Selling your home can be a complex and overwhelming process that often coincides with a major life event. If you’re considering putting your home on the market, the best way to do it is step by step. As a real estate broker, my job is to simplify the process as much as possible for my clients, help them get the best possible price, and be there to support them in this important transition, step by step.

First, find a realtor you can communicate with and trust. Communication is extremely important when buying and selling a house because you want to feel comfortable expressing yourself openly with your realtor so they can adequately represent you. Most people sell because there is a change in their life. Your family is either shrinking or growing. Maybe you’re going through a divorce, or you need to move to a different city or state. Your realtor will be an important part of what is often a very personal situation. So you want to work with someone you can trust, as you will be involving them in your personal life.

Next, your realtor will create a comparative market analysis to determine a suggested listing price. We all love our homes and have often invested time and money into making our house a home. If you are emotionally attached, it’s hard to be objective, which is why it’s important for your realtor to advise you on the best possible selling price for your property. During the COVID pandemic, the market went crazy and sellers could list at high prices, but that is no longer the situation. It’s important for sellers to be realistic about their selling price, or the house won’t sell. A comparative analysis is the only way to determine the price per square foot and calculate an accurate selling price.

The third step is deciding when you want to sell your home. Of course, you can sell at any time of the year, but the best time is when spring arrives, through the summer, and into the fall. Because we are in the mountains, there may be specific areas that are more difficult to access in winter and may not be as appealing to a buyer. It’s also important to show the house when the lawn is green, and the landscape is full of vegetation so that your property looks its best.

Then, your realtor should develop a comprehensive marketing plan that will include professional photography, listing your property on the MLS, and other syndicate websites like Zillow and Realtors.com. I always list all my properties above $1 million on Forbes Global Properties and Luxury Portfolio to gain exposure in international markets. The marketing plan can also include things like print advertising and social media campaigns.

Showing your home is one of the most important steps in the selling process. Your realtor can advise you on how to prepare your home before showing it. There’s a lot you can do to make your home more appealing to a broader group of buyers, from cleaning and painting to adding some plants and fresh flowers. Once the house is ready to be shown, your realtor will work with you to create an “Open House” plan for both the public and other realtors.

Once offers start coming in, your realtor’s job is to help determine which is the best for you. I create a form comparing all the offers that come in and the differences between them. Generally, the most important components of an offer are the contingencies and the price. Contingencies in real estate transactions allow one or both parties to withdraw from a real estate contract if certain specified conditions are not met. For example, if an inspection is conducted and there are problems in the house that were not disclosed or are unknown, and the seller does not agree to fix those problems or give the buyer a credit, the buyer may withdraw from the contract. In general, fewer contingencies make an offer stronger.

Once you are under contract, time is set aside to ensure all contingencies are met. If everything is completed on time and both parties agree to the terms of the contract, it’s time for the big finale: Closing Day.

Sellers must be prepared to vacate the property before the buyer’s final walkthrough. Then it’s time to sign the documents to finalize the deal so that funds can be transferred to the seller. Then the deal is done!