Selling a home might seem like a complicated process – and it can be. But with the right guidance, it can also be smooth and rewarding. You just have to know what to do. Agents at The Masiello Group have been selling homes for decades, and we've mastered the process, making it an exceptional experience for all.

That's why we've come up with this 10-step roadmap to give you a clearer idea of what it takes. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the seller's process.

#1 Meet With a Real Estate Professional

Step one...meet with a real estate professional.

This may sound like a big first step, but trust us - there is no commitment necessary. Your initial meeting can be whatever you want it to be. If you're just looking for education or you know you're ready to go, it's up to you – but it is highly recommended to use an agent throughout your entire process. Here's why.

Real estate professionals are called professionals for a reason. They know both the seller's and buyer's processes inside and out and can handle any twist, turn, or change that presents itself. You won't be bothered about the little things unless you want to be. You can trust that they will provide the kind of guidance you simply won't get doing it on your own.

Real estate professionals also have access to things you may not. Housing market updates, a network of potential buyers, knowledge of your local community, and proven marketing tactics, to name a few.

So, how do you choose the right person to work with? We recently wrote a blog post full of questions to ask when hiring someone, and you can read it here.

If you're interested in working with one of 600 top-rated, experienced agents in northern New England, Better Homes and Gardens The Masiello Group has some amazing options. Reach out to get in touch!

#2 Strategically Establish a Price

Pricing your home is an extremely important part of the selling process. On one hand, you want to make the most money possible on the home you've known and loved. But, on the other hand, you want it to be reasonable enough to spark potential buyers' attention.

In step one, we talked about the benefits of working with a real estate professional, and this is another area that it comes into play.

Your agent knows your local housing market inside and out, and will provide you with what is called a market analysis. It is important to look at this analysis carefully and price your home accordingly. With a deep understanding of your unique goals, your agent will be able to help you determine a price that best fits your needs.

If you are interested in learning more about how agents determine the value of a home, check out this blog post.

#3 Prepare Your Home

Step three is to prepare your home. This is where you will view your home through the eyes of a buyer and ask yourself what you would expect to see. There are a couple of key things that go into this step, including cleaning, staging, and photographing.

A couple of things to remember are:

1) Depersonalize the space

2) Clear out clutter

3) Position furniture to appeal

4) Check for good lighting before you photograph

5) Take photos of all rooms and features you love

Remember to ask yourself, "what would I expect to see if I was a buyer?"

#4 List It

When step three is finished, you'll move on to step four – listing. It is in this step that your real estate agent will officially put your home on the market! If you have a good agent, there shouldn't be anything else you need to do here. And once it's done, you should be able to find your home on popular listings sites like Zillow and Realtor.com.

Pro-tip: Be sure to share your listing on your social media and ask your friends to share it with anyone who may be of interest. It's easy, free, and you'll get buzz stirring - maybe even a potential buyer!

#5 Showings

It is crucial to make it easy for potential buyers to view your home – so that may take some flexibility on your end. There may be times when someone wants to view your home on short notice, and if you can't accommodate, you might miss a potential sale!

Pro-tip: You don't need to be around for these showings. You just need your house to be readily available. A good agent will handle the rest, helping potential buyers see everything there is to love about your home.

#6 Offers and Negotiation

If everything goes well in the showings, a buyer (and most often the agent who represents them) will reach out to your agent and present them an offer. They might even receive multiple offers assuming the market is hot. And this is where your real estate agent will really start to shine.

Once you've received an offer for your home, there are several steps your agent will take to keep the process of selling your home on track. An offer is the first step toward a signed Contract to Purchase, but first, you have negotiations to work through. Don't get offended if you get lowballed, or the buyer demands feel wild or unusual. These initial offers are designed for rounds of negotiation. And these intricacies are why you hired an agent.

This part of the process can be tricky because there is a lot to look at and a lot to know. Luckily, your real estate professional knows it from the inside out. They will know what to look for, what to negotiate, and what ultimately to accept based on your unique situation.

#7 Choosing an Offer

Remember, your agent is there to help you sort through and understand offers, making an informed decision about the right one to accept. Official offers and finalizing a Contract to Purchase also comes with a lot of paperwork -- deposits must be handled appropriately, and the buyer may need additional information that your agent should have in the property file.

By the time you've been walked through everything, you should feel confident in your final decision. And if you don't, your agent will work with you until you are! Don't be afraid to ask questions or to say how you feel. The ball really is in your court, and your agent is here to help.

#8 Under Contract

At this point, you and the buyer have agreed to all of the terms of the offer, and both parties have signed the agreements. While under contract, the buyer will work with their mortgage provider to finalize the loan and perform other due diligence.

Loan approval is a significant element of a successful sale (which is why sellers will often ask for proof of funds or pre-approval letter), and as such, your agent will spend time tracking the process. They will:

1) Confirm that the verification of deposit & buyer's employment has been returned.

2) Follow the loan processing through to the underwriter.

3) Add the lender and any other vendors to the transaction management program so agents, buyers, and sellers can track the progress of the sale.

4) They will contact the lender weekly to ensure that processing is on track.

5) When the buyer is approved, they will relay the final approval to the seller.

#9 Inspection

Your buyer and their lender will require a home inspection before loan approval. Along with the appraisal, this is an essential element. Your real estate agent will work with you to coordinate the buyer's professional home inspection. If issues arise, they will assist you with identifying and negotiating with qualified contractors to perform any repairs required by the seller or their loan underwriter.

They will also negotiate payment and oversee the completion of all the necessary maintenance on your behalf if needed. Once you've accepted an offer for your home, there are many moving parts to handle before closing. But you don't need to be overwhelmed by this - your agent has the experience, expertise, and contacts to assist you and make the process as smooth as possible. Should a problem arise, they are there to help you resolve it, whether hiring a contractor for needed repairs or explaining the appraisal or home inspector's report.

#10 Closing

This is the final step of the process and arguably, the most exciting! Once all of the details have been ironed out by the title company, the transfer of funds and ownership occurs, and your sale becomes official. You've sold your home!

Depending on when your buyer moves in, you will need to be packed and ready to go. We have a great blog post written with everything you need to know about what to do after closing. Check it out here.

We hope this 10-step roadmap helped give you a better understanding of what the seller's process looks like. If you're stuck on step one, we'd love to help. Our real estate professionals are some of the best in the industry and have spent years working through this process with many others! Let's talk about your real estate goals and accomplish them together.

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The Masiello Group is a second-generation family company that has been a trailblazer in New England real estate since 1966. With now more than 35 offices throughout northern New England, we're the largest residential real estate firm north of Boston to offer a complete suite of home services, including buying, selling, mortgage, title, insurance, relocation, and more.

You can find more information on today's market and other real estate trends by reading our blog weekly at https://www.masiello.com/news-and-updates/.