So you've decided to sell your house. Before anything else it's a good idea to sit down and clarify your motivations and draw up a basic time frame for the selling process.

1.1 Why do you want to sell your house?
Why do you want to sell your house? Do you intend to simply find a larger home, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city or state? You might think your reasons are obvious, but it would do well to consider the implications of each option for your family's lifestyle, opportunities and finances. Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier for an agent to determine the most appropriate option for your specified financial, lifestyle and real estate goals.

1.2 When Should I Sell?
You should immediately establish your time frame for selling. If you need to sell quickly, you can speed up the process by hiring an experienced agent as opposed to selling it yourself. If there's no pressing need to sell immediately, you can sit down with an expert real estate agent to thoroughly review the current market conditions and find the most favorable time to sell.

1.3 When Should I Sell?
When you work with an agent, you can be sure that you'll have agent knowledge, expertise and negotiating skills at work for you to arrive at the best market prices and terms. Your agent will keep you up-to-date on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and conditions of competing properties. You will know exactly how to price and when to sell your home.

1.4 How Do I Optimize My Finances?
Deciding to sell your home demands a serious consideration of your current financial situation and future possibilities. With the help of a qualified agent, you'll be able to effectively assess the cumulative impact of these changes, estimate potential proceeds of selling your home, and plan effective tax savings and estate planning strategies. Your agent will ensure that you not only take control of your finances, but use them to their fullest potential.

You can do a lot to increase the appeal of your dream home and create a lasting impact on potential buyers.

3.1 Curb Appeal. Keeping your landscape pristine, and adding creative touches to your yard such as colorful annuals, will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers.

3.2 House Repairs. Simple upgrades such as window repairs, polishing the doorknobs, and a fresh lick of paint in the most frequently used rooms instantly brighten up your home.

3.3 Cleanliness and Staging. Keep your home uncluttered, sweet-smelling and well-lit from top to bottom. Pay attention to details: put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers in the hall, pop a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven, have your carpets cleaned. Let your agent check the house before you accept any potential buyers to see how you can improve the staging further.

3.4 Showtime. Presenting your home to potential buyers is a job that your listing agent will take care of for you. Buyers feel more comfortable discussing the property with the agent if you're not there. Moreover, your agent will know what information will be most useful in representing your interests when speaking with prospective buyers.

4.1 The Price Isn't Always Right.
"The higher the price, the better the offer." Don't let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price isn't always the determining factor in choosing among multiple offers, for several important reasons: the initial offer is never final, and there are a number of terms and conditions that may influence the final outcome of a price. You can trust your listing agent to help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position.

4.2 Negotiating The Right Way.
Your realtor takes the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It's agent job to find a win-win agreement that's beneficial to all parties involved. Oftentimes you will have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you - and your agent will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of these offers to help you make the right choice.

4.3 The Initial Agreement and Deposit.
Once an offer is ratified, the home seller and buyer will agree upon the amount for the good faith deposit and set up an escrow account. This reflects the buyer's intention to purchase your property and ensures that no funds or property will change hands until all instructions in the transaction are followed.

Some Important Tips. Keep these tips in mind to streamline the process even further:

• Keep written records of everything. For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements of everything from counter-offers and addendums, and convert them to written agreements to be signed by both parties. Your agent will assist you in drafting addendums in your contract to ensure you've got all the bases covered.
• Stick to the schedule. Now that you've chosen your offer, you and the buyer will be given a timetable to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations. During the process your agent will keep you constantly updated so you'll always be prepared for the next step.

5.1 The Title Company.
The buyer selects a title company, whose job it is to examine and insure title to real estate. After researching the complete recorded history of your property, they'll certify that

1. Your title is free and clear of encumbrances (eg. mortgages, leases, or restrictions) by the date of closing, and
2. All new encumbrances are duly included in the title. They'll draw up a preliminary report at the end of the process, which your listing agent will go over with you in details.

Now that your transaction on your home is well on your way to a successful close, it's time to start preparing for your next home.

Your real estate agent, will help you articulate and prioritize your goals for this next project and get you off to a good start by finding the best interim arrangement for you while you're in between homes or help with finding your next dream home.

If you've come this far, then this means only one thing: congratulations, you've successfully sold your home! Don't forget to tie up these loose ends:

7.1 Final Walk-Through Inspection.
More of a formality than anything else, the final inspection takes place a day before the transaction is closed. The buyer visits your property to verify that all is in working order.

7.2 Cancel Home Services and Utilities.
Your agent can provide a list of useful numbers for the termination of home services and utilities as of the date of the closing.

7.3 Be Prepared.
Your agent is ready to assist you should an unforeseen glitch pop up, even at this last stage. Something at the house breaks down, the buyers' loan doesn't pull through on time - no need to worry. She or he encountered these problems before so they know how to handle these problems efficiently.

7.4 Closing.
The title company furnishes the principals with a settlement statement, which summarizes all the financial transactions enacted in the process. At closing you and the buyer will sign the final documents for the Title Company. They'll record the transaction for you and the buyer at the County Recorder's Office. At closing you'll then receive your proceeds, and the buyer will become the new owner.