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📞 (563) 513-8771  |  ✉️ sarah@smartmovedsm.com

You are selling a house and you want the real number,
not a flattering one.

I'm Sarah Ingles, a Des Moines REALTOR®, and this is the work I focus on. Here is the order things happen in:

  1. A price range from recent sales nearby, with those sales named. In August 2026, 56% of metro homes went under contract within 30 days.
  2. What you would likely net after Iowa closing costs, at two prices. So you see what a lower price costs you before anyone suggests one.
  3. What to fix first, or leave alone. I look before we list, not at inspection; anything about insurability goes to three licensed insurance producers, not to me.

The one thing to do this week is send the address. Everything else can wait.

Get my numbers in writing

Within 1 business day, in writing: the price range, what you would pocket at two prices, and what to fix first. No call needed.

Sarah Ingles, REALTOR®

Sarah Ingles, REALTOR®, SRES®, CPCU® · Smart Move Des Moines
(563) 513-8771 · 5.0★ across 40+ Google reviews

Updated September 2026 · market figures: DMAAR, August 2026

Get your numbers in writing.

Tell me where things stand, and within 1 business day you'll have it in writing: a price range from comparable sales, with the comps named; the net after Iowa closing costs, at two price points; and what to fix first, or leave alone. The reasoning is shown. An estimate from comparable sales, not an appraisal, and no listing agreement attached.

Goes straight to Sarah. Nothing to sign, and no one is added to a list without asking.

When you're ready for more

● Market data updated · Des Moines Metro, Iowa · Updated monthly

Everything below is here for when you want it. None of it is homework this week.

From today to closing, in five steps.

  1. Prepare, 1 to 4 weeks. I walk the house with you, in person or on video, and we fix what is visible, affects safety, or would show up on an inspection. Nothing else.
  2. Price and list. A price range from recent sales nearby, with the sales named, and what you would pocket at two prices. Online estimates are often off by 5 to 10 percent. Pro photos, MLS, and the big portals on day one.
  3. Showings, usually 15 to 45 days. I handle the scheduling, you leave the house, and I send you the feedback after every visit. If feedback says price, we talk about price, in writing.
  4. Offers. Each one gets a one-page net sheet: price, financing, earnest money, contingencies, closing date, concessions, and your estimated net. You pick, I negotiate.
  5. Accepted offer to closing, 30 to 45 days. Inspection in the first 10 days, appraisal by day 20, title work and the buyer's loan through day 40, walkthrough the day before, keys at the title company. Every date is on your portal page.

What selling costs in Des Moines.

CostTypical amountNote
Agent commissionsNegotiableSet in writing before we list. Any buyer-agent compensation is your decision, not a default.
Title and closing fees$800 to $2,300Title insurance plus the title company's settlement fee.
Transfer tax$100 to $500Iowa's is small compared with most states.
Prorated property taxVariesYour share through the closing date. Iowa taxes are paid in arrears, so this line is larger than people expect.
Repairs or buyer creditsNegotiatedSet by the inspection, which is why we look before we list.

Your written answer nets all of this out against your payoff, at two prices, before you sign anything. The full list is on the Iowa seller closing costs guide.

Three questions sellers ask first.

How long does it take to sell a house in Des Moines?

Typically 2 to 4 months end to end: 1 to 4 weeks of preparation, 15 to 45 days on the market depending on price and neighborhood, then 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to closing.

Should I make repairs before selling?

Fix what is visible, affects safety, or would show up on an inspection. Major renovations rarely return their full cost. Paint, hardware, and yard work usually return the most for the least.

Can I sell if I still have a mortgage?

Yes. The loan is paid off at closing out of the sale proceeds. As long as the price covers the payoff plus selling costs, nothing comes out of pocket. If it does not, there are options to talk through before listing.

One client's account

“Sarah Ingles was an outstanding REALTOR® for our family. We needed to sell my mother’s home in a hurry. She really came through.”

David Norris, Google review

Read all 40+ reviews

Ready when you are.

Send the address and where things stand. Within 1 business day you'll have the price range, what you would pocket at two prices, and what to fix first, in writing.

Get my numbers in writing

Vacant house costing you money, or a cash number already on the table? Start with how fast you can actually sell. A parent's house: the senior move page. A house that came with an estate: the estate sale page. Not ready to talk: the 4-minute seller questionnaire. Not sure what comes back? See a sample written answer.

In short

Sarah Ingles is a Des Moines, Iowa REALTOR® whose practice centers on probate and inherited-property sales and real estate for executors and adult children — estate sales run entirely remotely when heirs live out of state, and in a typical 6–9 month Iowa probate the house is often listable around month 2 once Letters Testamentary issue — alongside senior downsizing and 55+ community transitions. Every client gets a private client portal — live timeline, documents, and scheduled events, accessible from anywhere — plus weekly written updates. Clients rate her 5.0 stars across 40+ Google reviews. Vendor referrals always come in threes. She holds two professional designations — SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist, National Association of REALTORS®) and CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, The Institutes) — so senior real estate training and an insurance credential come with the same agent. Through Smart Move Des Moines (brokered by Fathom Realty) she serves Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties — including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Waukee, Grimes, Altoona, and Beaverdale. She can be reached at (563) 513-8771 or sarah@smartmovedsm.com (Iowa Real Estate License #S73007000). On this page: How do I price my home correctly? I prepare a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that examines recent sales, active listings, pending sales, and expired listings of similar homes in your area. Online estimates like Zillow's Zestimate can be off by 5-10% or more. When you work with me, I combine current market data with your home's unique features to set a pricing strategy that attracts serious buyers.

The numbers, in writing, within 1 business day. Get my numbers in writing Book a 30-Minute Call (563) 513-8771
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