Lauren Zurilla & Associates
Seller’s
Pre-Listing Guide
The complete guide to selling your home.
Local expertise. Thoughtful preparation. Personal care.
Selling your home, with you in mind
Expert guidance. From preparation to sold.
Your home is more than a transaction. We bring market knowledge, clear communication, and a collaborative team to one of life’s most important financial and personal decisions.
01 / Your selling journey
The people behind your sale
REALTOR® · Team Lead
Lauren Zurilla
Originally from Maryland, I’ve relocated several times myself. I understand that buying or selling a home is a major life event—both emotionally and financially. With over 20 years in real estate, my mission is to make your move as smooth and rewarding as possible.
I listen to your needs and goals, combine market expertise with a business-savvy mindset, and advocate for you every step of the way. Trust, communication, and results are at the heart of how I work.
Our mission & values
Deliver an exceptional real estate experience through market knowledge, communication, and teamwork. We believe in skill, care, and understanding—and in being there long after closing.
Respect · Integrity · Education · Teamwork
Operations Manager
Nicole Garwood
Nicole provides concierge-level service, coordinates transaction logistics, and keeps important deadlines on track. She moved to Mount Pleasant with her family in 2019 and loves the Lowcountry’s beauty, history, and quality of life.
Team REALTOR®
Tina Hartford
After moving across the country with her Air Force family, Tina made Charleston home. She brings particular understanding to VA clients and relocating families, with a focus on timely, kind, honest communication and strong professional relationships.
Team REALTOR®
Gigi Lorio
Originally from Dallas, Gigi came to South Carolina for college before moving to Charleston. Having experienced relocation herself, she prioritizes dependable, responsive service and authentic relationships that last beyond the closing table.
Achievements & professional affiliations
Production awards include Top Individual Office Producer by volume, Top Individual Office Listing Agent, and #5 Individual Agent company-wide. Recognition includes Lauren’s Charleston real estate social media presence and Hamlin Plantation sales leadership since 2018.
Professional affiliations: East Cooper Top Producers Club, Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, Historic Charleston Foundation, Preservation Society of Charleston, National Association of REALTORS®, and South Carolina Association of REALTORS®.
Personal achievements include a B.A. in Psychology and previous ownership of Dairy Queen in Fuquay-Varina, NC.
02 / Your selling journey
Hamlin expertise. Close to home.
Lauren lives in Hamlin and knows its subsections, streets, and floor plans. That neighborhood understanding informs how we price, prepare, and position your home.
Top Hamlin Plantation agent by dollar volume and number of homes sold since 2018.
“Lauren has deep experience in the real estate business and in the Hamlin Plantation home market. She knows how to properly price and stage your home to ensure a successful outcome.”
Jane A. · Hamlin seller
24-hour cancellation / easy out
If you are not satisfied, notify us in writing and you will be released from the listing agreement within 24 hours. You may be responsible for photography and videography costs.
Focused on your outcome
Our preparation and marketing approach is designed to support a timely sale and a strong result for you.
Consistent communication
You receive market updates, showing feedback, and detailed information about conditions while your home is on the market.
Availability
When you leave a message, we get back to you at our first opportunity. You will know who to turn to throughout your sale.
A dependable professional team
We connect you with painters, attorneys, photographers, organizers, stagers, and handymen to help get your home sold.
Integrity & transparency
We work with professionalism and integrity. We are upfront about the agreed commission and do not add administrative or transaction fees.
03 / Your selling journey
Every home has a story
3069 Monhegan Road
A thoughtful start. A strong debut.
Five months before listing, we began planning strategic improvements, expert staging, and a custom marketing plan. The home went under contract quickly after a carefully prepared launch.
4983 Sound View Drive
Support through a difficult transition.
For an out-of-state son handling his mother’s estate, we coordinated estate sale professionals, light updates, and staging. The home went under contract in 16 days.
3537 E Higgins Drive
A sale that fit the next chapter.
With guidance from our stager and fresh paint throughout, we helped a seller relocating to Georgia prepare and sell smoothly—even during slower conditions leading into the 2024 election.
1517 Faith Street
Smart pricing. Thoughtful presentation.
After just a year of ownership, the sellers needed to move back home. We listed $35,000 above their purchase price, received multiple offers in two days, and sold $15,000 over asking.
Past results are individual examples, not a guarantee of future performance. The CHS MLS 2025 Ranking Report by Sides notes: fewer than 20% of Charleston’s licensed agents sold more than 10 homes per year; the team averaged a sale every other week.
04 / Your selling journey
A considered plan for your home
From the first conversation to showing feedback, every detail has a purpose. Here’s what goes into marketing your property.
Listing consultation
We walk through your home, discuss upgrades and selling points, and explain how current market data relates to your situation. Together, we create a pricing and launch strategy.
Home staging & preparation
Your complimentary consultation with a Charleston-area professional stager helps highlight your home’s best features and appeal to a broad range of buyers.
Professional photography & video
Professional photos, walkthrough video, and twilight and drone photography where appropriate capture your home in its best light.
A complete MLS launch
Professional photos, detailed floor plans, thoughtfully written remarks, and strategic photo captions are ready from day one—not “coming soon.”
Paid digital advertising
Geographically targeted, omnichannel advertising puts your property in front of its intended audience across a broad network of websites.
Internet & social media
Google, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube help reach local and out-of-state buyers through reels, lifestyle content, open-house posts, and professional walkthroughs.
A custom property webpage
A dedicated page on LaurenZurilla.com brings together professional photos, listing highlights, and a direct MLS link in one easy-to-share destination.
Agent & referral networks
Local relationships and a national real estate coaching network connect your home with buyers and experienced agents across the country.
Additional advertising
Neighborhood “Who Do You Know?” postcards and our monthly newsletter introduce your listing to neighbors, engaged buyers, and referral contacts.
Showing feedback & refinement
We follow up with showing agents and use their feedback to fine-tune your home’s positioning and sales strategy.
Your launch, thoughtfully sequenced
Before the launch
Coming soon
We connect with The Boulevard Company’s network of over 300 agents and internal agent groups. Ask about opportunities to sell within the network before a public launch.
Ready from day one
Just listed
A complete MLS listing, property pages on our and The Boulevard Company’s websites, private-showing access, and distribution to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and other sites.
Keeping momentum
Social storytelling
A 12-week social media launch plan pairs professional video, neighborhood-focused stories, and purposeful content to build excitement and attract the right buyers.
05 / Your selling journey
Help buyers see themselves here
Staging isn’t decorating—it’s highlighting your home’s best features and creating a neutral, welcoming setting. How you live in a home is different from how you sell it.
The NAR 2025 Profile of Home Staging found 49% of sellers’ agents observed reduced time on market, and 29% reported an increase of 1–10% in the value offered. Individual outcomes vary.
A first impression worth making
Professional photography, lighting, walkthrough video, floor plans, and drone views where appropriate help local and distant buyers understand your home before they visit.
06 / Your selling journey
In our clients’ words
★★★★★“When it came time to sell our house in Hamlin Plantation, we wanted a real estate agent that knew our community and the market to help us achieve our goals. Selecting Lauren Zurilla and her team was the right choice for us. Her intimate knowledge of Hamlin Plantation was critical in helping us sell our home.”
Mark B.
★★★★★“She is informative, kind, but direct, smart & extremely thorough! She keeps you informed & keeps in touch like no other.”
Daniel W.
★★★★★“Her direction and insight into leading us to the right purchase to meet our needs was spot on. She and her team are helpful, thoughtful, kind, patient and professional.”
Kenny H.
★★★★★“Lauren helped us sell our home during a particularly trying time. She understood our needs and helped guide us through the process with compassion.”
Mark L.
Client review excerpts.
07 / Your selling journey
Prepare for your strongest first impression
Exterior preparation
- Keep the lawn immaculate; prune bushes, weed, and plant flowers.
- Clean and align gutters and pressure wash the home.
- Repair loose or damaged roof shingles, siding, and caulking.
- Add colorful annuals near the entrance in spring and summer.
- Keep the garage door closed.
- Refresh the front-door paint and add a new welcome mat.
Interior preparation
- Clean every room and remove clutter.
- Clear most items from kitchen counters and closets.
- Remove personal photos so buyers can picture their own lives here.
- Refresh soiled or strongly colored walls with neutral paint.
- Use a neutral approach to carpets and flooring.
- Check and repair cracks, leaks, and dampness in the attic and crawl space.
- Repair damaged plaster, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
- Replace cracked window panes, damaged molding, and woodwork.
Short notice. Ready to welcome.
One-hour show-ready checklist
We aim to schedule showings in advance, but a qualified buyer may be nearby. These finishing touches help you prepare quickly.
- Make the beds.
- Put personal clutter in a basket and take it to your car.
- Wipe down toilets and put the lids down.
- Clean countertops, sinks, and mirrors.
- Straighten clean, matching bathroom towels.
- Vacuum carpets and sweep floors.
- Sweep the front steps, wipe the mat, and clean front-door glass.
- Straighten sofa pillows.
- Open blinds and turn on lights.
- Set a comfortable temperature.
Common seller mistakes to avoid
Letting emotions lead
Your home holds memories. Try to approach pricing and negotiations as financial decisions, with your next chapter in mind.
Setting an unrealistic price
Use comparable properties and your agent’s guidance. An overly ambitious price can leave a home sitting on the market.
Not depersonalizing
Remove personal photos and highly individual decor so buyers can imagine making the home their own.
Skipping decluttering & staging
Clean, neutral rooms show off space, organization, and your home’s strongest features.
Overlooking small repairs
Broken doorknobs and other finishing details affect a buyer’s impression. Address them before listing.
Hiding major problems
Address known issues or price accordingly, and discuss required disclosures with your agent. Inspection surprises can undermine buyer confidence.
08 / Your selling journey
Why pricing & timing matter
Interest rates affect what a buyer can afford, even when the purchase price stays the same. Positioning your home means considering affordability as well as comparable sales.
Illustrative example: $1,500,000 purchase · 20% down ($300,000) · $1,200,000 loan
| Year | Interest rate | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.0% | $5,059 |
| 2026* | 6.76% | $8,504 |
A difference of $3,445 per month—over $41,000 a year—for the same home.
*Rates dated mid-September 2026 and shown for illustration only—not a current rate quote. The loan term is not specified; actual payments depend on loan terms and exclude taxes, insurance, and other costs. Ask your lender for a personalized illustration.
Rate-sensitive buyers and increased competition make thoughtful pricing, strong presentation, and a clear strategy especially important. We’ll guide you in positioning your home for qualified buyers.
09 / Your selling journey
Your questions, answered
How will we communicate?
We use your preferred method: text, email, or phone. Text is convenient for quick updates; for urgent matters or detailed decisions, a phone call helps ensure nothing gets lost in translation.
What can I find on your website?
LaurenZurilla.com includes property searches, local area information, market statistics, maps with schools, hospitals and shopping, and a blog with buying and selling insights.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve coastal Charleston and west toward Summerville. For areas outside our coverage, including Myrtle Beach and Beaufort/Bluffton, we can connect you with a trusted local partner.
Can you refer me to an agent elsewhere?
Yes. Our relationships across the U.S. and internationally help us connect you with an experienced agent who knows your destination.
Do you work with For Sale By Owner homes?
Yes. Send us the address and seller’s contact information. We can contact the owner, arrange a showing, gather property details, and help protect your interests throughout the process.
What are your hours? Do you work weekends?
Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–6:00 PM. Weekend appointments and after-hours availability for urgent needs accommodate the realities of buying and selling.
10 / Your selling journey
Before we meet
You know your home better than anyone. Bring notes on these three areas so we can tell its story well—along with two keys and any questions you’d like answered.
Favorite features
What do you love most about the home? What would a buyer not notice on a quick walk-through?
Updates & upgrades
List improvements, approximate dates, and any helpful details or documentation.
Community notables
Share what makes the neighborhood special: amenities, favorite places, and the everyday details you enjoy.
Lauren Zurilla & Associates
Let’s plan
your next chapter.
A conversation is the first step. We’d love to learn about your home, your goals, and what comes next.
Let’s talk about your home