Once you’ve made the decision that the time is right to sell your home, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and what to expect. There are some stages of the selling process that seem pretty straightforward, while at other times, there are things that sellers often don’t consider that can impact the final sale price and the timeline for making the sale. Here are some guidelines for what to expect when selling.

Before Listing

Hire An Agent

The first step in the process is to find a real estate agent that you trust. A good way to start is to ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. Make sure to find someone who has experience selling homes in your area within a comparable price range.

Not working with an agent yet? Click here to browse our network of trusted real estate professionals to find someone local who aligns with your goals.

Prepare Your Home

The longer you’ve been living in your home, the more likely you are to have acquired some clutter. The earlier you start organizing and decluttering your home before listing it, the better. Donate any items that you don’t plan to bring with you, and move any personal belongings that may add to visual clutter into a storage unit. You may want to hire a professional cleaning service to ensure your home is in top condition before listing.

Undergo Necessary Repairs

It can be useful to schedule a pre-sale home inspection to identify any structural or mechanical issues with your home that you may not have noticed. Catching and repairing any issues before listing will save you time later on when the interested buyer hires their own home inspector.

Set a Reasonable Listing Price

A frequent mistake sellers make is starting with an asking price that is too high, then lowering it periodically. This can turn off potential buyers. Your listing price should be based on a comparative market analysis done by your agent, which takes into account the sale prices of similar properties recently sold in your area. 

Hire a Stager

A stager is a worthwhile investment to make your home look its best and stand out from other homes on the market. A home stager will be able to arrange furniture in a way that will enhance the space, making it appear larger and brighter. 

Get Professional Photographs Done

Studies have shown that homes marketed with professional real estate photography sell faster and for more money. Similar to a stager, a professional photographer will be able to make your space look larger, brighter, and more appealing to potential buyers.

After Listing

Considering Offers

You and your agent can decide whether you want to go the route of an open house or whether you’d prefer to schedule private viewings. Once the offers start coming in, your real estate agent will be able to advise you on negotiations. Be sure to consider all terms of the offer, such as form of payment, contingencies, proposed closing date, etc., not just the final listing price. If you and your agent decide to make a counteroffer, provide a short time frame for the buyer to respond within. 

The Closing Process

Once you’ve accepted an offer, the closing process can typically take several weeks or more. During this time, you’ll need to resolve any issues that may be required, like title issues, undergo a home inspection, schedule any necessary repairs, and wait for the buyer’s financing to be approved. 

If you need to sell your current home to purchase your next one, be sure to communicate this to your real estate agent early on. They can help you align timelines and structure contracts to ensure a smooth transition between properties, giving you enough time to move from one home to the next without unnecessary stress or delays. 

Get more details in our free Informed Seller’s Guide to help you navigate the home-selling process.