By Jaime Silveria

Last month, I shared an article about how to prepare your home for the real estate market, focusing on viewing your home through a buyer’s eyes. We covered key steps like decluttering and depersonalizing the interior to help potential buyers imagine themselves living there. We also talked about the importance of curb appeal — since that first impression when a buyer pulls up can make all the difference in whether they’re eager to step inside or decide to move on. Now that your home is market-ready, let’s take a look at what the next steps in the selling process entail.

The next crucial step, taken in partnership with your trusted listing agent, is scheduling professional photography to showcase your property in the best possible light. This may require coordinating schedules and making a few adjustments, but it’s absolutely worth the effort. In today’s digital-first world, presentation matters more than ever, as a buyer’s first impression of your home often comes from the photos they see on sites like Zillow.com, Realtor.com, and Homes.com. That’s why it’s essential your agent hires a professional photographer, not someone snapping pictures with a cellphone. While phone cameras have improved, there’s still a noticeable difference between amateur and professional listing photos. To help ensure everything looks its best, I give my clients a detailed checklist to prepare for photo day, covering everything from checking light bulbs and clearing countertops to removing pet beds and rugs. The goal is to keep the focus on the space itself, so buyers can picture their own lives there, not be distracted by personal items.

Once the photos are complete and your realtor activates the MLS listing, your home is officially ready to be shown—so it’s time to stay prepared. Your home will make the best impression if it’s kept clean and organized. While buyers understand you still live there, doing your best to maintain a neat, orderly space will go a long way. Flexibility is key during this stage; the more available your home is for showings, the better. Ideally, try to keep showing notice to just 1–2 hours rather than requiring 24 hours or more, which can limit opportunities. If you have pets, it’s best to make arrangements to have them out of the home during showings. This allows buyers to tour freely without distractions or concerns about pets. The easier you make it for buyers to view your home, the more likely they are to choose yours over another.

Whether it’s after one showing or several, once you’ve accepted a Purchase Agreement, you’re officially in escrow! This means you received an offer, perhaps with some negotiation on price or terms, and both parties have come to an agreement. So, what’s next? While it might feel like your job is done until move-out day, there’s still more to navigate. During escrow, the buyer begins their due diligence process. Even if you’ve already provided pre-inspection reports, which are strongly recommended, the buyer still has the right to conduct their own inspections. They may choose to repeat a home or pest inspection with professionals of their choice to confirm the home’s condition and avoid any surprises after closing. Depending on the property, additional inspections such as septic system checks or well water tests may also be necessary. These inspections typically occur within the first 17 days of escrow, though that timeline can be adjusted during the negotiation of the purchase agreement. It’s important to remain flexible and available during this period so the buyer can complete their inspections promptly, keeping the escrow process moving forward smoothly.

Closing on a home involves more steps than what I’ve briefly outlined here, but I hope this gives you a general idea of what to expect up to this point. I’m often asked about the process when I’m out and about, and it makes sense—most people only buy or sell a home a few times in their lives, so it’s natural to have questions. Over the years, I’ve aimed to share useful insights and offer fresh takes on common real estate topics, and I hope these updates have been helpful to you. If there’s ever a specific question on your mind or a topic you’d like me to explore, feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to provide guidance and shed more light on the real estate process.

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