🏡 Lake Highlands Home Seller’s Guide 2025
Hey, Lake Highlands neighbors and friends! — When selling a home, most homeowners start with Google searches like:
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"How much is my house worth?"
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"Home value estimator"
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"Free home valuation"
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"Sell my house fast"
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"Sell my house for cash"
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"Sell my home as-is"
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"How to choose a real estate agent"
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"Realtor commission rates in Lake Highlands"
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"Curb appeal tips"
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"Home staging checklist"
These high-intent phrases reflect real concerns: pricing, speed, staging, agent selection, and preparation.
If you’re thinking about selling your Lake Highlands home in 2025, this guide covers everything you need to know — step by step.
📆 Process & Timeline
"Steps to selling a house," "best time to sell a house," "open house tips" — these are some of the most popular searches sellers make.
Typical steps:
1️⃣ Home valuation & pricing strategy
2️⃣ Pre-sale sprucing, touch-ups, and minor repairs (your home improvement tips guide here)
3️⃣ Professional staging (included when you list with me — a valuable savings for you!)
4️⃣ Professional photography & videography
5️⃣ Marketing — print, digital, mailers, door-to-door (includes open house tips and event strategy to drive interest)
6️⃣ Showings & open houses
7️⃣ Offer negotiations, inspections, and appraisal (including negotiating home offers and preparing for home inspection checklist)
8️⃣ Closing and moving (your home selling checklist and moving checklist)
💰 Home Valuation & Pricing
The first question almost every seller Googles: "How much is my house worth?"
Online home value estimator tools are helpful, but Lake Highlands pricing depends on much more:
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Recent comparable sales: What actually closed nearby
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Current active competition: What buyers are comparing today
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Lot, layout, and unique features: School zones, alley access, builder potential
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Market timing and trends: Buyer’s vs. seller’s market impact
Pro tip: A free home valuation from a local expert is far more precise. A smart strategy is the foundation whether you're asking "how much does it cost to sell a house", or wondering how to price your home to sell.
🛠️ Home Preparation
Top searches: "What not to fix when selling a house," "home staging tips," "home staging checklist," "preparing your home for sale," "curb appeal tips."
Focus on high-ROI updates:
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Fresh paint (including baseboards) and fresh caulking
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Deep cleaning and decluttering
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Updated light fixtures and simple landscaping
Pro tip: When you list with me, professional staging is included — at no cost to you. This is a major savings (often worth thousands) and a proven way to help your home sell faster and for more.
💸 Costs & Taxes
Common search: "How much does it cost to sell a house?"
Typical costs include:
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Agent commissions (realtor commission rates in Lake Highlands discussed upfront, no surprises)
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Closing costs (closing costs when selling a house vary depending on price and negotiations)
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Staging, minor repairs, and prep work (professional staging is included when you list with me — so that’s one big cost already covered for you!)
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Moving and transition expenses
"Capital gains tax on home sales" — Many homeowners qualify to exclude up to $250K (single) or $500K (married) in gains if you've lived in your home two of the past five years. But strategy matters — from timing to documenting improvements. As your agent, I help you understand these details and connect with trusted tax advisors when needed.
The cost basis matters too. So if you're single and over the $250K exemption or married and over $500K, let’s figure out how to minimize or eliminate that additional liability by totaling up your expenses and upgrades — many of which are deductible.
⚡ Quick Sale & Sale Options
Many sellers search "sell my house fast," "sell my house for cash," or "sell my home as-is."
Options in Lake Highlands:
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Traditional listing for maximum exposure and price
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As-is sale to investors or builders for speed and simplicity
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Strategic pre-market improvements (home improvement tips and renovation ideas) to attract top offers quickly
Each path has trade-offs — your best choice depends on your timeline, condition, and goals.
🤔 Selling Without an Agent
Some sellers search "how to sell your house without a realtor."
While possible, selling without an agent often means leaving money on the table and navigating headaches alone.
A strong Lake Highlands selling agent helps you:
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Navigate inspections: Avoid surprises and protect your bottom line (home inspection checklist)
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Negotiate repairs smartly: Protect your net proceeds (negotiating home offers)
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Get to the closing table: Keep buyers engaged and minimize fallout — even in emotional moments
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Maximize marketing exposure: Professional photography, videography, print, digital, mailers, and door-to-door promotion to ensure your home reaches the widest pool of serious buyers
Selling a home is more than putting a sign in the yard — it’s a full strategy from pricing to final move-out.
🤝 Choosing Your Agent
Key queries: "how to choose a real estate agent," "realtor commission rates," "realtor reviews," "best realtor near me," "listing agent," "selling agent," "hiring a real estate agent," "finding a realtor," "best real estate agent for sellers."
Here’s my edge:
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I live in Lake Highlands — I’m your neighbor, not just a sign on a lawn
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You get 100% of my personal attention — I’m intentionally small by design
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Hyper-local expertise you can’t fake: school zones, builder potential, street-by-street value shifts, and pre-list prep that works
💬 Ready to Sell Your Lake Highlands Home?
Whether you're wondering "how much is my house worth in Lake Highlands," searching for "top real estate agents near me," or exploring "preparing your home for sale," this guide is your starting point.
Call or text me anytime. I live here. I work here. Let’s have coffee, build a relationship, and discuss your goals.
🏷️ About Dustin Merritt
Dustin lives in Lake Highlands — he’s your neighbor. With nearly 20 years of experience, he offers unmatched neighborhood insight, proven strategies, and a hands-on approach that puts your goals first.
Dustin Merritt
Realtor® — Your Lake Highlands neighbor
📱 214-694-8841
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.TheDallasRealtor.com
