Assuming you have a mortgage, you will want to first call your current lender provider and discuss your current finances about your home. Find out how much equity you have in your home, deduct selling expenses, and make sure to have some cash for making any necessary home improvements. Also, make sure that you have enough equity to put into your new home.

If you do not have a mortgage then a thorough review of the costs associated with selling will help you figure out how much you will be left with after closing. 

There is a lot that goes into selling a house, from marketing, to dealing with potential buyers, the tedious paperwork and closing on the home.

The process can be daunting unless you decide to hire a professional real estate agent. They have the training, resources and pull to make the home selling process significantly smoother. They may even help you get a great return on investment.

If you have decided to hire an agent to take care of all this for you, it is important to hire one that you feel will represent your home best and get it sold quickly and for top dollar.

Preparing to sell your home typically takes some work. Whether that’s your own sweat equity with some deep cleaning and home repairs or some professional improvements, you will need to get your home in top shape if you expect top dollar.

You want buyers to fall in love with your home like you did when you first bought it. So spend some time getting your home move-in ready, in a way that will appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers. Like painting that deep purple wall a more neutral color.

You will also want to think about getting a home inspection before you put your home on the market. A pre-inspection can help you avoid surprise repairs or issues with the home, that may turn away buyers. Buyers will most likely hire an inspector of their own and the more issues they find, the more turned off they may be with your home and back out of the offer.

Finding the right listing price for your home can be a challenge, but it’s one of the most important factors in a successful home sale.

Homes that are accurately priced are more likely to sell in a timely manner. According to CREA research, 57 percent of homes nationwide sell at or above the listing price when they accept an offer in the first week. In the second week on the market, that drops to 50 percent and trends downward as the weeks go on.

Your agent will have all the tools available to know exactly where to price your home.

My goal is to get your home sold quickly and at a high price. To do that, we must list it correctly from the beginning. This attracts a high amount of the right qualified buyers in your price range and helps to avoid receiving low offers.

Stage Your Home 

Staging your home to sell is an important part of the sales process. According to Forbes, for every $100 you put in to staging, you should see a return of $400. So if you are wanting to sell for top dollar, you might want to consider this important step.

Buyers expect to walk into a home and envision what it would be like for their family to live there. Therefore, you should do your best to make the home inviting and as neutral as possible. Highlight your home's strengths and downplay its weaknesses to appeal to the largest pool of prospective buyers.

Start with a few things that you can easily do yourself. Declutter, clean and depersonalize: Too much stuff in a room can make your home feel small, crowded and lacking in storage. And having too many personal items, like family photos, can make it hard for buyers to picture themselves living in the home.

But, home staging is more than just cleaning and getting rid of clutter. You may want to opt to hiring a professional stager if you are looking to sell your home for top dollar.

A professional home stager has the design latent, knowledge of local trends, and resources to ensure all areas of the home are presented in a manner that showcases the greatest value and appeal.

Staging your home is about creating an inviting space that attracts a majority of potential homebuyers, which provides you with an amazing opportunity to sell your house at the best price.

Once your home is ready for buyers, the next step is getting your listing in front of as many buyers as possible. To do so, your agent will hire a photographer to get professional photos, set up your home on the MLS, and begin to advertise your home. All agents have different ways of marketing your home. It is important to ask your agent what their marketing plan is.

At this stage, your home is now on the market and potential buyers are making appointments for showings and they are ready to make an offer.

If you priced your house competitively, you should soon receive an offer, if not multiple offers. If offers are lower than your asking price, don’t hesitate to make a counteroffer or ask for full price. You can also change any of the terms in the offer that better suits you. Buyers like to “test the waters” to see how you might respond, while still making room for negotiation.

Once an offer is accepted, it is signed and legally binding. It is important that your offer contain all requirements as there will be no going back to make changes.

Navigating the conditional period can be a crucial time for sellers in the real estate process, and having a knowledgeable real estate agent by your side is essential. During this phase, your agent will expertly guide you through the home inspection and appraisal processes, ensuring you are well-prepared and informed.

Your agent will help you understand what to expect during the home inspection, addressing any concerns that may arise and facilitating clear communication between you and the buyer. They can also advise you on how to make minor repairs that could enhance the value of your home and improve the overall impression.

When it comes to the appraisal, your agent will provide insights into comparable sales in your area, helping you present your home's value accurately. They will advocate for your interests, ensuring the appraisal reflects the true market value of your property.

With their expertise, your real estate agent will help you navigate this critical period with confidence, keeping the lines of communication open and working diligently to ensure a smooth transaction from start to finish. This support ultimately helps you stay focused on your goals and ensures a successful sale.

After an offer is accepted, it's time to prepare for closing. In this step, the buyer will have the opportunity to do a home inspection, finalize their financing, and your home will likely be appraised if the buyer is using a lender.

Be prepared that each of these steps could come with some setbacks. The buyer might back out of the deal if something major is found during the home inspection. The buyer could also lose their financing and lastly, your home could come in under value or over value during the appraisal and cause some issues.

This is why it is so important to have an agent by your side to help you avoid these hurdles and get your home sold quickly and with ease.