Complete Guide to Selling Your Home

Spring and early summer (March through June) see peak buyer activity and highest sale prices in Los Angeles. More inventory means more competition from other sellers, but buyer demand is strongest. Fall and winter have fewer listings competing with yours but also fewer active buyers. Your personal timeline and financial goals matter more than trying to perfectly time seasonal patterns. The best time to sell is when you're ready and the market supports your price expectations.

The average home in Los Angeles sells in 30-60 days from listing to accepted offer, though this varies by price range, condition, and location. Well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods can receive multiple offers within days. Overpriced or poorly presented properties may sit for months. Once you accept an offer, closing takes an additional 30-45 days. Plan for 2-4 months total from deciding to sell through final closing.

Seller closing costs typically run 6-10% of the sale price in Los Angeles. This includes real estate agent commissions (5-6%), escrow fees (roughly 1%), title insurance, transfer taxes, prorated property taxes, and any agreed-upon seller concessions. On a $800,000 home, expect $48,000-$80,000 in total costs. Request a net sheet from your agent showing estimated proceeds before listing.

Focus on repairs that prevent buyer objections during inspections rather than major renovations. Fix obvious issues like leaky faucets, squeaky doors, cracked tiles, and broken fixtures. Address safety concerns like faulty electrical outlets or loose railings. Refresh paint, improve curb appeal, and deep clean everything. Major renovations rarely return full investment unless your home is significantly below neighborhood standards.

Professional staging helps buyers visualize living in your space and typically returns 5-15% higher sale prices. At minimum, declutter, remove personal items, and arrange furniture to maximize space and flow. Vacant homes benefit most from professional staging, which costs $2,000-$5,000 for a month. Occupied homes may only need staging consultation ($200-$500) with recommendations for rearranging existing furniture.

Seller concessions are contributions toward the buyer's closing costs, typically 1-3% of the purchase price. Concessions help buyers who have limited cash for closing costs complete the purchase. In competitive markets with multiple offers, concessions aren't necessary. In slower markets, offering concessions can attract buyers and close deals faster. Concessions reduce your net proceeds but may be worthwhile to secure a sale.

If you owe more than your home's current value (underwater or upside-down mortgage), you'll need lender approval for a short sale. Short sales require proving financial hardship and accepting less than the mortgage balance. The process takes months and damages your credit. Alternatives include renting the property until values recover, loan modification, or bringing cash to closing to cover the difference.

Multiple offers give you negotiating leverage to increase price and improve terms. Your agent requests "highest and best" offers by a deadline, creating competition among buyers. Evaluate offers based on price, financing strength, contingencies, and closing timeline. The highest price doesn't always represent the best deal if the buyer has weak financing or excessive contingencies. Choose the offer most likely to close successfully.

An appraisal contingency allows buyers to renegotiate or cancel if the property appraises for less than the purchase price. If the appraisal comes in low, you can reduce the price to match the appraisal, refuse and risk losing the buyer, or negotiate somewhere in the middle. Some buyers waive appraisal contingencies or agree to cover appraisal gaps with cash, making their offers stronger.