Most people haven’t sold a home in years, sometimes decades. So when the time comes, the process can feel like a lot of moving pieces with no clear picture of how they fit together. The good news is that once you understand what’s happening and why, it’s actually pretty straightforward. Here’s how it works, from the first conversation to the closing table.
The first step is figuring out your number. Before you list, you need to know what your home is worth in today’s market, not what you paid for it, not what your neighbor thinks, and not what an algorithm spits out. A good agent will walk you through a comparative market analysis, looking at what similar homes have actually sold for recently in your area. This is the foundation everything else is built on. Price too high and you lose momentum. Price right and you create competition.
From there, you get the home ready. This doesn’t always mean a full renovation. Most of the time it means decluttering, touching up paint, handling small repairs, and making sure the home photographs well. First impressions in real estate happen online now. Buyers are scrolling through dozens of listings before they ever schedule a showing. Professional photography is not optional if you want top dollar.
Next comes the launch. A strong listing goes live with a clear strategy behind it: the right price, great photos, compelling description, and distribution across the MLS and every major home search platform. Timing matters here too. In markets like Southeast Michigan, listing on a Thursday or Friday gives buyers the weekend to see it, which is often when the strongest offers come in.
Once you’re live, showings start. Your agent should be coordinating those and giving you feedback after each one. If you’re priced well and the home is showing clean, you should see activity quickly. In a healthy market, the first two weeks are the most critical window. That’s when buyer interest is highest and offers are most likely to come in strong.
When offers come in, your agent walks you through each one. Price matters, but it’s not the only thing. You’re also looking at financing type, down payment, contingencies, and proposed closing timeline. A cash offer with fewer contingencies can sometimes be worth more than a higher-priced offer with more risk attached. Your agent’s job is to help you see the full picture, not just the top-line number.
Once you accept an offer, you’re under contract. From there, the buyer typically has an inspection period, usually 7 to 10 days, where they bring in a home inspector to evaluate the property. Inspection findings can lead to repair requests or renegotiation. This is normal. Your agent helps you decide what’s reasonable to address and what isn’t.
If the buyer is financing the purchase, the lender will order an appraisal. The appraiser determines whether the home’s value supports the loan amount. In most cases, if the home is priced correctly from the start, this step goes smoothly. If the appraisal comes in below the sale price, you and the buyer will need to work out the difference, either through a price adjustment, the buyer making up the gap in cash, or some combination of both.
While the appraisal is happening, the buyer’s lender is also working through final loan approval. This is called the underwriting process. It’s mostly happening behind the scenes, but your agent should be staying in regular contact with the buyer’s agent to make sure everything is moving forward on schedule.
A few days before closing, you’ll do a final walkthrough with the buyer. They’re confirming the home is in the same condition as when they made the offer and that any agreed-upon repairs have been completed. This is routine, just a last checkpoint before the finish line.
Closing day is when ownership officially transfers. You’ll sign documents, the lender funds the loan, and proceeds are distributed. In Michigan, closings typically happen at a title company. You don’t always need to be physically present, many closings can be done in advance or remotely. Your agent and the title company will walk you through exactly what to expect and what to bring.
From start to finish, the process typically takes 30 to 60 days from accepted offer to close, depending on how quickly the buyer’s financing moves. The preparation phase before listing can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the condition of the home.
The process isn’t complicated, but there are a lot of moving parts, and a lot of moments where the right guidance makes a real difference. If you’re getting ready to sell and want to understand what the timeline looks like for your specific situation, I’m happy to walk you through it.
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