The Selling Process
A clear process designed to position your property, attract the right buyers, and navigate the transaction from strategy through closing.
From first conversation to closing.
Every sale follows the same arc. Knowing the shape of it in advance is what keeps the process calm. Select any step to see what it involves in more detail.
Establish what a successful sale actually looks like for you — timing, relocation plans, and financial objectives.
What we cover
- Time constraints
- Relocation
- Financial goals
- Other goals
Review the property's condition alongside current competition, recent comparable sales, absorption, and how buyers are behaving right now.
What we cover
- Competing properties currently for sale
- Competing properties recently sold
- Subject property condition
- Absorption rate
- Odds of selling
Determine how the property should be positioned in the market and set an asking-price strategy built on the property, the competition, recent sales, and current demand.
What we cover
- Market positioning
- Asking-price strategy
- Comparable recent sales
- Current competition
- Present level of demand
Identify the repairs, improvements, staging, and cosmetic work that improve presentation and support the positioning strategy already set.
What we cover
- Necessary repairs and improvements
- Staging
- De-clutter
- De-personalize
- Cosmetic interior enhancements
- Cosmetic exterior enhancements
Take the property to market across the appropriate channels, from private listing networks and the MLS through digital, social, and direct outreach.
Channels
- Private Listing Network
- Multiple Listing Service
- Sotheby's International Realty website syndication
- Digital advertising
- Social media advertising
- Virtual tour
- Direct mailing
- Open house
Coordinate qualified buyer showings, gather feedback, monitor how the market is responding, and keep you updated throughout.
What we cover
- Showing feedback
- Weekly updates
Evaluate offers on more than price — terms, buyer strength, and contingencies — and negotiate toward the strongest overall outcome.
What we cover
- Offer to purchase
- Counteroffers
- Negotiation
- Offer accepted
Guide the transaction through attorney review, inspection, earnest money, appraisal, financing, and the other contractual contingencies.
What we cover
- Attorney review
- Inspection
- Initial earnest money
- Balance earnest money
- Financing
- Appraisal
- Inspection-item resolution
Coordinate the final walkthrough, remaining documentation, move logistics, recording, disbursement, and your proceeds.
What we cover
- Final walkthrough
- Seller documentation
- Buyer and mortgage documentation
- Recording
- Seller paid
- Final clean, movers, and utilities
What you can start on now.
The parts of the process you control, pulled out of the nine steps above. Tick items off as you go — your progress is saved in this browser, so it will be here when you come back.
This checklist mirrors the process above and is a starting point for conversation, not a substitute for advice on your specific property. Every sale is different — we will work through yours together.
Wondering what your property could achieve?
Let's talk about your goals, the property, and the strategy that gives you the strongest position in the market.
Start a Conversation