Your Guide to a Successful Home Sale Timeline

Selling a home is an exciting journey, but it’s also a process that requires careful planning, strategic marketing, and patience. Understanding the timeline of a successful sale can help sellers set realistic expectations and feel confident every step of the way. This Guide to a Successful Home Sale breaks down the key stages of the home-selling process so you know what to expect.

1. Preparing Your Home for the Market (1–2 Weeks)

Before your home hits the market, preparation is key. This step ensures your property makes a great first impression and attracts serious buyers.

De-clutter and Clean: Remove personal items and deep clean every room.

Professional Staging (Optional): Staging can highlight your home’s best features and help buyers visualize themselves living there.

Photography and Marketing Materials: Photos and marketing materials are created to showcase your home online and in print.

2. Listing Your Home (1–2 Days)

Once your home is ready, your real estate agent will officially list it on the market.

MLS Listing: Your property is added to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), making it visible to other agents and buyers.

Marketing Campaign: Your agent will launch a marketing campaign, including social media posts, email blasts, and print materials. At Century 21 Sterling Combs, we ensure professional quality marketing materials are automatically generated within 24 hours of listing.

Showings Begin: Buyers and their agents can schedule showings to view your home.

3. Attracting Offers (1–3 Weeks)

During this phase, buyers tour your home, ask questions, and submit offers.

Clean and Tidy: You want buyers to see your home in the best light. It is important to keep the house clean and tidy throughout the sale process. Try not to use heavy or overpowering air fresheners, as not everyone appreciates the same smells. Keep items such as toys available to your children. However, enlist their help in keeping their stuff neatly put away when not in use. This will be an exciting time for the little ones.

Pets: Whenever possible keep knowledge of their presence to a minimum and remove them during a showing. Many people are allergic to cats and dogs. If you cannot take them with you, ensure that the showing agent knows the pet is in the house. Keep litter boxes clean at all times. Remember moving can be extremely stressful for pets.

Open Houses and Showings: Open houses and private showings give buyers the opportunity to explore your property.

Feedback from Buyers: Your agent will gather feedback from showings to identify any potential concerns or adjustments.

Receiving Offers: Once offers start coming in, your agent will help you review them. At your instruction, they will negotiate all the contract terms through the Buyers’ Agent. This includes agreeing on a sale price, other financial terms and a period for Due Diligence.

4. Offer Accepted and Under Contract (7– 21 Days)

When you accept an offer, the buyer and seller enter into a legally binding contract. The buyer now has a specified time period to carry out their due diligence processes.

Escrow: Earnest money funds are held in escrow by the closing attorney until closing.

Home Inspection: The buyer typically arranges a home inspection during the Due Diligence period to determine the condition of the property. They may also wish to have a pest inspection or a septic inspection where necessary. There is a wide variety of other specialized inspections, including swimming pools, chimney flues, roof, heating and air etc.

Negotiations: If the inspection reveals issues, the buyer will likely request repairs or a price adjustment.

Appraisal: If the buyer is financing the purchase, their lender will order an appraisal to confirm the home’s value.

5. Closing Preparation (2–6 Weeks)

After any contingencies are resolved, the sale progresses toward closing.

Moving: Good planning is the key to ensuring your move goes as smoothly as possible. Now is the time to choose your moving company and set a move out date. Buy, or have the moving company deliver a large supply of boxes and packing materials ahead of time. Contact your utility service providers to terminate the services on closing day.

Packing: It is never too early to start packing. Going through every drawer and cupboard in a long-term home can be daunting. It is also extremely time-consuming. In my experience it always takes much longer than anticipated.

Title Search: The title company ensures there are no liens or issues with the property’s title.

Closing Disclosure: The buyer receives a closing disclosure outlining all costs and terms of the loan. The seller receives a closing disclosure outlining any existing mortgage payoff and costs payable at closing.

6. Closing Day (1 Day)

Closing day is when ownership officially transfers from the seller to the buyer.

Final Walk-through: The buyer will do a final walk-through to make sure the property is in the agreed-upon condition.

Sign Documents: Both parties sign the necessary paperwork, including the deed and mortgage documents. The seller has the option to sign paperwork ahead of time.

Funds Transferred: The buyer’s lender transfers funds to the seller, and any outstanding mortgage is paid off.

Deed: The closing attorney will file the new deed or deeds with the required Register of Deeds.

Keys: The transaction is complete once the Deed has been recorded, and the buyer will now receive the keys to their new home.

Tips for a Smooth Sale

Work with an Experienced Agent: A knowledgeable agent will guide you through the process, handle negotiations, and ensure everything stays on track.

Set Realistic Expectations: Understanding the average timeline and potential delays, such as inspections or appraisals, can help reduce stress.

Stay Flexible: Buyers may request changes to the closing date or ask for repairs. Being open to negotiation can keep the sale moving forward to a successful and happy conclusion.

Selling your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right preparation and guidance, you can navigate the process confidently and achieve a successful sale. At Century 21 Sterling Combs, we specialize in helping sellers in North Carolina get the best results.

Thinking about selling your home? Contact us today to get started on your journey from listing to sold!