When it is time to sell your house, you need to make sure you are working with an agent who understands your needs and the market in your area. The last thing you want is to invest time, energy, and money into a marketing approach that falls flat, leaving your house on the market for too long and devaluing your property to the consumer. Below you’ll find a simple checklist that can help visualize the selling process.

First, find your agent. Just like when you searched for your real estate buying agent, now you should be looking for a selling agent who has experience with homes of your size and in your area. The important thing to remember here is not to focus on how much the seller will discount their commission. Instead, keep in mind that there is a lot that goes into selling a home, so your selling agent is absolutely going to earn their fee. If you’re also looking to purchase a home you’ll be moving to, it’s critical to get the timing right.

Open escrow. A title company prepares a title report and knowing if any errors need to be addressed before the closing date. Once that is completed, an escrow account is opened for the buyer to deposit earnest money. A representative from the title company will often be able to tell you how much you will earn from the sale of the house.

Inspections and preparations. With the paperwork in full swing, now it is time to prepare your home to sell. This means you need to order and pay for standard inspections. Depending on where you live, this can include a total home inspection of pools, roofs, and chimneys. While waiting for the inspections to be completed, you should be working with a professional cleaning company to prepare your home for the market. Once cleaning is complete, you might consider painting and landscaping to make it more enticing for potential buyers.