Steps to Selling a House

If you’ve never sold a house before, you might be intimidated about where to start. Or maybe this isn’t your first time, and you’d like a refresher on the steps to selling a house.

With the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reporting a slight drop in mortgage rates in June, there are indicators that the market is heading towards normalcy. It’s only a matter of time before buyers transact with more confidence, making this prime time for you to sell to buyers who can do cash offers and buyers who need financing alike.

Ready to get started? We spoke with Jody Parrish, a top agent in St. Louis, Missouri, who completes 28% more sales than the average area agent, to get the details. This guide will teach you about the necessary steps to selling a house in 2024, from start to finish.

Get your house in order

Once you’ve decided to sell, the first thing to do is get your house — and your mindset — in a place that’s ready to hit the market. Before contacting a real estate agent, you might want to take the following steps to see what your house might sell for.

Check home value

Chances are you’re curious about what your house will sell for in 2024. To check your home value, use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. This tool utilizes your home’s location, age, size, and more to calculate what it’s worth. Getting a handle on this number can help you figure out your goals and your budget for your next place.

Calculate equity and estimated net proceeds

Of course, your house’s value isn’t what you’ll end up pocketing at the end of your sale. To get a better idea of what you’ll be walking away from the transaction with, you’ll have to calculate your equity and estimated net proceeds. Use HomeLight’s Net Proceeds Calculator to determine how much you’ll make from your home sale after paying off your mortgage and factoring in closing costs.