Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make, and often one of the most emotional. My job is to protect your equity and your peace of mind. I'm Laura Beth Collinson, REALTOR® and Top 1% Agent at Carl Guild & Associates in East Hampton. I price your home from real closed sales, present it so buyers connect with it, market it widely, and negotiate firmly on your behalf from the first offer through closing.
Pricing is the most important decision in a sale. Price too high and your home sits, buyers start to wonder what's wrong, and you can end up accepting less than if you'd priced it right from the start. Price strategically and you create urgency and competition. My Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) looks at recent closed sales, active and pending competition, your home's condition and updates, and the micro-market on your street. We'll talk through a realistic range and the strategy behind it. Request your free home value →
First impressions happen online. I'll walk through your home with you and give you a clear, prioritized list: what's worth fixing, what to leave alone, and how to declutter and stage for the best return. Then come professional photos and, where it fits, video, floor plans, and aerial images.
Your home goes on SmartMLS, Connecticut's multiple listing service, where agents across the state see it and from which listings can be shared to major home-search websites. I add a written description that sells the lifestyle, social media promotion, outreach to local agents with active buyers in your price range, and open houses when they make sense.
I coordinate showings around your schedule and follow up for feedback. When offers arrive, I compare them side by side, looking past price at financing strength, contingencies, deposit, and timing, and negotiate the best overall terms. With multiple offers, I run a fair, transparent process designed to get you the strongest result.
After you accept an offer, I manage the details: the buyer's inspections and any repair negotiations, the appraisal, mortgage commitment deadlines, and coordination with both attorneys. Connecticut law requires real estate closings to be conducted by a Connecticut-admitted attorney, and I'm happy to recommend experienced local real estate attorneys. You'll always know where things stand.
Cash buyers and "we buy houses" companies promise speed and convenience. Sometimes that's the right choice, for example when a home needs major work or timing is critical. Often, though, a cash offer comes in below what the open market would pay. Before you decide, I'll prepare two estimated net sheets: what you'd likely walk away with listing on the market, and what you'd net from the cash offer. You choose with real numbers in front of you.
I'll give you an estimated net sheet before you list, so there are no surprises.
Many of my sellers are in the middle of something bigger: downsizing, relocating for work, going through a divorce, settling a loved one's estate, or buying and selling at the same time. These sales need extra coordination, discretion, and patience. I work alongside attorneys, family members, and other professionals, and set a timeline that fits your life.
Homes I recently sold for my sellers
Sales shown are transactions in which Laura Beth Collinson of Carl Guild & Associates represented the seller.
What sellers say
★★★★★"Thanks to her hard work and dedication, my condo sold quickly and for a great price." — Collin J., Condo seller · Google review
★★★★★"In the end everything worked out and we sold it for higher than the asking price." — Martin L., Sold his mother's condo · Google review
★★★★★"She helped me sell my house after my divorce and she really made the whole process simple, easy and stress free." — Marissa J., Seller · Google review
It depends on price, condition, location, and season. Well-priced homes can attract offers quickly, while others take longer. Once you accept an offer, the closing date is set in your contract and depends on the buyer's financing and inspections. I'll share current days-on-market data for your town before you list.
Focus on what buyers and inspectors notice: water issues, safety items, obvious deferred maintenance, fresh neutral paint, and curb appeal. Big renovations rarely pay for themselves right before a sale. I'll give you a prioritized list after a walk-through.
The seller. Connecticut law makes the real estate conveyance tax payable by the person conveying the property when the deed is recorded. It has a state portion and a municipal portion, and your attorney calculates the exact amount.
Connecticut law requires real estate closings to be conducted by a Connecticut-admitted attorney, and most sellers hire their own attorney to prepare the deed and represent them at closing. I'm not an attorney and this isn't legal advice, but I can refer you to experienced local real estate attorneys.
Yes. Coordinating both is common. Options include contingent offers, negotiating a later closing or a rent-back, and bridge financing through your lender. I'll help you choose the sequence that fits your finances and comfort with risk.
Online estimates are a starting point, but they can miss your home's condition, updates, lot, and micro-location. A CMA from a local agent who has seen your home is usually more reliable.
A free, no-pressure home value from me, not an algorithm. Tell me about your home and I'll get back to you personally.
