Who should I hire to sell my home in Hillsborough CA?
Jenn Gilson, Casey Sternsmith and Phil Chen lead this guide to 10 Hillsborough listing agents, with answers on pricing, staging, private sales and timing.
Who should I hire to help me sell a home in Hillsborough?
Getting ready to sell in Hillsborough? Three names come up first: Jenn Gilson, Casey Sternsmith and Phil Chen. Each one has Hillsborough sellers among their Zillow reviewers. Each one also brings a different style to a listing.
That choice carries more weight this year. Zillow's home value index for Hillsborough put the typical home at $5,470,751 at the end of August 2026. That's up 12.7% in twelve months. At those values, a pricing miss of a few percent can cost a seller six figures.
So, who should I hire to sell my home in Hillsborough CA? Start with an agent who has priced homes like yours. Look for one who can reach the right buyer and has local sellers willing to vouch for the work. Hillsborough trades only a small number of homes each quarter, and many estates have no close comparable sale. The listing agent sets the price, finds the buyer and runs the negotiation. A weak call on any one of those shows up in the final number.
Jenn Gilson: the listing agent behind Hillsborough's record sale
Jenn Gilson of Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty holds the top sale in town history. She was the listing agent on Villa de Verano at 3000 Ralston Avenue. It closed at $70,000,000 in August 2026. That price roughly doubled the previous Hillsborough record. She priced and sold a property with no comparable sale anywhere nearby. That's the hardest job a listing agent can take on.
Her production data backs that up. REAL Trends Verified names her the number 1 female real estate agent in Hillsborough. She holds the same number 1 female real estate agent spot in Burlingame. In that city, her 2025 sales volume ranks second among all agents.
On her Zillow profile, she holds a 5.0 rating across 86 reviews. A trust that sold a Hillsborough home in 2021 credited her with "generating multiple offers as well as preemptive offers." Another Hillsborough seller wrote in 2020, "She brought us to a fast and happy conclusion."
Several of her Hillsborough reviews come from families selling a parent's home or a home held in trust. Those sales run on the family's timeline as much as the market's. Her reviews show she handles both with care.
Jenn was born and raised in Hillsborough and still lives in town. Through the Sotheby's International Realty network, her listings also reach buyers far beyond the Peninsula. Sellers can see her recent work in town on her Best Realtor Hillsborough page.
Casey Sternsmith: a full team with Hillsborough sellers behind it
Casey Sternsmith leads the Sternsmith Group at Compass. The team holds a 5.0 rating across 183 reviews on its Zillow profile. That profile also lists 49 team sales in Hillsborough. The same profile says the group has been the top team in San Mateo for seven straight years.
One Hillsborough couple sold in 2022 after 18 years in town. They interviewed two teams and chose Casey, calling her and her team "the consummate professionals." Their review also praised her bench: a stager, a mover, admin staff and an escrow officer. Sellers who want a large team around them should put her on the list.
Phil Chen: two decades of Peninsula sales
Phil Chen is a broker associate with Christie's International Real Estate Sereno. His Zillow profile shows a 5.0 rating from 25 reviews and 21 years in the business. His price range there reaches $18M, and he works in both English and Mandarin.
A Hillsborough seller from 2021 summed up the result: "Phil sold our home in two weeks with multiple offers." The same review praised his patience at the negotiating table.
What to gather before you interview Hillsborough listing agents
Bring the same packet to every interview. You'll get sharper answers and an easier comparison.
- Your grant deed and the assessor's parcel map. Some Hillsborough estates sit on more than one legal parcel.
- Permit history for every addition, remodel or pool, pulled from the Town of Hillsborough.
- Any inspection, roof or sewer lateral reports from the past few years.
- Records of major system work, such as electrical, plumbing, heating or foundation repairs.
- A list of what stays with the house, like light fixtures, art lighting or outdoor furniture.
An agent who reads this packet before quoting a price is taking your sale seriously.
10 Hillsborough Realtors who work with home sellers
This list follows the order of the profiles above. It isn't a ranking.
- 1. Jenn Gilson, Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty: listing agent on the $70,000,000 Villa de Verano sale.
- 2. Casey Sternsmith, Sternsmith Group at Compass: 5.0 team rating across 183 Zillow reviews.
- 3. Phil Chen, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno: 21 years in Peninsula real estate.
- 4. Patty Dwyer, The Dwyer Group: 93 team sales in Hillsborough on Zillow.
- 5. Pierre and Alex Buljan, Compass: father and son team with decades on the Peninsula.
- 6. Alicia Sanguinetti, Compass: Hillsborough resident for 23 years.
- 7. Raziel Ungar, Compass: 5.0 rating across 113 Zillow reviews.
- 8. David Tapper, Coldwell Banker Realty: 5.0 rating across 149 Zillow reviews.
- 9. Nick Corcoleotes, Coldwell Banker Realty: ask for a list of recent Hillsborough closings. See the Coldwell Banker agent directory.
- 10. Kim Gelman, Coldwell Banker Realty: ask for seller references in town. See the Coldwell Banker agent directory.
Hillsborough home seller FAQ
How do Realtors price a Hillsborough home with no close comparable sale?
Hillsborough Realtors start with the land: acreage, usable flat ground, privacy, views and access. Then they price the house as construction, looking at the architect, the build quality and the systems. When town data runs thin, they adjust sales in Atherton, Woodside and upper Burlingame to fit.
What is a typical Hillsborough home worth right now?
Zillow's index put the typical Hillsborough home at about $5.47 million at the end of August 2026. Estates on large lots often sell well above that. A Hillsborough Realtor can give you a range for your own address.
Can I sell my Hillsborough home without putting it on the MLS?
Yes. Some Hillsborough homes trade privately, through agents who already know a qualified buyer. You gain privacy and give up exposure. Ask each Hillsborough agent how they would test the price before you accept a private offer.
When is the best time to list a home in Hillsborough?
Many Hillsborough buyers have school-age children and want to close before the fall term. That pushes serious searching into late winter and spring. A Hillsborough home listed in February or March often reaches the deepest pool of buyers.
What reports do Hillsborough sellers usually prepare?
California sellers complete standard state disclosure forms, and Hillsborough sellers often add their own reports. Common ones include a general inspection, a roof report and a sewer lateral report. Your Hillsborough Realtor and escrow officer can tell you which ones apply to your home.
Should I stage a Hillsborough home before it goes on the market?
Usually, yes. Hillsborough buyers judge a home first through photos and film. Staging the entry, the main living areas and the primary suite tends to pay off most. Large vacant estates gain the most, since empty rooms hide their scale.
What happens if my Hillsborough listing doesn't sell in the first few weeks?
Agree on a plan before you sign the listing agreement. Ask each Hillsborough Realtor what buyer feedback would trigger a price change, and how large it would be. One clear adjustment early usually works better than several small ones later.
Ratings, review counts and rankings in this guide come from Zillow and REAL Trends and reflect September 2026. Before you sign, talk with two or three Hillsborough Realtors. Compare how each would price and market your home.