer

04

Marketing Once your home is ready to sell, the goal is to get it in front of as many buyers as possible. The best marketed homes have beautiful photos and compelling listing descriptions that draw in potential buyers.

Marketing Tips

We will always advertise across multiple channels Craft an enticing listing description Make a daily to-do list to keep things tidy Store all children and pet toys out of sight Try to be as flexible as possible Find a place for your pets during showings Don't miss an opportunity for your home to be seen.

05

Listing

Your home is officially on the market - congratulations!

Carrie & her team will now use their connections to get the word out about your home to other agents and potential buyers.

A sign will be put in your front yard a few days before listing and all the marketing tools you discussed will be implemented.

Your online presence is one of the most important to a prospective buyer. Many people start their search here.

Having professional, well-lit photos will give you the upper edge of attracting your ideal buyer.

06

Showings The most important thing to keep in mind while showing your home is flexibility.

Carrie & her team will set up private showings if needed as well as an Open House (this is up to the client's comfort level) to get as many potential buyers in your home as possible. Keep a daily to-do list so you're ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Make sure to find a place for your pets during showings. You want the potential buyer to be able to envision themselves living here and that can be difficult with a barking dog in the background.

Showing Checklist

...if you have ten minutes Make all beds

Put all clutter in a laundry basket, then take with you in the car Empty all garbage cans and take out trash Wipe down all countertops and put all dishes in dishwasher Put out your nice towels Pick up all toys and personal items Turn on all lights

...if you have an hour Do everything on the ten minute list above Vacuum all carpet and rugs Sweep all hard surface floors, mop if you have time Wipe down major appliances Wipe down all glass and mirrored surfaces Put away all laundry Quickly dust highly visible surfaces Sweep all hard surface floors, mop if you have time Set out an air freshener or nice smelling candle

Final Steps

07

Offers & Negotiations Depending on the current market you may receive multiple offers if your home is priced right. Carrie will be your best advocate at this point. She will help you review each offer and decide which is best for you. With her years of experience & knowledge, you are in the best hands possible!

Be sure to disclose any current issues you know of with the home. You don't want any legal issues creeping up later.

Be prepared to negotiate. When you receive an offer you have a few choices. You can accept the offer as it is, make a counteroffer or reject the offer altogether.

It can sometimes take a couple of counter-offers back and forth before an agreement is made on both sides.

08

Under Contract

An offer doesn't become binding until both the buyer and seller agree to the terms and sign a contract.

At this point, several things still need to occur before closing.

These include...home inspection, title search, property appraisal and a final walk-through by the buyer within 3 days of the closing.

09 Final Details This is a great time to get started packing. Make sure to keep current on insurances. Also be prepared as delays can happen.

10 Closing

Closing is the final step in your home selling process.

During the closing, the deed is delivered to the buyer, the title is transferred, financing documents and title insurance policies are exchanged, and the agreed-on costs are paid.

Sellers have a closing appointment with Escrow & the final documents are signed. Keep in mind what you may be required to pay at closing including agent commissions, state excise tax fees, title insurance charges and recording filing fees. An estimated Seller's Net Proceeds can be provided to you from Carrie so that you can plan accordingly.

Congratulations on selling your home!! Time to celebrate!

A Few Client Testimonials

It was great to work with Carrie! She was always available for questions and kept us informed about how our sale was coming along. She gave us her experienced opinion on what direction we should take but didn’t push. She is very knowledgeable about the market. We feel she worked very hard for us and networked with other realtors to help our sale move along. I’d recommend her to anyone!

Janet Williams-Cox - Seller

Carrie did an outstanding job helping us navigate a rapidly changing market environment. She is an excellent communicator and went the extra mile to ensure our home sale went smoothly.

Logan Senrud - Seller

Great and reliable communication. Prompt replies to every call, text and email. Advocated for our interests every step of the way. We've had Carrie help with two separate home sales (2018 and 2022) and she successfully navigated this incredibly aggressive market with us.

Kristie Adrian - Seller

Resources LANDSCAPING & TERMITE

ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING

Parkview Landscaping .......425.231.9211

Haggard Electric ......360.668.9361

Bear Creek Landscaping ....425.549.5147

Phase-3 Electric.......425.505.5596

Cascade Pest Control....888-989-8979

Pac West Plumbing....425.273.1050

Guard Pest Control......206.486.1110

Mr. Rooter Plumbing...425.903.3086

HOME INSPECTOR

MOVING

Oscar Jarquin ..... 310.400.6190

Eco Movers ........206.736.8985

Shane Hoffman .....425.530.0062

On the Go Moving....425.598.7265

Chris Honningford ....206.676.2854

Wise Choice Movers ....425.280.1418

Michael Wong ........ 206.790.9524

Two Men & A Truck ....425.270.8859

5 Essential Questions For Your Realtor 1) How long have you been working in real estate?

I have been a licensed realtor for nearly 23 years and have over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. My in-depth knowledge of the local market trends, neighborhoods, and property values will be a significant advantage in helping you make informed decisions.

2) How often will you provide updates on the status of my listing?

You can expect to receive weekly updates from me. These updates will include information such as showings your property has had, the level of online interest generated, and any offers received. If there are significant developments or changes, I'll ensure to promptly share this information with you as well.

3) What's your strategy if the property doesn't sell within the expected timeframe?

While my aim is to facilitate a swift and successful sale, I understand that the market can be unpredictable. If your property doesn't attract offers within the anticipated timeframe, I will work closely with you to reassess our approach. My goal is to proactively address any challenges and adapt our strategy to secure the best outcome for you.

4) How do you handle negotiations with potential buyers and their agents?

I am an expert negotiator with a designation (CNE - Certified Negotiation Expert) in this specific field. I approach negotiations with a combination of diplomacy, assertiveness, and a deep understanding of market dynamics. My goal is to secure the best possible terms for you while maintaining a positive rapport with the buyer's agent. I'll always keep your priorities in mind and provide guidance on when to stand firm and when to consider concessions, ensuring you make informed decisions throughout the process. I am known for negotiating well above asking price with exceptional terms in any situation on behalf of my sellers

5) What sets you apart from other realtors?

I'm not just here to facilitate a transaction; I'm here to be your trusted advisor throughout the entire journey. I take the time to educate and empower my clients, ensuring you understand each step of the process and are equipped to make well-informed decisions.

With a combination of market expertise, personalized attention, and a genuine desire to see you thrive, I'm dedicated to being your partner throughout this exciting journey.

CLOSING COSTS:

Who Pays For What?

SELLER IS REPONSIBLE FOR...

BUYER IS REPONSIBLE FOR...

Owners title insurance policy

Lenders title insurance policy

Excise tax

Recording fees

1/2 of escrow fee

Real estate commissions* Utility payoffs

1/2 of escrow fee Surveys

1st year fire insurance

Loan balances

1st year flood insurance (if applicable)

Miscellaneous fees - wire, courier, etc.

Miscellaneous fees - wire, courier, etc.

Doc preparation fee - attorney, etc.

Pro-rated property taxes

Home warranty (depends on contract) Home Owners Association fees: Pro-rated Association dues

Resale certificate/misc. fees Property pre-inspection

FHA/VA financing (potentially) Other seller fees may apply, such as liens and pre-paids due against the property

Doc preparation fee - quit claim, etc.

Pro-rated property taxes

Home warranty (depends on contract) Home Owners Association fees: Pro-rated Association dues

Transfer fee / capital contribution

Property inspection (if no pre-inspection)

Pest inspection

Lender fees including: Appraisal, credit report, loan origination fee*, loan interest*, private mortgage insurance*

*Fees determined by sales price and/or loan amount. Payment of fees above can be negotiated within contract.

One of the perks of working with me is having access to our incredible moving van at NO CO S T TO YOU

Spacious cargo area to: -use as a moving van -help transport materials land equipment for your lbusiness -move whatever you desire!

The only thing you pay for is gas!

Carrie Freeman Pearson REAL ESTATE GROUP

206. 35 5 . 6230 ca rri ef reema n@j ohnls cot t . com