{"id":35920,"date":"2023-10-31T14:33:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T21:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=35920"},"modified":"2025-04-28T11:14:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T18:14:53","slug":"how-to-sell-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-sell-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sell a House in 10 Simple Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve decided to sell your house sometime in the near future. However, a lot must happen between now and that bittersweet moment when you hand over the keys. To keep your stress levels at a minimum, it\u2019s essential to know how to sell a house.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a first-timer or simply need to brush up on home-selling 101, you may be looking for clarity on what to repair before selling<\/a> and when to contact a Realtor<\/a>. You must also learn how to set an asking price<\/a>, how long does it take to sell a house<\/a>, and when your buyers will move in.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find those answers and more here. Let\u2019s review how to sell a house in 10 simple steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

Step one: Talk to an expert!<\/h3>\n

Connect with a top agent near you to get an expert opinion on how much your house will sell for and what to fix before listing.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get started<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n

1. Pick a move-out date and work backward<\/h2>\n

According to Marc Austin Highfill<\/a>, a real estate agent with 24 years of experience who has helped sell more than 2,000 properties in the Richmond, Virginia, area, sellers should decide when to close and set milestone goals between now and that endpoint.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I have found works best is to work a timeline backward,\u201d he says. \u201cWe ask, \u2018When do they want to move out of the house?\u2019 That means looking at when they want to move. Then it\u2019s when they need to be under contract, and then when we need to be actively listed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nTypical timeline<\/strong><\/td>\nDownsizing<\/strong><\/td>\nSell for cash<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listing prep<\/strong><\/td>\n2-3 weeks<\/td>\n6-12 months<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Time on market<\/strong><\/td>\n2-4 weeks<\/td>\n2-4 weeks<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Time to close<\/strong><\/td>\n5-6 weeks<\/td>\n5-6 weeks<\/td>\n1 to 3 weeks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total time<\/strong><\/td>\n2.5-3.5 months<\/td>\n8-15 months<\/td>\n1 to 3 weeks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Review the rough estimates above to get a ballpark idea of how long it takes to sell a house. Then, consider your circumstances and decide how much preparation you\u2019ll need. Work with your agent to lay out a plan from there.<\/p>\n

The typical home sale often requires around two to three weeks of preparation, and two to four weeks listed on the market. However, those timelines can change based on the seller\u2019s goals and personal situation, as well as your local housing market conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to sell a house in 10 clear steps, including when to contact a Realtor, what to fix before selling your home, and how to close the deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":324,"featured_media":35923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[323,319],"tags":[251,294],"class_list":["post-35920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-quick-tips","category-selling-advice","tag-how-to-sell-a-house","tag-how-to-sell-your-house"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Sell a House in 10 Simple Steps<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to sell a house in 10 clear steps, including when to contact a Realtor, what to fix before selling your home, and how to close the deal.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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