A Step By Step Guide To The Home Selling Process

A realistic photo of a real estate contract clipped to a black clipboard on a wooden table, accompanied by a small wooden house model and a silver house key. The image includes bold white overlaid text that reads: "A Step By Step Guide To The Home Selling Process."

Selling your home can feel overwhelming. In fact, it’s often more stressful than buying one. But with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be. When you take the time to plan, research, and surround yourself with experienced support, you’ll have the confidence to make informed decisions—and walk away with the results you want.

At Real Deal Network, we believe that every home seller should feel empowered, not anxious. Whether you’re making a move or setting yourself up for your first investment, it all starts here—with a step by step guide to the home selling process.

Start With Why: Understand Your Motivation

Before anything else, get clear on why you’re selling. Are you relocating? Scaling up? Downsizing? Looking to free up capital?

Knowing your motivation sets the tone for everything that follows—your timeline, your pricing expectations, and your next move after the sale.

Study the Market Before You List

Take time to study the trends in your local market. Are homes selling fast? Are prices holding steady or dropping?

Keep an eye on seasonal shifts and buyer demand. But also remember: just because your home is in a familiar market doesn’t mean your next investment should be.

A step by step guide to the home selling process includes a broader view: sometimes, it pays to think beyond your zip code. Your sale could fund an even smarter move elsewhere.

Choose the Right Agent

This part is critical. The right agent makes the process smooth, stress-free, and successful.

Interview agents. Ask about their marketing strategies, experience with similar homes, and how they’ll position your property for top-dollar offers.

At Real Deal Network, we also connect our sellers with professionals who understand not just the sale—but how to guide you into your next opportunity.

Price Smart to Attract the Right Buyers

Work with your agent to set a competitive listing price. Price too high, and buyers won’t bite. Price too low, and you leave money on the table.

A well-priced home attracts more attention, more offers, and often—better terms.

Create a Marketing Plan That Stands Out

In today’s digital-first world, a strong marketing plan is a must. This includes professional photography, video walk-throughs, virtual tours, and targeted online advertising.

Make your home shine online and in person. The right exposure drives real interest.

Prep Your Property for Success

Declutter. Clean. Make minor repairs. First impressions matter.

Boost curb appeal and stage rooms to show off your home’s best features. These small efforts often result in quicker sales and higher offers.

Handle Showings and Offers Like a Pro

Be flexible with showings and open houses. The more buyers who see your home, the better your chances of getting strong offers.

When offers come in, don’t just focus on price. Consider contingencies, closing timelines, and financing terms. Let your agent help you negotiate smartly.

Understand the Escrow Process

Once you’ve accepted an offer, you’ll enter escrow. This is the period when the buyer finalizes financing, completes inspections, and the appraiser assesses the value.

Stay engaged during escrow. Respond quickly to requests to keep the process moving.

Get Ready for the Appraisal

The appraisal affects everything. Make sure your home is in great shape and any updates or improvements are clearly documented.

If the appraised value comes in lower than the offer, work with your agent to address it.

Close With Confidence

At closing, you’ll sign final paperwork, hand over the keys, and complete the transaction. Congratulations—you’ve just sold your home.

Now, the real question is: what’s next?

A Step By Step Guide To The Home Selling Process Includes What Comes After

Selling your home isn’t just about a transaction—it’s about transformation. What will you do with the equity? Could it be time to invest?

A step by step guide to the home selling process isn’t complete without considering how to make your next move count.

In fact, many sellers discover that their current home market may not be the best place to reinvest. At Real Deal Network, we help sellers like you explore stronger, more profitable markets across the country—often through our exclusive property tours and investor education events.

Join Real Deal Network for Your Next Step

Whether you’re preparing to sell, already under contract, or planning what comes next—Real Deal Network is here to help you succeed long after the closing table.

Join us for an upcoming introduction meeting to explore your post-sale possibilities, or take the next step by attending a property tour in one of the many high-performing markets we visit.

Don’t stop with just a successful sale. Let us help you turn that sale into a strategy for long-term wealth.

Eric Counts is an entrepreneur, speaker, and strategic marketing consultant with over 15 years of experience helping individuals and businesses reach their financial and professional goals. Best known as the founder of CreditNerds.com, Eric has helped thousands of people improve their credit, build wealth, and gain access to real opportunities through education and systems that work. When he’s not building businesses or training new marketers, Eric helps support The Real Deal Network, a growing community of real estate investors and aspiring entrepreneurs who are serious about changing their financial future.