How to Jump-Start the Home Selling Process in 9 Steps

Janelle Waggener

04/22/25


Selling a home goes far beyond finding a qualified buyer, closing the deal, and handing over the keys. The home selling process can often be long and overwhelming if you are unaware of all the steps involved. From listing to closing, the timeline of selling a home depends on many factors, including demand, market conditions, and intense competition from other condos for sale in Downtown Nashville, TN. Luckily, there are some things you can do to jump-start the process and sell your property within an excellent timeline for a fantastic price. Read on to learn more.

1. Find a great real estate agent


Working with a trusted agent with expertise in the Downtown Nashville real estate market will significantly facilitate your experience as a seller. A good realtor will walk you through the process, help you create contracts, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you get the best possible offer. Furthermore, they will connect you with other critical professionals like appraisers, inspectors, lawyers, etc., who will also make your home-selling journey smoother.

2. Price your home to sell

A big mistake some homeowners make early in the selling process is not pricing it correctly. Before you list your home, you must talk to your real estate agent to create the right pricing strategy for your property. Working with a professional appraiser might be the best move in many cases. Research similar homes within the Downtown Nashville real estate market and set your price accordingly. Furthermore, consider conducting a pre-sale home inspection to consider repairs and issues when pricing.

3. Prepare your home

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Conduct all necessary repairs, upgrades, and replacements you deem necessary. Before closing the deal, a buyer will most likely conduct an inspection. Therefore, taking care of significant issues before the showings begin is always better. You may also want to consider staging your home to make it more inviting to potential buyers.

4. Take professional photos

In today’s tech-savvy world, most potential buyers will likely get the first impression of your property by looking at pictures of it online. Ensuring those pictures are high quality will help increase the chances of buyers wanting to see the property in person. Hiring a professional photographer is an investment that will help set your property apart from all of the other condos for sale in Downtown Nashville, TN. Remember — the better the listing pictures, the better the chances of getting more interested buyers knocking on your door!

5. List your home

Once you have a fair price and fantastic pictures, your realtor will put it on the market for sale. The online appearance of your property will make a huge difference in attracting the right buyers. Ensure that the copy on the listing is well-written and accurately describes the property. You may also consider investing in 3D online tours, drone videos, and other multimedia items to make the listing stand out.

6. Market your house


Although listing your property on the MLS means it will likely appear on all major home searching sites, doing some additional marketing is crucial to attracting the largest pool of potential buyers. Your realtor will be essential in this step, as their connections and network are excellent starting points. However, marketing your property by sharing it on social media, hosting open houses, etc., can significantly increase your chances of finding qualified buyers quickly.

7. Schedule showings


Once you start marketing the property, you’ll likely get interested buyers' responses. Many people will be walking in and out of your home daily during this step. Although your realtor will be responsible for showing your property, you can facilitate the process by always keeping your home clean and presentable to potential buyers. Start packing unessential items and remove personal decorations (like diplomas, family pictures, and kids’ drawings) if possible. Depersonalizing the property during showings will make it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there, increasing their chances of falling in love with your home!

8. Receive offers and negotiate

If interested buyers decide your property is their dream home, their real estate agent will contact yours with an offer. In this step, you can accept the offer, reject it, or send a counteroffer. Your realtor will advise you and help you determine and negotiate the best possible deal. If the market is hot and you get multiple offers, closely inspect each one and listen to your realtor’s advice about the best one. Although it might be tempting to go with the highest bid, some factors include the form of payment, contingencies, and down payment amount.

9. Close the deal


After accepting the best offer, the last step is to finalize and close the deal. For this, you’ll have to consider potential closing costs. These can include taxes, realtor commissions, etc. You’ll also need to gather the appropriate paperwork and communicate with your agent to ensure a smooth closing. Once all the paperwork is signed, provide the new owner with their keys!

Ready to sell?

Now that you know everything about what it takes to sell a home, jump-starting the process will be a lot easier. If you are ready to sell your property, contact an agent like Janelle Waggener. She will help you get the best price for your home and guide you in finding the best condos for sale in Downtown Nashville, TN, for your next investment. Janelle knows how to showcase your house effectively, market and promote it to qualified buyers, and sell it for the highest price. Start your communications with Janelle by contacting her directly.

*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock



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