The seller's plan
A step-by-step plan from a listing specialist
Selling a home is not one decision. It is a series of them: what to fix, what price to set, how to market, which offer to take, and how to negotiate the final terms. This guide walks through each one the way Susan handles it for her clients, so you can see how the pieces fit before you commit to anything.
Susan Hotchkiss is a Listing Specialist with Realty ONE Group who has spent more than 25 years helping Connecticut homeowners sell for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time. She has lived in Oxford for more than 50 years and sells across Oxford, Seymour, Southbury, Sandy Hook, Shelton, and surrounding communities.
25+
Years of full-time experience
Listing-focused experience across western Connecticut.
350+
Homes sold
A track record built one neighborhood at a time.
$10M
Average annual sales volume
Consistent production over many years, not a single lucky season.
The selling process
Seven steps from consultation to closing
One clear path, whether your home sells in days or takes a season. You will always know where your sale stands and what happens next.
01
The consultation
It starts with a conversation about your home, your goals, and your timeline. Susan walks the property, listens, and explains the entire process so you know exactly what to expect before anything goes on the market.
02
Preparing for market
An honest, practical list of what to repair, refresh, declutter, and leave alone. Buyers respond to homes that feel cared for, but over-preparing is a real cost, so the guidance is about maximizing return, not spending until it hurts.
03
Pricing strategy
A launch price built on recent comparable sales, your home’s condition and updates, and the current supply of competing listings. Price it right from day one, because the first weeks of marketing are when your home gets the most attention.
04
Marketing
Professional photography and presentation, placement on SMART MLS so every agent in the region sees it, and targeted marketing aimed at the buyer pool that fits your home. Marketing sells the price you set.
05
Showings and feedback
Susan schedules and manages showings, then collects buyer feedback and brings it back to you honestly, even when it is not what you hoped. Experience shows in knowing whether feedback is a pricing signal, a condition signal, or just one buyer’s taste.
06
Offers and negotiation
Every offer is evaluated against your goals, not just the top line. Price, closing date, financing, contingencies, and buyer qualifications all matter. Susan negotiates confidently on your behalf and explains every tradeoff.
07
Closing
From ratified contract to closing table: inspections, appraisal, title work, attorney review, and paperwork. Susan manages the details, keeps the transaction moving, and keeps you informed at every step, right up to the day you hand over the keys.
Susan's specialty
Downsizing, handled with patience and a plan
“Selling a home after many years can feel overwhelming, from years of belongings to a process that has changed since your last move. My job is to make it smooth, successful, and stress-free.”
Susan Hotchkiss · Listing Specialist
Sort, decide, and let go
Decades of belongings need a plan, not a panic. Susan helps you work through rooms the same way she works through a sale, one manageable step at a time.
Prepare what stays
Once you decide what moves with you, the home can be prepared and staged for its best showing.
Coordinate the timing
Selling and buying often overlap. Susan aligns the closing dates so you are not left in limbo between homes.
Longtime owners often tell Susan their biggest worry is not the sale, it is the years of stuff and the fear of being taken advantage of. Her answer is the same for both: clear communication, honest expectations, and personal attention from the initial consultation through closing.
Connecticut specifics
Paperwork and rules that shape a Connecticut sale
Three things every seller in Connecticut should know before listing, handled for you by Susan on every transaction.
Seller disclosures
By law, you deliver a Residential Property Condition Report before the buyer signs. Susan walks you through the form question by question so your answers are complete, accurate, and honest.
How disclosures workPricing strategy
The price you set on day one is the single most important decision in your sale. Susan's launch prices are built on recent sales, your home's condition, and current competition.
How Susan builds a launch priceAttorney closings
Connecticut requires a licensed attorney to conduct residential closings, and buyers and sellers have separate counsel. Your attorney reviews the contract and handles the closing alongside Susan.
See the full service listAlso buying a home?
The Buyer's Guide covers the other side of the table.
From pre-approval to closing day, a step-by-step guide for buyers in Oxford, Seymour, Southbury, Sandy Hook, Shelton, and surrounding towns.
Read the Buyer's GuideReady when you are
Wondering what your home is worth?
Start with a free, no-pressure home value estimate and a clear selling plan from someone who has priced and sold hundreds of homes in this market. Call, text, or email, and Susan will get back to you promptly.
(203) 314-7874Get a free home value estimate
A market-based estimate and a clear selling plan, from someone who has priced and sold hundreds of homes here.