How a home sale usually unfolds, stage by stage

Every sale moves at its own pace. Market activity, the condition of the home, how quickly decisions can be made, and the dates buyers ask for all affect timing. The stages below are an outline to help you plan questions, not a schedule.

Understanding what the home might sell for, what preparation could help, and what selling would cost. This stage can be short or can take as long as decisions need.

• Can be slowed by: waiting on advice, agreeing who is involved
• Helped by: having basic property details ready

Everyone with authority over the property confirms the decision to list, how they are represented, and how communication will work. Nothing is listed before this is in place.

Cleaning, small repairs, decluttering, and arranging photography and measurements.

• Can be slowed by: larger repairs, coordinating schedules
• Helped by: agreeing early on what is worth doing

Showings, feedback, and any adjustments. How long this lasts depends heavily on the market and on pricing; similar nearby listings are the best guide, but nothing is guaranteed. If activity is not what was expected, see when your home is not selling as expected.

An offer is weighed as a whole — price, deposit, conditions, and dates. An accepted offer often has conditions with deadlines set in the contract, and offers are communicated through the process agreed at the start. See understanding an offer beyond the price.

On completion, ownership transfers and the lawyer or notary handles funds and mortgage payout. Possession, when the buyer receives the keys, usually follows shortly after. These dates are set in the contract.