Behind the Closing: A Classic Colonial & a Shifting Market

In the fall of 2024, I received a call from homeowners who were just beginning to consider selling their property. After an initial meeting to preview the home and begin a market analysis, they decided to move forward and hire us. From there, we created a tailored plan to get the home market-ready. We recommended strategic updates, brought in our trusted handyman and painter, and helped the sellers depersonalize the space. Once their items were cleared out, Deanna and I got to work staging the home to highlight its best features.

The house was a quintessential New England Colonial—timeless and charming. I especially loved the kitchen. While not an open-concept layout, it was beautifully finished, with one standout feature: an AGA stove. It looks vintage, but it’s actually a high-end appliance known and loved by serious cooks. The entire home had character and warmth, and we knew it would speak to the right buyer.

We launched in early April and immediately saw strong traffic. Just the week prior, we had listed another Newton property that attracted over 100 buyers but received only two offers—a clear signal that something was shifting in the market. So when weekend one brought lots of showings but no offers on the Colonial, we weren’t surprised. We decided to hold at the current price for one more weekend while buyer interest was still high.

After the second weekend, we regrouped. We spoke with fellow agents and analyzed upcoming inventory. It was clear: the market was softening, and we had to act fast. We worked closely with the sellers, agreed on a meaningful price adjustment, and launched our new pricing strategy ahead of the next open house.

That weekend, we received five strong offers. It was a powerful reminder that timing, pricing, and adaptability are everything. Understanding the market and being proactive made all the difference in bringing this beautiful home to a successful close.