So, you’re ready to sell your historic home. What comes next?

Selling a historic home is never just a real estate decision. It is a personal one—often shaped by responsibility, transition, and a deep respect for stewardship.

Many owners reach this moment for thoughtful and legitimate reasons.

You may be facing a new stage of life—retirement, relocation, or a desire to downsize. You may find that the responsibility of maintaining a historic property, with its specialized materials and skilled craftsmanship, has become more demanding over time. In some cases, preservation costs begin to outpace available resources, and owners make the intentional decision to place the home in the hands of someone prepared to continue its care properly.

Others recognize that while historic homes offer unmatched character and beauty, they may no longer align with modern living needs, accessibility requirements, or daily routines. Estate planning and inherited properties also play a role, as heirs may value the home deeply but lack the ability or desire to assume stewardship.

In many cases, sellers simply want to see their home truly appreciated—protected, preserved, and valued by a buyer who understands its significance.

Whatever the reason, selling a historic home is not about walking away from its story. It is about ensuring that story continues.

So how do you choose the right agent—one who can position your home for the right buyer?

Let’s look at how sellers typically select a representing agent.

When selling a standard home—one without historic designation or architectural significance—many homeowners choose a friend, a neighbor, or someone recommended through a personal connection. Others return to the agent who helped them purchase the home. Often, sellers gravitate toward the agent with the highest number of sales in the area.

That approach may work for a conventional property.

But does any of that matter when selling a historic home?

The answer is no.

Historic homes are not commodities. They are irreplaceable assets with architectural integrity, craftsmanship, and legacy that require specialized knowledge to market properly. Selling a conventional home often involves minimal effort: entering the property into the MLS, allowing it to syndicate to platforms such as Zillow, Homes.com, and Realtor.com, and waiting for activity.

In many cases, very little intentional marketing is done. Very little storytelling is applied. And very little investment is made in truly selling the home.

Historic homes deserve more.

They require representation that understands architecture, preservation, and buyer psychology—someone who knows how to communicate not only what the home is, but why it matters.

Because when a historic home is sold correctly, it doesn’t just change hands.
It passes from one steward to the next—with its value, integrity, and legacy intact.

To schedule a confidential consultation

Linda A Garner, Realtor, Historic Preservation Consultant

Email: Linda.garner@eradelmarva.com