Steps to Sell Your House

Your Home. Your Timeline. Your Pace.

Some people start planning the sale of their home years in advance. Others call me on a Tuesday and want to know if they can be on the market by Friday or sooner. Anything within that continuum is possible — and I have done both.

That said, a typical timeline looks something like this. Think of it as a roadmap, not a rulebook.

Weeks 1–2: Let’s Talk

We sit down together — no rush, no pressure — for a relaxed and detailed conversation about how the whole process works. Then we walk the property together, inside and out, and talk honestly about what improvements or repairs, if any, might make sense.

Along the way we will cover:

  • Landscaping and curb appeal — what is worth doing and what is not.
  • A room-by-room conversation about what furniture and artwork stays, what goes into storage, and whether staging makes sense for your home.
  • Your inspection options — which ones are appropriate, which are not, and what should be scheduled.
  • Any mandatory local ordinance requirements and relevant estimates.
  • Preliminary paperwork that allows me to get to work on your behalf.

Meanwhile I will be taking detailed notes on your property so I can research how it compares to recently sold homes in your neighborhood.

Weeks 2–3: Research, Inspections & Decisions

We meet to go over my market research and land on an approximate listing price — which we can fine tune closer to launch, if needed.

I will accompany every inspector, walk through their findings with you and help you decide what to address and what to leave alone. If additional specialists are needed — an engineer, a roofer — we get those scheduled, too.

We will also:

  • Decide which inspection findings to correct and schedule any necessary work.
  • Meet with the stager, review the estimate and decide how to proceed.
  • Complete disclosure documents and additional paperwork.
  • Begin moving unneeded furniture and belongings into storage if that is part of the plan.

Weeks 3–4: Getting Ready

This is where everything comes together:

  • Repairs and improvements are completed.
  • Pest control work, if any, is done.
  • Mandatory requirements are satisfied.
  • The house is clear, clean and — if we are staging — beautifully presented.
  • All inspection reports are in hand.
  • I photograph the interior and exterior and begin designing your marketing materials.

No off-the-shelf templates. Every photograph studied carefully, every marketing piece built around the personality of your specific property.

Week 4: Market Debut

This is the moment. Open houses, broker tours, private showings and the full launch of your marketing campaign — all at once, with intention and energy.

In general, my listings receive offers within the first two weeks on market. That is not luck. That is preparation.

Weeks 7–8: The Buyer’s Turn

  • Buyers provide an escrow deposit when they enter contract. Some contracts have contingencies, some do not. It depends on the number of offers on your home and market conditions.
  • Buyers complete their own inspections.
  • The appraiser visits and the loan process begins, if the buyer is acquiring a mortgage.
  • The preliminary title report is generated and delivered for the buyer’s review.

Weeks 8–9: Commitment

  • Buyers complete inspections and the loan process.
  • All reports and disclosures are approved.
  • The buyer commits to completing the purchase, meaning there are no further buyer contingencies to finalizing the sale.
  • If staged, the stager is cleared to begin removing items.
  • You start making your final moving plans.

Weeks 10–12: The Finish Line

Time to move. The house needs to be free of all personal belongings and broom clean — and then we are ready.

  • You sign your final transfer documents.
  • The buyer’s loan is funded and closing documents are signed in your or the buyer’s attorney’s office on closing day.
  • On the day escrow closes — closing day — you receive your proceeds and hand over the keys.

You are done.

Start to finish, the process from preparing for market to receiving your check generally runs about three months. But this timeline is infinitely adaptable — and it will be tailored entirely to your situation, your pace and your life.

“. . . I lost count of how many times I called Mary for advice—or simply because I needed someone to talk to—throughout the process of selling our home. The truth is, we were going through a very difficult chapter in our lives, and somehow she made what could have been an overwhelming experience feel manageable.

She always answered her phone, always made time for us, and never made us feel like we were asking too many questions—even when we needed to hear the same explanation more than once. She was patient, transparent, reassuring, and professional from beginning to end.

On top of all that, she's simply exceptional at what she does. Her judgment, experience, and genuine care for her clients were evident in everything she did. That kind of dedication doesn't happen by accident—it comes from years of experience and a sincere commitment to the people she represents. Thank you, Mary. . . ”

— Mark and Cathy Z.
Send Mary a message here