The median home price in Washington has reached $662,800, making it a sizzling hot market. What’s the brew behind the buzz? Well, the top-notch professional opportunities the state offers alongside the zero state income tax make the Evergreen State pull home buyers.
If you are looking forward to selling your home, hop on and pedal! Remember—a hot housing market will wait for no one. Moreover, selling in Washington now can be as perfectly-timed as catching the ferry just before it pulls away.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prepare your home for sale with enhanced curb appeal, neutral decor, tropical landscaping, and clean outdoor spaces.
- Decide how you want to sell, whether it’s with a local Washington Flat Fee MLS service, a discount broker, or a full-service Realtor.
- Houzeo, Washington’s #1 home selling website, can save you thousands in agent fees. Your home will also be on the MLS within 48 hours.
- Before you price your home in Washington, check the current median home price, recent sales, and mortgage rates.
- Conduct showings to attract buyers. Also, review offers quickly and negotiate smartly.
- Finally, schedule utility transfers, pay your closing costs, and prepare to move out.
7 Easy Steps to Selling Your Home in Washington
If you’re looking for the best ways to sell a house, begin by getting familiar with the process to sell a house. Whether you are in the heart of Seattle or away in the Olympic Peninsula, these 7 steps of selling a house in Washington will ensure that you’re good to go:
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter—particularly in a state known for the timeless sleep town homes and cozy cabins. So, focus on your home’s curb appeal to make your home look more presentable. Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Washington stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Spruce up your home’s front and back yards to showcase Washington’s beauty. Use native plants like rhododendrons and sword ferns to increase your home’s appeal.
- Repaint the House: A fresh coat of paint can change the whole look of your home. Think of tones inspired by the region, like forest green, storm grey or soft blue.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: Buyers love outdoor living spaces—especially those that blend comfort and nature. Stage your balcony, porch, or deck with cozy seating, hanging plants and even a firepit to make it look perfect.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A well-staged home can shine like a sunrise over Mount Rainier, and attract buyers like hikers to the trails of Olympic National Park. While traditional home staging is always an option, you can try virtual home staging too. Here’s how you can make your house shine:
- Declutter and Clean the House: An organized home makes a good first impression. Empty the garage, clean the windows, and pressure-wash the siding and driveway for a clean and fresh look of your home.
- Showcase Practical Features: Home buyers in WA look for homes that are built for cool summers and wet winters. If your home has durable roofing, reliable heating system, and energy-efficient windows, flaunt them!
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Buyers love homes which look warm and inviting. Ensure that your home gives that vibe.
- Include a Home Tour Video: Home listings with videos get 403% more views than those without it. So, make a video that shows your property in the best light!
Step 3: Decide How to List Your House
An important step in the process to sell a home is deciding how to list your house on the local MLS. Here are the 4 options most sellers choose from:
- Full-Service Realtors – Up to 6%: These Realtors provide various services from list to close, but charge a hefty 5% to 6% real estate commission in Washington.
- Flat Fee MLS – $249: If you want to sell your home yourself, you can list on MLS in Washington for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your home can be on the MLS for just $249.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: These brokers charge a lower fee than traditional agents, and offer services like contract reviews and negotiation assistance. Discount real estate brokers in Washington charge between 0.5% and 2% as commission.
- Cash Buyers: They help you sell your home fast for cash. With cash buyers, you can get competitive all-cash offers and close on your terms.
- For Sale By Owner: You can sell your home FSBO without hiring an agent. This gives you full control over the process and helps you save thousands on agent commissions.
Step 4: Price Your Home Competitively
In Feb 2025, 23.6% of homes in Washington sold with price drops. As a matter of fact, inaccurate pricing forces properties to stay longer on the market. It’s thus important to understand market trends to know how to price your home.
Here’s how to avoid overpricing your property:
- Check the Local Market: If you overprice your home, it can sit on the market like bumper-to-bumper traffic on the I-5 through Seattle. Understand the Washington housing market and thoughtfully set a competitive listing price.
- Use Online Home Valuation Tools: Use a free home value estimator to calculate your home’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Price your home slightly above its FMV to attract buyers and have a profitable home sale.
- Get a CMA: Your agent conducts your home’s Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). It helps understand your home’s worth based on its features and location. A CMA helps you easily quote the right price for your home.
Step 5: Handle Showings and Review Offers
Once your listing is active, buyers searching for Washington houses for sale will submit showing requests. Here’s what to do next:
- Actively Manage Showings: Promptly accept and confirm any showing requests. Remember to create a good impression. Don’t cancel scheduled showings at the last moment, communicate clearly about clashes, and be a pleasant host.
- Host an Open House: Even a well-staged home can vanish like a paddle boarder on Lake Washington at dawn. Consult your agent and announce an open house to attract buyers.
- Review and Counter Offers: If you get only one offer, you might have to reduce your asking price. But if you’ve got multiple offers, it’s time to negotiate and find the best one.
➡️ Remember: Selling a home in Washington is like kayaking on Lake Union—smooth sailing if you are ready and know how to steer!
Step 6: Ensure Your Home Is Inspection-Ready
A home appraisal is the fair valuation of a house. Buyers conduct your home’s appraisal to ensure that they aren’t paying more than your home’s FMV.
Your home’s condition largely affects your home’s appraisal. Buyers also conduct a home inspection to examine the structural and functional aspects of your home. Make any needed repairs before these to avoid any surprises.
👉 All Set to Sell Your Home? List on the MLS Now!
Step 7: Prepare for Closing Day
Closing day can be emotional, but don’t overlook the formalities. Just follow these final steps and you’ll be good to go:
- Gather All Documents: Before you sell a home in Washington, keep the paperwork for selling a house by owner ready. This includes the affidavit of title, deed, purchase agreement, tax records, settlement statement, 1099-S tax form, etc.
- Transfer Ownership: You have to sign the escrow paperwork, title deed, and other documents to transfer ownership to the buyer. Then, the title company or escrow transfers their funds to you. The buyer’s name is then registered in the public record.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a house in Washington state includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax. Closing costs for sellers in Washington also consist of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
How to Sell My Home in Washington?
| City | Selling a House in Washington Near You |
| Spokane | Sell My House in Spokane |
| Seattle | Sell My House in Seattle |
| Tacoma | Sell My House in Tacoma |
What Is the Process of Selling a House? Quick Summary📝
Whether you are in the artsy corners of Bellingham or near the shores of the Puget Sound, the first steps to selling your home involve smart preparation. Firstly, declutter and stage your home for sale. Then, decide how to list your home.
Remember to price your home after checking the local trends. Once your listing gets live, you start getting showing requests. The buyers conduct your home’s inspection before you finally close the deal.
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people say about Houzeo—Washington’s best home selling website.
