The questions every seller should ask, answered.
Interviewing agents? Here are straight answers to the questions sellers ask us most, from how we price and market your home to what happens if you want out of the contract.
How much have you sold in this area recently?
Over the past 12 months, we closed $7.3 million in sales across El Dorado County, in a market where buyers are taking their time and homes are staying on the market longer. That's well above the typical Realtor's annual sales volume of $2.7 million, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2026 Member Profile. On every listing, our goal is to beat the market average through firm, experienced negotiation.
We also bring a longer view than most. Our family has been selling homes in this county since 1965, so we've watched the market rise, fall and recover many times. That history helps us price your home with confidence, so you don't leave money on the table.
Do you work full-time? Will I work with you or a team?
Real estate isn't a side job for us. It's a family business, and we both do it full-time. You work directly with the owners of the firm, never a junior assistant:
Doug Zeller
35 years of hands-on field experience and negotiation in El Dorado County.
Nicole Zeller
20 years of office management, transaction coordination and compliance.
How long is your contract, and can I cancel?
Our standard listing agreement runs six months, but we believe we should earn your business every day of it. If you need to cancel, there is a $500 cancellation fee. We're not here to lock you in. We're here to get you moved.
What is your commission, and what does it include?
Our fee is competitive for full-service representation. But after six decades in this business, we've learned the commission is rarely the most important number on your closing statement. The number that matters is your net equity: what you actually walk away with.
A low fee can cost more.
An agent who discounts their own pay before the first meeting may give ground just as quickly when a buyer's agent asks for $20,000 in repair credits.
Experience protects your price.
Low appraisals, El Dorado County fire insurance hurdles, inspection repair requests: these are where skilled negotiation saves sellers real money.
Do the math.
Saving 1% on commission doesn't help if your agent can't prevent a 5% price drop during escrow.
Every home and every seller is different. When we sit down together, we'll walk through which services make sense for your sale.
How will you market my home?
Every full-service listing includes professional photography, a 3D virtual tour and targeted digital marketing. We own and operate our own 3D camera rather than hiring it out, because we've found the quality is better when we do the scan ourselves. Listings with a 3D tour tend to hold buyers' attention longer online.
Our most valuable marketing, though, is relationships. Doug has been building his network in this county since 1991, and we often know who the buyers are before they ever search on Zillow.
How will you vet potential buyers?
A pre-approval letter is only the start. We look at the lender's reputation and the buyer's agent's track record, so the buyer in your living room can actually make it to closing. Most deals fall apart at inspections and appraisals, and holding a deal together through those moments is where we excel.
Ready to talk about your home?
We meet by appointment, on your schedule. Call or email and we'll set up a time to walk through your property and your goals.