A step-by-step guide to selling your home

The Eight Steps

From listing prep to signed and closed.

1. 01

   Step 1

   Understand Why You're Selling

   What do you actually want out of this sale? A certain net number to roll into a bigger home? A quick close so you can relocate? Peace of mind that you're not leaving money on the table? Once we know the goal, we can price and market accordingly. Selling for speed and selling for maximum price look different, I'll help you decide which mix is right for your situation.

2. 02

   Step 2

   Determine the Selling Price

   Pricing is the single most important decision in a home sale. Price it right and you attract the strongest interest and cleanest offers in the first two to three weeks. Overprice and the listing goes stale; underprice and you leave money on the table. I'll walk your home, pull true comparables in your neighborhood, and give you an honest read on what today's Central Minnesota buyer will pay.

3. 03

   Step 3

   Start Preparations

   Once pricing is set, we get the house ready to show at its best. That usually means decluttering, depersonalizing so buyers can picture themselves in the space, knocking out small repairs, and doing a deep clean top to bottom. I'll tell you exactly what's worth doing and what isn't, no point spending a dollar that won't come back to you at closing.

4. 04

   Step 4

   Develop a Marketing Strategy

   I run a full marketing plan on every listing: professional photography, thoughtful staging guidance, targeted social and paid distribution, MLS syndication, agent-to-agent outreach, and Zillow/Realtor.com exposure. My goal is to pack the strongest possible traffic into the first three weeks on market, that's when the right buyer usually appears.

5. 05

   Step 5

   Evaluate Offers

   Getting an offer is exciting, but it's not the finish line. I evaluate every offer for price, terms, contingencies, and, critically, whether the buyer is actually financially qualified to close. If an offer's short, we don't just say no; we look at counters, closing-cost concessions, repair credits, move-in date flexibility, or included appliances to find a middle that works.

6. 06

   Step 6

   Accept an Offer

   Once we land on an offer that works, I review the contract to make sure everything is buttoned up: deposit amount, financing terms, inspection rights, repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and who pays which fees. When both sides sign, the property is officially under contract.

7. 07

   Step 7

   Get Ready to Close

   Now we run the pre-closing punch list, inspection, appraisal, any repair work, title paperwork, and coordinating with the buyer's lender and the title company. I stay on top of every deadline so you don't have to. A few days before closing, I confirm with the title company that everything is set. And don't forget to plan your own move-out so the buyer can take possession on time.

8. 08

   Step 8

   Close

   At closing, you legally transfer ownership to the buyer. I'm at the table with you to sign off and iron out any last-minute items. This is also the moment to wrap up your side, utilities, cable, lawn service, mail forwarding, and instructions for any appliances that stay with the home. Then you cash your check and start the next chapter.