"How long will it take to sell my house?" is the first question every seller asks, and most answers are useless because they skip two-thirds of the timeline. Here's the whole thing, start to finish, with current numbers.

Phase 1: Prep (2 to 4 weeks, and it's up to you)

Decluttering, the small repairs buyers notice, deep clean, photos, disclosures. This phase is the one sellers control completely, and it's the one they underestimate. A home that launches fully prepped tends to sell faster than one that "figures it out along the way."

Phase 2: On the market (here are the real numbers)

• Napa County: median 54 days on market (Redfin, 3 months ending September 2026).
• Solano County: median 48 days.
• Vallejo: median 39 days.
• Fairfield: median 43. Vacaville: median 38.

Important: those are medians of homes that sold. Overpriced homes don't average anything. They sit, then cut, then sit some more, and end up in somebody's "120 days on market" horror story.

Phase 3: Escrow (about 30 days)

Once you accept an offer, a typical financed escrow in California runs about 30 days: inspections, appraisal, loan approval, signing, closing. Cash deals can move faster. Contingent deals (the buyer has to sell their home first) can move slower.

The honest total

For a typical Napa or Solano seller who preps properly and prices at the market: roughly 3 to 4 and a half months from "let's do this" to keys handed over. Faster if your home shows great and the buyer is strong. Longer if you test the market with a wish price.

If you want the realistic timeline for your specific home, that's exactly what a free home value and seller consult is for. I'll walk it, tell you what to fix and what to skip, and give you a real number. No flattery, no pressure.

Sources: Redfin Napa County, Solano County, Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville market data (3 months ending Sept 2026).