Downsizing Your Seattle Home
Downsizing done right
A change in priorities means it’s time for a transition to a smaller living space
We will treat you and the downsizing transition with the care and respect that it deserves. We have helped many clients downsize their Seattle area homes for something that better fits their current phase of life. Our clients are often happier when they complete the downsizing process because they have the time they want to focus on their family, friends, and hobbies instead of all the upkeep of a large property.
Compassionate Care
Guiding you during this transition to your new chapter
Buying and selling at the same time requires careful planning and coordinating - we're here to take the reins
Our team has over 20 years of experience and the well-calibrated systems to facilitate your transition
We are always here to answer questions and keep you updated through the closing and beyond
Video: downsizing your Seattle home
Your home has been much more than a house. We get that.
The 90-second video above provides an overview of how we partner with people like you to sell your Seattle area home while you are downsizing. We have a lot of experience helping people who are empty nesters and those wishing to transition to a home where they can age in place. Read a success story for yourself here.
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If you are in the market for a realtor to sell your home, I wouldn’t even think twice; there is no one else out there like Aaron Janus.
There are no words to adequately describe the amazing experience we had selling our home with Aaron Janus and the JanusGroup team.
From the beginning of the process right through to the successful end, we were treated not only with respect but also with compassion, too, for the monumental life change we were going through.
Aaron and his team provided us with advice, support, and wrap-around services that made the often-difficult decisions bearable as we endeavored to sell our home of 37 years.
As Aaron guided us through the many elements entailed in a sale of this kind, he suggested using a professional organizing service with which he is associated. This group of very talented ladies helped not only with sorting, but with donating and packing too, so we were all ready for our move. I only had to touch an item once, and it was taken care of. That kind of service is worth its weight in gold.
Aaron and his team were also very sensitive to the emotional nature of this sale and were there to “hold our hands” through the rough patches—lending a hand and breaking out the toolbox when needed. You can’t buy that kind of caring, the kind that Aaron instinctively brings with him to every client he serves.
Although we haven’t bought and sold many homes in our lifetime, we have interacted with quite a few realtors as of late—and Aaron outshines them all. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and always there to answer another question (for the 100th time) whenever it’s needed.
Finally, the outcome couldn’t have been better for us as we sold for the full asking price within 10 days of listing our much-loved family home. We couldn’t have been more grateful for having a professional (and now a friend) like Aaron on our team.
If you are in the market for a realtor to sell your home, I wouldn’t even think twice; there is no one else out there like Aaron Janus.
What to expect
How it works: the process for selling your Seattle home when downsizing
Preparing
You talk; we listen. We begin the process by listening to what your biggest concerns are, and what your ultimate goals are. Once you’re comfortable with the downsizing process, then we’ll talk about what is possible for you, and we will craft a plan that will help you attain your goals. Because we’ll be both purchasing and selling a home, we’ll need to sketch out a timeline of how all of the pieces will fit together. No matter how we do it, our team will be there the whole time, by your side.
Figuring out the numbers
There are two important numbers that we’ll need to figure out early on. First, what you’ll net from the sale of your home. And, if you have not already done so, this is the time to talk with a mortgage professional about your financial situation and to figure out what type and how much of a mortgage you’d like to have.
Proper Pricing, Preparation and Marketing Plan
Two of the most important aspects of getting you results are the proper preparation and pricing of your home. After doing a thorough walkthrough of your home, we will help you decide what types of things need to be done in order to maximize your net proceeds and minimize the time on market. And, don’t worry… we’ve got people that can help do the work! Next, we’ll do the proper due diligence, and share with you what is happening in the market, how your home stacks up, and what you can expect to net from the sale. Finally, we will customize a marketing plan unique to your home. Once we launch, one thing that our clients really appreciate is the weekly update, which will illustrate what our team has done to market your home, how effective those efforts have been, and feedback from agents that have shown the home.
Searching For and Finding The One
We’ll set up a custom home search for you on our website, or directly from our MLS. This will ping you with new listings that hit the market which may be of interest. Then, whether we’re going out on a private tour of homes, or you’re walking through open houses on your own, we’ll start to narrow down what type of home, and what neighborhoods are really going to work for you. Once you’ve found “The One,” our team will help you gather data about the home, so that you can make a sound decision. If you decide you’d like to go for it, then we’ll help you craft a strong offer. Once that offer is negotiated and we have a fully signed around contract, we’ll help move you through the next stage, escrow.
Escrow
Escrow is the stage at which we work through all the contingencies of the contract. On the purchasing front, this is where we get the home inspected, we apply for the financing, we review documents and information about the home. On the sale side, this is where, among the plethora of items we’ll track are; negotiating potential inspection items, making any necessary repairs, making sure that the buyer’s financing stays on track, and making sure that there are no issues with title. Just as during the marketing stage, we’ll be by your side throughout this process, making sure you are comfortable and informed all along the way.
Closing
The end of the process is sometimes the most stressful. Whether last minute questions for the lender, or we’re waiting for the seller to finish working on an inspection item, or one of a hundred other possibilities, just know that we are there, at your side, advocating for you. We’ll get there. Once you sign the papers, it’s almost a done deal.
Keys
Congratulations! You’ve officially downsized. We will coordinate the transfer of keys for the home you just sold, and we will meet and I will hand you a set of keys for your new home. Then, we will toast to your new beginning!
OUR TRACK RECORD
20+
Years of Experience
150+
5-Star Reviews
500+
Homes Sold
Where Do We Help People Downsizing?
Seattle and King County
Our team has worked with buyers and sellers of homes who are downsizing in the following areas: Bothell, Covington, Auburn, Everett, Issaquah, Kirkland, Bellevue, Kent, Lake Stevens, Duvall, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Sammamish, Edmonds, North Bend, Shoreline, Renton, Federal Way, Burien, Snohomish, Lake Forest Park, SeaTac, Newcastle, Seattle, Des Moines, Snoqualmie, Normandy Park, Sultan, Tacoma, and Tukwila.
MEET THE JANUSGROUP
Expertise and heart: the JanusGroup way since 2005
Our real estate team provides a transparent, compassionate, and dare we say fun experience for buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate across the Seattle area.
I had excellent experiences with him both times
Aaron served as my realtor twice, and I had excellent experiences with him both times. The first was to see my parents’ mid-century modern home. It needed work before it could be sold, and Aaron knew exactly who to contact for good service at a reasonable price. He was very responsive and friendly at all times and got a good price for the house.
The second time I used Aaron was to sell undeveloped land in Issaquah. Due to a variety of problems with the lots and location, it took a while, but Aaron once again had good ideas about how to make the land more saleable and put me in touch with good contractors. I would definitely use Aaron again if I were selling a home or land in the greater Seattle area.
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A downsizing your Seattle home success story
From overwhelmed to relaxed
The Clients
Laura and Arlene. Empty nesters who were really looking for an improved quality of life. They LOVED their great neighborhood, and they LOVED their charming home. However, the house was old, and was constantly in need of something. And, they were getting tired of spending their weekends on house projects. While they had been thinking about this for a while, they did not even think it would be possible to sell their home and find something suitable to move to.
One day, Laura popped into an open house that Aaron was hosting in their neighborhood. They hit it off right away, and that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. But first… what about that downsizing idea? Well, after a couple of conversations and an evaluation of their home, it turned out that – despite the challenging market – it was very much a possibility.
The Big Concerns
Again, Laura and Arlene never even thought that this would be possible. Once it became clear that it was indeed a possibility, their concerns turned to the logistics of the transaction. What to do first? Do they purchase something with a home sale contingency? Do they purchase something first, and then sell their old home? What about a mortgage? It had been so long since they had purchased a home, and they had never sold one. It was very important to them to have a partner by their side throughout the entire process. That’s what they found with the JanusGroup.
The Process
It really does start with a simple conversation. What are the ultimate goals of such a move? And, what sort of ideas and concerns are there about the process? Coming up with a clear strategy to navigate two separate, yet dependent transactions is the key to a successful result.
The Outcome
Happy Days! Handing over the keys to Laura and Arlene’s new townhome was one of the most memorable of Aaron’s home sales. Such an incredible weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Now they could focus on the things that really mattered to them, like family, travel, and baseball! No more spending Saturday
afternoon at Home Depot.