The Home Selling Process Your Guide to SellingProperty
PRESEN TED BY
LauraPalumbo-Hanson and Dawn Felicani
YO U R A DV I S O R
Laura Palumbo-Hanson Laura Palumbo-Hanson, a Vice President of
her meticulous attention to detail and ability
Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty, has
to ?hear? what people want , Laura has earned
been a top-producing real estate agent for
and maintains numerous real estate
over thirty years. As a native New-Englander
designations such as Certified Residential
and resident of Cambridge, Laura has been
Specialist (CRS), Accredited Buyer
serving the Cambridge, Somerville and
Representative (ABR) and Credited Buyer
surrounding areas with unparalleled expertise
Representative (CBR). In 2020, as recognition
since 1985. With a successful business
of her over thirty years of membership and
flourishing from repeat clientele and referrals,
her volunteer service within the industry,
Laura?s career history involves over 30 0
Laura was awarded the National Association
residential real estate transactions. From
of Realtors Emeritus Member status and the
luxury estates to entry-level condominiums,
Greater Boston Association of Realtors Life
Laura has garnered extensive knowledge in
Member status.
the marketing and sales of a wide variety of properties.
With what spare time she has outside her real estate career, Laura pursues her passion for
The diligence and integrity foundational to
cooking and has been a recipe tester for
Laura?s business is readily apparent in her
Cook's Illustrated Magazine. She if a founding
commitment to the community. She is the
member of the fundraising arm of the
chairman of the Greater Boston Association of
Cambridge Community of Real Estate
REALTORS® Grievance & Ethics committee
Professionals, a past member of the Board of
and is a member of the Greater Boston Real
Directors for Ability Plus, and is involved with
Estate Board Professional Standards
numerous other charities and schools
Committee, as well as the Board of Mediators.
including the MS Society, The Kelly Brush
Laura?s professionalism and ability to best
Foundation, and Williams College.
assist her clients has no limitation. Known for
Global Real Est at e Advisor 617.413.5537 Laura.PalumboHanson@GibsonSIR.com
C L I EN T EN D O RS EM EN T S
The reviews speak for themselves RA PH A EL W.
JOH N B.
I recently had the distinct pleasure of working with, and I stress this, LauraPalumbo-Hanson. Laurais and was superb throughout the whole process as I sought to sell my Cambridge house and despite me living in Iceland and obstacles that would make most people cry, Laurawas the consummate professional. Quite frankly anyone who works with Laurais beyond fortunate. I met with over 10 agents and fired 3 before I hired Laura. My wish is that I had known about her sooner. Laurawas a superb project manager, agent and team player. While Laura's incentive was in part the fee at the end, it was clear from the beginning that Laurawas selfless in her efforts. Laurahas me for life! While I do not know you I can assure you that having Laurawork for you is akin to having ateam with an All-Star. My hope is that Laurareceives the accolades and recognition that she deserves. When I buy property in the US, there is only one person I will ever call again and that is Laura.
I had agreat experience working with LauraPalumbo-Hanson on the marketing and sale of our family home. From beginning to end, Laurawas top notch, starting with the initial walk through. She was very thorough and asked lots of questions- she was clearly knowledgeable about old homes and had alot of great ideas right from the start. When we meet to discuss the marketing and asking price, Lauracame to the meeting with relevant research and information, she made it an easy choose to go with Laura. Laura?s oversight of the repairs and staging, the open houses and the communication were spot-on and her guidance through the decision and closing process were invaluable. Her tremendous efforts, support and professionalism made the whole process seamless. I wholeheartedly recommend her without reservation.
YO U R A DV I S O R
DawnFelicani Born and raised in Arlington, Dawn Felicani
Dawn?s commitment to her clients is evident
has a deep appreciation for the community
in every interaction, from her keen negotiation
and culture of her hometown. Driven by her
skills to her thoughtful consideration of her
passion to help others, Dawn has dedicated
clients?wishes. Whether buying or selling,
herself to providing unparalleled service in the
clients can trust Dawn to be a dedicated
Greater Boston area, and she joined Gibson
advocate who will work tirelessly to achieve
Sotheby?s International Realty in May 20 15.
their real estate goals.
Clients often describe Dawn as energetic,
With a BS in Sociology, Dawn?s educational
driven, and highly responsive, qualities that
background enhances her understanding of
have earned her numerous accolades and
diverse client needs and societal trends. She
repeat clients. Whether working with
is an active member of the National
first-time buyers or seasoned investors, Dawn
Association of Realtors (NAR), Greater Boston
brings the same level of enthusiasm and
Association of Realtors (GBAR), and the
professionalism to ensure a smooth
Massachusetts Association of Realtors
transaction. Her approach is best summed up
(MAR), ensuring she stays ahead of market
by her clients?testimonials, highlighting her
dynamics and professional standards.
knack for making complex processes feel straightforward and her ability to act not just as a realtor, but as a trusted advisor and friend in the real estate journey.
Global Real Est at e Advisor 781.820.80 96 Dawn.Felicani@GibsonSIR.com dawnfelicani.com
C L I EN T EN D O RS EM EN T S
The reviews speak for themselves K I M V.
JUDY R.
Truly Exceptional - I worked with Dawn when I bought my home in Arlington and was so impressed with her level of service and enthusiasm for her work that I hired her as my agent when I sold that home 4 years later. Dawn is focused, experienced, and personable. I know she treats potential buyers incredibly well since I was one when I met her at an open house. I have purchased and sold many homes (I move too much!) and Dawn is by far the best agent I've ever worked with. I highly recommend her as both abuyer's and seller's agent. She knows the local market well and worked hard in my best interest during both negotiations. I was sad I couldn't work with her when I bought my current home in Virginia!
Dawn is most responsive and knowledgeable. I depended on Dawn to help me with the sale of my home and she exceeded my every expectation. Her enthusiasm, experience and willingness to go the extramile made my transaction seamless, not to mention effortless on my part. I would highly recommend Dawn and would use her again in an instant either to assist me with buying or selling ahome.
Our Approach to Selling Your Home Selling a home is a thoughtful process that begins long before a property reaches the market. Our approach focuses on preparing your home for success? from evaluating pricing and timing to advising on presentation, staging, and strategic improvements that enhance value. Once your home is ready, we introduce it to the market through a comprehensive marketing strategy supported by our in-house team of experts. Throughout the process, we provide careful guidance? from managing showings and negotiating offers to coordinating the details of the closing? ensuring a seamless and successful experience from start to finish.
The Selling Process IN ITIAL CON SULTATION Discuss Listing Timeline Documents and Disclosures Pricing and Valuation
PREPARE YOUR HOM E Decluttering and Cleaning Repairs and Updates Staging
M ARKETIN G YOUR HOM E Professional Photography and Floor Plans
M AN AGIN G OFFERS Review
Print and Digital Marketing
Negotiate
Showings and Open Houses
Accept
M AN AGIN G THE SALE Purchase and Sale Financing/ Appraisal Mortgage Approval
M AN AGIN G THE CLOSIN G Documents and Certificates Final Utility Readings Coordinate Closing
Tips to Prepare Your Home 0 1 | DECLUTTERIN G The first step in the process of preparing your home for sale is decluttering. While going through old items in your home, a good rule of thumb to remember is that if you haven?t used the item in over a year, you probably won?t use it or need it again. If you do decide to discard items that are still in decent shape, you can always donate them to a charity or nonprofit organization within your community. For items that need to be thrown away, some towns will pick up used goods and recycle them in a beneficial way. For any items you decide to keep, store them away in boxes and closets so they are not visible, which will make your home look neater. 0 2 | ORGAN IZIN G As potential buyers are touring your home, they might be interested in storage space, such as in closets or in the garage. It is important to organize these areas before open houses to make sure there is a nice aesthetic. To keep your kitchen cabinets organized maybe you alphabetize spice jars and neatly stack dishes. In bedrooms, you can keep the closets organized by making sure shirts aren?t falling off hangers and lining up shoes neatly. In the living room, fold blankets, fluff pillows and neatly stack up any books or magazines that might be visible.
0 3 | DEEP CLEAN IN G Whether you hire a professional cleaning company or you clean the house on your own, it is essential to make sure everything is spotless. Not only should you clean all rooms and surfaces in your home by dusting, mopping, polishing, etc., but you should also focus on the exterior of your home such as cleaning the outside of windows and power washing. Clean and air out any musty areas by opening the windows or lighting a candle. The night before a showing, be sure to avoid cooking with odorous foods such as fish or garlic. Instead you can make the house smell welcoming with a fresh batch of baked goods! 0 4 | M AIN TEN AN CE In order to get the most money for your home, be sure to make any necessary repairs. These could include replacing cracked floor or counter tiles, patching any holes in the walls, and fixing leaky faucets. You also want to check that all doors close properly and kitchen drawers don?t jam. If there are any burned-out light bulbs in your house, make sure to replace those as well. 0 5 | STAGIN G You want potential buyers to have a great first impression when touring your home, so this final step is very important. Although hiring a professional stager is definitely an option, you can easily make a few updates to a room to make it feel new. The whole house doesn?t need to be staged, but instead focus on the main rooms such as the kitchen, living room and the primary bedroom. In the kitchen, you can place a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter top or add some fresh flowers to the dining room table. In the living room, add a decorative blanket and some throw pillows to the sofa. 0 6 | M AXIM IZE CURB APPEAL Don?t forget to create curb appeal by staging the exterior of your house, as this is the true first impression. Keep your yard tidy by mowing the grass and trimming bushes and shrubs. You can also add color by planting flowers in your front yard. In the winter, add seasonal touches like a wreath or holiday lights to make your home more festive.
The Marketing Process PRE-M LS LAUN CH - Property Preparation - Professional Photography - Property Video and/ or 3D Matterport Virtual Tour - Professional Floor Plans - Install ?For Sale?Signage on Property - Create and Finalize Print Collateral (i.e. brochures, inserts, etc.) WEEK OF LAUN CH IN M LS - Submit property to MLS to reach the brokerage community - Feature property on sothebysrealty.com and gibsonsothebysrealty.com - Property will be distributed to our global property marketing partners, comprised of the most authoritative news, lifestyle and financial voices such as Realtor.com, Zillow, WSJ.com, etc. - Listing agent to share the property via email and calls to personal sphere of influence - Announce the listing to GSIR?s agent network and the local brokerage community via email blast - Send a direct-mail postcard to a targeted list of potential buyers, introducing the property - Launch a paid digital ad campaign targeting consumers within a 15-mile radius of the property POST M LS LAUN CH - Feature property in office window displays to capture optimal foot traffic - Showcase the property across Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty?s social media channels ? Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn with a combined reach of 20.8K followers - Continue to feature property in various email campaigns - Consider placing a print and/ or digital advertisement to increase exposure
© 2026 Sotheby?s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby?s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby?s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby?s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. All services/ products are provided by independently owned and operated franchisees and are not provided by Sotheby?s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Dimensions are approximate and unverified. Buyers should consult a qualified professional to confirm measurements.