Thinking About Selling? | Your Howard Team | Willamette Valley Real Estate

Your Howard Team — Ruth and Frank Howard, licensed brokers at Equity Oregon Real Estate — helps homeowners in Canby, Oregon City, Salem, Woodburn, and across the Willamette Valley sell their homes with honest guidance, skilled negotiation, and thoughtful preparation.

Seller Resource Guide · Your Howard Team

Your Home. Thoughtfully Represented.

Whether you're ready to list or just starting to think about it, here's everything you need to know about working with Your Howard Team.

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Who We Are

A Husband-and-Wife Team. Real People. Real Experience.

Your Howard Team is Ruth and Frank Howard — licensed brokers at Equity Oregon Real Estate. You're not getting a big team or a franchise. You get us.

Ruth & Frank Howard — Your Howard Team

Ruth Howard

Principal Broker, Oregon · Certified Home Stager/Redesigner · Virtual Interior Design & Decorating

Ruth holds an HSR staging certification and additional training in virtual interior design and decorating — giving her a practiced eye for how spaces look, feel, and photograph. She leads marketing strategy, client communication, and the presentation of every home Your Howard Team lists. She specializes in helping people navigate major life transitions with patience, empathy, and genuine care.

Frank Howard

Broker, Licensed in Oregon · Negotiation · Real Estate Development · Facilities & Maintenance

Frank brings a depth of practical experience that goes well beyond what most agents offer. He is a skilled negotiator — when offers come in, inspection responses need crafting, or repair credits are on the table, he advocates firmly and strategically for your bottom line.

His background in real estate development means he understands how homes are built, what city planners look for, how municipal processes work, and what drives property values at a structural level. He works regularly with planning commissions and coordinates complex development projects, giving him a perspective on property that most agents simply don't have.

Add to that decades of experience overseeing facilities and home systems, and Frank can walk into almost any home and immediately recognize what's been well maintained, what needs attention, and what's likely to surface during a buyer's inspection — before it becomes a problem in your transaction.

"Together, we offer both strategy and substance — warmth and real-world experience."

Local Expertise

Rooted in the Willamette Valley

We live and work here. These aren't just markets to us — they're our neighbors, our communities, our home.

Canby Oregon City Salem Keizer Woodburn Hubbard Wilsonville Aurora & Surrounding Areas

The Selling Process

What Selling With Us Looks Like, Step by Step

Selling a home doesn't have to feel overwhelming. Here's a clear picture of what to expect from first conversation to closing keys.

Consultation

We meet, listen, and understand your goals, timeline, and situation — no pressure.

Home Prep & Styling

Ruth walks your home and makes practical recommendations to help it show at its best.

Pricing Strategy

We walk you through all three pricing strategies and give you our honest recommendation.

Photography & Marketing

Professional photos, MLS, AI-optimized listing description, digital marketing, and social reach.

Showings & Offers

We manage showings and help you evaluate every offer. Frank negotiates on your behalf.

Contract to Close

We stay with you through inspections, negotiations, and every step until keys change hands.

Listing Prep & Styling

We Help Your Home Show at Its Best

Ruth's HSR staging certification and training in virtual interior design and decorating mean a practiced eye on every listing — working with what you already have, not staging from scratch.

"We help sellers prepare their home to show at its best by working with what they already have whenever possible."

Trained Eye Walk-Through

Ruth walks your home before listing to identify what to keep, what to move, and what to edit out — based on what photographs well and shows clearly.

Furniture Placement & Flow

Strategic rearrangement that improves room flow and makes spaces feel more open and functional — no rentals or major purchases required.

Finishing Touches

Artwork, pillows, and accessories layered in to make spaces feel polished and photo-ready. Small edits that make a real difference in how a room reads.

Curb Appeal

We look at the full picture from the street and give specific guidance on improving the home's first impression for online searches and in-person showings.

Vendor Coordination

When outside help is needed — landscaping, cleaning, minor repairs — we connect you with trusted local professionals at no markup.

Photo-Ready Results

Everything we do is designed for one goal: a home that photographs beautifully, makes a strong first impression online, and shows well in person.

Marketing Your Home

More Than an MLS Entry

Every home deserves a thoughtful marketing plan. Here's how we put yours in front of the right buyers.

Professional Photography

First impressions are made online. We coordinate professional photos before anything else.

MLS Listing & AI Search

Every listing description is carefully written to perform in traditional MLS search and AI-powered tools like Zillow, ChatGPT, and Google. We stay current on how buyers actually find homes.

Digital Portals

Strategic reach through Zillow, Realtor.com, and major property portals to connect with active buyers.

Social Media

Facebook and Instagram exposure with targeted posts designed to reach local Willamette Valley buyers and their networks.

Email & Network

Your listing goes to our buyer leads, past clients, and local network — people who are actively looking right now.

Open Houses

When it makes sense for your home, we host strategic open houses to generate activity and gather real buyer feedback.

Pricing Strategy

Honest Feedback. Then a Strategy That Works for You.

If we think a price is too high, we'll say so, show you the data, and explain the risks. Then we build a plan together from three clear options.

Comparable Sales Analysis

→Recent sold prices for similar nearby homes
→Adjustments for size, condition, and features
→Days-on-market for comparable properties
→List price vs. final sale price ratios
→Active listings your buyers will compare against

Current Market Conditions

→Inventory levels and buyer competition in your area
→Buyer demand trends in your neighborhood
→Seasonal timing and pricing leverage
→Interest rate environment and buyer purchasing power
→Our honest read of where your home fits right now

Three Strategies — We Present All of Them

Aggressive

Price below or at the low end of market value to drive multiple offers quickly. Best when speed matters most.

Fast sale · multiple offers · less negotiation room

Market Price

Positioned at fair market value based on comps and conditions. Attracts serious buyers without leaving money on the table.

Balanced · strong buyer pool · realistic timeline

Aspirational

Price at the top of the range or slightly above. More time on market likely. We'll be honest about the risks and what it takes to hold there.

Higher ceiling · slower pace · requires patience

"If you're thinking about pricing high, we'll share the data, the risks, and our honest recommendation — then respect your decision."

What It's Like to Work With Us

What You Can Actually Expect

We're not going to promise things we can't deliver. Here's what we genuinely commit to.

Honest Communication

We tell you what we see — including on pricing. If we think a price is too high, we'll say so, show you the data, and explain the risks before you decide.

Responsive & Accessible

You'll always know where things stand. We communicate proactively and respond promptly — no waiting days to hear back from your agent.

Skilled Negotiation

Frank is a strong negotiator. When offers come in, inspection responses need crafting, or repair credits are on the table, he advocates firmly and strategically for your outcome.

Empathy First

We work with a lot of people navigating life transitions — downsizing, estate situations, retirement moves. We understand the emotional weight of selling a home.

Local, Not Corporate

We're not a big team or a franchise. You get Ruth and Frank — two people who are directly accountable for your outcome.

No Pressure, Ever

We never push, rush, or use tactics designed to create urgency. When you're ready, we're ready. It's your timeline, your decision, your home.

Trusted Referrals

We Know Good People

Over the years we've built a network of trusted local professionals we refer with confidence. If you need any of the following before, during, or after your sale — just ask.

Painters

Interior and exterior painters who do quality work at fair prices — great for pre-listing touch-ups or full refreshes.

Electricians

Licensed electricians for inspection items, panel upgrades, and repairs that come up during the listing or transaction process.

Plumbers

Reliable plumbers for everything from minor repairs to larger issues that surface during inspections.

General Contractors

Contractors for repairs, small renovations, and pre-listing improvements that could meaningfully increase your home's value.

House Cleaners

Professional cleaning services for deep cleans before photography, open houses, and move-out situations.

Yard & Landscaping

Landscaping and yard cleanup crews who can quickly improve curb appeal before your home hits the market.

Flooring

Flooring professionals for refinishing hardwoods, replacing carpet, or installing new flooring to freshen up a space before listing.

Estate Sales & Pickup

Estate sale companies and donation pickup services for clearing out a home — especially helpful for downsizers and estate situations.

Probate Attorney

A trusted attorney for estate and probate situations. We work with families navigating these transitions regularly and can connect you with someone who handles them with care.

To request a referral, text or email Ruth or Frank directly.

Before We Meet