Summer has a way of getting people thinking about their next move. Kids are out of school, the market's active, and there's just something about longer days that makes people start planning for what's next.
If you're one of the people wondering whether now's the time to sell, I want to share three things I've learned over more than two decades of doing this — not theory, just what actually works.
A Little About Me First
I'm Drew (DeMaree) Barragan, and I've been a licensed REALTOR® since 2005 — heading into my 21st year in this business. I've had the privilege of helping more than 600 families buy and sell homes across Richmond and the surrounding areas, and I've been recognized as a top 20% producer for five consecutive years running.
I currently hold my active license with The Kerzanet Group, a boutique brokerage led by Tracy Kerzanet, right here in Richmond. Real estate runs deep for me — I grew up around job sites and rental properties in a family that built and managed real estate for a living. I've owned my own brokerage, led teams, and spent more than a decade coaching other agents on how to do this work well. All of that shapes how I show up for my clients today: direct, honest, and detail-oriented, whether the news is good or the news is hard to hear.
With that out of the way, here are three things worth knowing if you're thinking about selling this summer.
1. Summer Buyers Are Serious Buyers
Summer traffic isn't just curious lookers. Families are often trying to close before the new school year, relocating employees are on a deadline, and buyers who've been house-hunting since spring are getting motivated to make a decision. That urgency works in your favor — but only if your home is priced right and ready to show the day it hits the market.
Takeaway: Don't wait until your home is "perfect" to list. Get it market-ready and get it in front of serious buyers while they're actively looking.
2. Curb Appeal Matters More in Summer Than Any Other Season
Summer is the season buyers actually see your home the way it's meant to be seen — green lawns, blooming landscaping, natural light streaming in. That's an advantage, but it also means the bar is higher. A dead flower bed or an overgrown yard stands out more in July than it does in January.
Takeaway: Spend a weekend on the outside of your home before you spend money inside. Mow, mulch, trim, and clean up the entry. It's often the cheapest, highest-return work you can do before listing.
3. Pricing Strategy Beats Speed Every Time
I've watched sellers get excited about summer demand and price their home a little too high, hoping buyers will just "understand" the market. They usually don't. Overpricing — even by a little — tends to backfire: your home sits, buyers start to wonder what's wrong with it, and you end up negotiating from a weaker position than if you'd priced it right from day one.
Takeaway: Trust the data, not the emotion. A well-priced home in a hot summer market often sells faster and for more than a home priced too aggressively.
Let's Talk About Your Next Move
Whether you're ready to list this summer or just want an honest read on what your home could sell for, I'd love to talk it through with you. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a straightforward conversation about your goals and what timing makes sense for you.
Let's figure out what's next.
