Thinking about selling your home and wondering – what are the steps to selling a house? Selling your property is a big decision! And, with so many complex steps, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. That’s why having a clear, well-defined roadmap (and professional support) is essential.
Understanding the steps to selling a house will help take the guesswork out of your next move, reduce stress, and ensure no important details slip through the cracks. Familiarity with the home-selling process will also help you stay organized, make informed decisions, and sell with more confidence – for better results.
As experienced North Vancouver realtors, we’ve navigated the home-selling steps many, many times! So, we thought we’d create a guide to help you better understand the process – whether you’re just starting to think about selling or getting ready to list.
In our guide to the home-selling process, we clearly explain the twelve most important steps to selling a house – from the initial decision to the final paperwork. You’ll also find a handy printable home-selling process checklist that will help you stay organized and on track.
Table of Contents:
Quick Look
Pre-Listing Decisions
12 Steps to Selling a House in Detail
Home Selling Checklist
Ready to Sell? Check Off Step 3
Quick Look – Steps to Selling a House
Don’t have the time to read our detailed explanation of the steps to selling a house? Here’s a breakdown of the essentials.
- Decide If You’re Ready
Clarify your goals and understand the financial implications of selling your home. - Determine the Level of Support You Need
Decide whether you’d prefer to work with a large real estate team, a small team, or a solo realtor. Each offers a different selling experience and level of service. - Consult & Hire a Local Realtor
Meet with local agents before choosing one that’s right for you. Then, sign the required documents to make your partnership official. - Have Your Home Evaluated & Set a Listing Price
With the help of your real estate agent, set a strategic price. - Prepare Your Home for Sale
Declutter, clean, update (if necessary), and stage your home. - Get Professional Photos & Videos (Highly Recommended)
Make a strong first impression with high-quality visuals. Consider hiring a North Vancouver real estate team (like Jenny + Suzanne) that offers professional, magazine-quality photography and cinematic videography.
- List & Market Your Home
If you hire a realtor, they’ll list your property on MLS® and launch a strategic marketing campaign. - Schedule Open Houses & Showings
Your North Van real estate agent will handle this step. All you’ll need to do is provide flexible access and keep your home tidy and welcoming. - Review, Negotiate & Respond to Offers
Carefully evaluate each offer with your realtor. - Accept an Offer
Select the offer that best aligns with your expectations. Then, sign a Contract of Purchase and Sale and meet any conditions. - Completion
With your realtor and a lawyer, complete all the final financial and legal steps, including title transfer, to finalize the sale. - Move Out
Finally, it’s time to move out. Clear out, clean up, hand over keys, and update your address. Congratulations – you’re ready for your next chapter!
Key Pre-Listing Decisions That Impact the Home-Selling Process
Before listing your home, there are a few important decisions to make – each of which can influence how quickly your home sells, the final sale price, and how smoothly the home-selling steps unfold.
Below, we’ve outlined the most critical decisions you’ll need to make and how each one can influence the process of selling a house.
Level of Support (Large Team, Small Team or Solo Realtor)
When selling a home in North Vancouver, one of the first choices you’ll need to make is what kind of real estate support you want. You have several options:
- Hire a large real estate team
- Work with a small team
- Partner with an individual realtor
Each option comes with advantages and disadvantages. The approach you choose can influence the home-selling process, your selling experience and even the final outcome.
Keep reading to explore the pros and cons of working with large teams, small teams, and solo realtors – so you can make the choice that’s right for you.
The Realtor You Choose
Whether you’re selling a luxury family home or a cozy condo, the real estate agent you choose can make all the difference. The right realtor won’t just help you sell your home faster and for top dollar; they’ll make sure the entire process of selling your home is smooth and as stress-free as possible. In other words, a great real estate agent is more than just a salesperson – they’re your strategic partner throughout the steps to selling a house.
Not sure what to look for in a realtor? Some of the most important qualities include:
- Deep local knowledge of your neighbourhood and current market trends.
- A strong marketing strategy.
- Clear, honest communication so you always know what’s happening and what to expect next.
Ultimately, hiring a realtor with the right experience, tools, and strategy can be the key to a successful sale.
Learn more about choosing the right realtor (and what steps to follow to make sure you pick the right one) here – How to Choose a Real Estate Agent.
When You Sell Your Home
Timing can also play an important role in the home-selling process.
While the North Vancouver real estate market generally remains active throughout the year, different seasons may require different strategies. Therefore, it’s important to discuss timing with your realtor so you can determine what will best align with your goals and the market conditions.
TIMING TIPS FROM REAL ESTATE ADVISORS JENNY + SUZANNE:
- Although the North Vancouver real estate market experiences strong demand year-round, for many people, the best time to sell a house is during peak season.
- Selling during a slower season isn’t necessarily bad, but it may require a more thoughtful strategy and some additional steps to selling a house.
- Consider your personal timeline as well. Are you relocating for work? Upsizing or downsizing? Aligning the timing of your sale with your life plans and goals is just as important as market cycles!
- Working with an experienced North Vancouver realtor is the key to a successful home sale in any season.
Pricing Strategy
Pricing your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It will directly impact how quickly your home sells and how much you ultimately walk away with. Price your home too high, and your listing could sit on the market and go stale; price it too low, and you might leave money on the table. That’s why it’s essential to get your pricing strategy right from the start.
This is where working with an experienced local realtor makes all the difference. Top realtors, like Jenny + Suzanne, use a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), up-to-date local market data, buyer demand insights, and current inventory levels to help you set a price that’s competitive and realistic.
With the right strategy, you’ll attract serious buyers, spark interest early, and position your home for a successful sale.
Now that you know what decisions you’ll need to make before selling your home, let’s jump into our step-by-step guide to selling a house.
12 Steps to Selling a House In Detail
Whether you’re selling a home for the first time or it’s been a while, understanding the home-selling process (and what to expect at each stage) can help you feel more prepared and confident.
Below, we’ve broken down the most important steps to selling a house – from the moment you consider selling to the day you hand over the keys.
Step 1: Decide If You’re Ready to Sell
Before you start preparing for showings or speaking with a realtor, it’s important to ask yourself: “Am I really ready to sell my home?”
Selling a house is a major emotional and financial decision. Therefore, the first step in the home-selling process is to decide if you’re ready to sell.
Here are some tips to help you decide.
- Clarify your reason for selling. Start by determining why you want to sell and when you’d ideally like to move. Your reason for selling will shape the rest of your strategy, including how quickly you’ll want (or need) to move through the process.
- Understand the financial side of selling. From legal fees and real estate commissions to moving costs and potential repairs, selling a house comes with various expenses. Therefore, it’s essential to have a clear picture of your financial position before you list.
These are some important financial factors to consider.- Home equity. To determine how much equity you have in your home, subtract what’s left on your mortgage from your home’s current market value. This will give you a rough idea of how much you’ll make from the sale.
- Tax implications*. In most cases, you won’t pay tax on the sale of your home as long as it’s been your principal residence since you’ve owned it. That said, there are some exceptions that may require you to pay tax (e.g., capital gains). Therefore, it’s essential to understand whether these exceptions apply and, if so, how they might impact you financially.
*Important: Please consult a qualified tax professional or accountant to understand how tax laws apply to your situation.
Once you’re clear on your goals and have a realistic understanding of your financial position and the costs involved, you’re ready to take on the next steps to selling a house.
Step 2: Determine the Level of Support You Need
Your next step is to determine whether you want to work with a large real estate team, a small team (e.g., a two-person team) or an individual realtor.
Each alternative will offer a different level of service and support. Therefore, the choice you make will impact the home-selling process, your experience and the final outcome. So, before you make a decision, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each option.
What’s best for you? Here’s a comparison to help you decide.
| Big Real Estate Teams | Small, Two-Person Teams | Solo Realtors | |
| Level of Availability | High | High – but may be limited at times | May be limited |
| Responsiveness | Answers may be delayed | Timely | May be delayed |
| Level of Personalized Service | Often feels impersonal | Highly personalized service | Highly personalized service |
| Level of Attention | Often low | High | High to moderate (depending on the number of listings) |
| Resources | Extensive | Extensive to moderate (depending on the team) | Limited |
| Network Size | Large | Large to moderate (depending on team and experience level) | May be limited |
| Marketing Quality | May be inconsistent | Consistently high-quality | Dependent on experience and external resources |
Want to learn more about the pros and cons of big teams, two-person teams, and solo agents? Check out our article about Real Estate Teams.
Step 3. Consult & Hire a Local Realtor (For Best Results)
Once you’ve decided to sell, the next step is to consult with a local realtor – even if you’re still exploring your options. Meeting with a real estate agent doesn’t require any financial commitment and is a great way to learn more about the process, get your questions answered, and see if the realtor is the right fit for you.
A good real estate agent will provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), outline a marketing strategy, and walk you through the steps to selling a house. They’ll also discuss pricing, timing, and what to expect in today’s market.
Once you’ve found the right realtor and are ready to hire them, you’ll need to complete some paperwork to officially kick off the home-selling process.
Here are the key documents you’ll need to complete at this step.
Your Relationship with a Real Estate Professional and Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services
This document outlines and explains the various types of business relationships that can exist between a real estate professional and their clients.
Real estate agents in BC are required to present you with this information and disclosure form before providing services. Its purpose is to ensure you understand the type of working relationship you’ll have with a realtor before you share any private information or get help with your sale.
Listing Agreement
This agreement grants your realtor the authority to represent you and list your property for sale.
A listing agreement includes:
- Commission structure
- Listing price
- Agreement duration (if your home doesn’t sell within this time, you can extend the agreement or switch realtors)
- Property description
- Legal info
- Terms for showings, inclusions, and closing, etc.
Privacy Notice and Consent (PNC)
This document explains how your personal information (e.g., name, ID, contact details) will be collected, used, stored, and protected throughout the home-selling process.
FINTRAC
As part of anti-money laundering requirements, sellers are required to complete a FINTRAC identification form. You’ll need to provide basic info (e.g., legal name, birth date, occupation) and verify your identity using either credit file matching or two pieces of valid ID.
Please note: Additional forms may apply if you’re a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) or Head of an International Organization (HIO).
Property Disclosure Statement (PDS)
This document discloses known issues or defects with your home. While it is helpful for buyers, a PDS is not legally required.
Material Latent Defect (MLD) Disclosure
This document discloses any known hidden issues that make your home dangerous or significantly affect its function or value and can’t be discovered by a reasonable inspection. Unlike the PDS, disclosing material latent defects is legally required in BC.
Ready to tackle Step 3 (consult a local realtor) in the steps to selling a house?
Contact Jenny + Suzanne for a no-pressure consultation. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your options or ready to list, we’re here to answer your questions and help you feel confident about your next move!
Step 4. Have Your Home Evaluated & Set a Listing Price
Once you’ve hired a realtor, the next step is to determine your home’s market value and use that information to set a strategic listing price – one that attracts serious buyers and maximizes your return.
While it may sound simple, this step isn’t always easy. Many North Vancouver homeowners are emotionally attached to their properties, which can lead to overestimating home value. However, pricing too high can cause your listing to sit on the market, go stale, and eventually require a price reduction. On the other hand, pricing too low might lead to quick offers but could also mean leaving money on the table.
That’s why getting a professional evaluation is essential! Your realtor will start by completing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This detailed report compares your property to other similar homes that have sold in your neighbourhood recently.
The CMA takes several factors into account, including:
- Location of your home
- Lot size
- Age of the house
- The home’s square footage, layout, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.
- Recent renovations or upgrades
- Market conditions, trends and buyer demand
Top North Vancouver realtors, like Jenny + Suzanne, have extensive and in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market and can help you establish a strategic listing price that generates strong buyer interest while maximizing your return.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: The best real estate agents will do a walk-through of your home before completing a CMA. This gives them the opportunity to see your home so they can provide a more accurate market evaluation.
Step 5. Prepare Your Home for Sale
Before your home hits the market, it’s essential to ensure it’s show-ready. This is one of the most important steps to selling a house, as it can directly impact how quickly your home sells and how much it sells for.
Start by viewing your home through the eyes of a buyer. Is it clean, welcoming, and easy to imagine living in? A well-prepared home should feel fresh, clutter-free, and move-in ready.
What’s worth changing or fixing in your home before you sell? Check out our guide to What Not to Fix When Selling a House for smart, realtor-approved tips.
Need help deciding what to prioritize? Give us a call for personalized advice. Jenny: 604-561-9802 | Suzanne: 604-230-9339
Proven Home Prep Tips from North Vancouver Real Estate Experts:
- Declutter and deep clean.
- Make minor updates. For example, replace outdated light fixtures, hardware, faucets, and other similar items.
- Consider refreshing your space with a fresh coat of paint (in a neutral colour).
- Enhance curb appeal. First impressions matter, especially in North Vancouver neighbourhoods like Lynn Valley, Edgemont, Blueridge, and Lonsdale, where outdoor space is a big draw. So, be sure to mow the lawn, weed garden beds, remove any excess algae and dirt buildup on the exterior, etc.
- Stage your home. Consider working with a professional stager or your realtor to arrange furniture and décor in a way that highlights your home’s best features.
Bottom line: Don’t skip this step to selling a house – it’s one of the most effective ways to attract buyers and increase your final sale price.
Step 6. Get Professional Photos & Videos (Optional, But Highly Recommended)
Before listing your home (one of the most exciting steps to selling a house!), consider investing in professional photography and video to use in your marketing. While this step is optional, it can have a major impact on the number of serious buyers your home attracts and how quickly it sells.
Today, most homebuyers start their home search online. Therefore, your listing photos will be their first impression – and what gets people through the door. Poor lighting, awkward angles, or low-resolution images can turn buyers off before they even book a showing. On the other hand, high-quality visuals can make your home feel bigger, brighter, and more inviting, which can increase clicks, views, and showing requests. In addition, your photos and videos must accurately represent your home’s appearance. If the media misrepresents your home in any way, buyers may feel jaded – and walk away.
PRO TIP: Work with a real estate team that does it all! When researching realtors, look for a local team, like Jenny + Suzanne, that offers professional, high-quality photography and videography. A team like this will take care of everything, so you don’t need to coordinate third-party photographers or videographers. As a result, you’ll save time and money while getting consistent branding, quick turnaround times, and stunning visuals that’ll help your home stand out from the competition.
Bottom line: If you want to attract more attention and sell faster, professional photos and videos are one of the best marketing investments you can make.
Step 7. List & Market Your Home
Once your home is priced, prepped, and photographed, it’s time to officially list it!
At this stage, your realtor will add your property to the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). This will make it visible to thousands of potential buyers and real estate agents. However, listing your home is just the beginning.
In a highly competitive market like North Vancouver, strategic marketing is key to attracting serious buyers and strong offers. That’s why working with the right realtor matters. Experienced North Shore real estate agents like Jenny + Suzanne, who have in-house marketing strategists, will ensure your listing stands out for maximum exposure.
A smart marketing strategy typically includes:
- Compelling listing copy
- Professional photography and video
- Online promotion via websites, social media, and email
- Traditional marketing, like for-sale signs and print materials
- Open houses and private showings (for both agents and potential buyers)*
- Agent-to-agent networking
*At Jenny + Suzanne, we have a unique way of doing open houses! Our strategy is designed to generate momentum and strong buyer interest, regardless of market conditions. Want to know how we do them differently and how it gets results? Give us a call – 604-230-9339 – or send us a message.
PRO TIP: Here are some helpful documents to gather at this stage in the home-selling process. Your realtor can help you collect and organize these documents to ensure a smooth sale.
- Property title
- Survey plans
- Recent property tax statements
- Renovation permits or contracts
- Transferable warranties (e.g., roof, appliances, HVAC)
- Any previous home inspection reports
- Utility bills (e.g., Telus, Hydro, Fortis, etc.)
- Insurance documents/costs
Bottom line: Listing your home is a significant milestone in the steps to selling a house. However, strategic marketing is what gets buyers through the door and offers on the table. With the right team and exposure, your home can generate strong interest and competitive offers from day one.
Want to know about the marketing strategy that helped our clients sell in just two weeks during a slow summer? Call us at 604-230-9339 or contact us online.
Step 8. Schedule Open Houses and Showings
Now that your home is listed and marketing is underway, it’s time to start welcoming potential buyers in person.
Open houses and private showings are a key part of the home-selling process. They give buyers a chance to walk through the space, imagine themselves living there, and ask questions in real time. Therefore, the more accessible your home is for showings, the greater your chances of receiving serious interest and strong offers.
In desirable North Vancouver neighbourhoods like Lynn Valley, Lonsdale, Blueridge and Edgemont, flexibility is key. Some buyers may only be available in the evenings or on weekends, so being open to a wide range of showing times can help you capture more opportunities.
THE GOOD NEWS: If you’ve hired a real estate agent, they’ll coordinate everything, from scheduling appointments to hosting open houses and following up with buyers. All you need to do is keep your home clean and work with your realtor to choose times that fit your schedule.
SHOWING AND OPEN HOUSE TIPS: Make sure your home feels bright, clean, and welcoming for every showing and open house. Turn on all the lights, open the blinds, let in some fresh air, and do a quick tidy before potential buyers arrive.
Step 9. Review, Negotiate, and Respond to Offers
Reviewing, negotiating and responding to offers is one of the most exciting (and potentially stressful) steps to selling a house. It’s a significant milestone, but it requires careful thought and strategic guidance.
When offers start coming in, take the time to review the details with your realtor. At this stage, it’s not just about choosing the offer with the highest price. Instead, it’s about selecting the one with the right combination of price, terms, conditions, and closing timeline.
After reviewing an offer with your realtor, you have three options: accept it, reject it, or send a counteroffer.
If you have a realtor, there’s no need to stress – they’ll walk you through each offer, highlighting the pros, cons, and any potential red flags. Your real estate agent will also help you respond strategically, whether you decide to accept, reject, or counter.
Bottom line: Reviewing offers can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. With experienced North Vancouver realtors like Jenny + Suzanne on your side, you’ll have the support you need to feel confident that you’re making the right decision – and not just accepting any offer, but the right one.
Step 10: Accept an Offer
Once you’ve reviewed and negotiated an offer that aligns with your goals, it’s time to accept! You’ll do this by signing a Contract of Purchase and Sale – a legally binding agreement that lays out the key terms of the sale, including:
- Final sale price.
- The deposit amount.
- The closing (or possession) date.
- Any conditions (e.g., financing, inspection, or subject-to-sale). Most offers are conditional, meaning the buyer has a set time period (typically 5 to 14 days) to satisfy certain conditions before the sale becomes final.
Please Note: Even after you’ve accepted an offer, buyers have up to three business days to revoke their offer (this is known as the Home Buyer Rescission Period (“HBRP”) or “cooling-off period.”)
The following documents and legal steps are required at this stage of the home-selling process.
- Contract of Purchase and Sale – this document formalizes the accepted offer and outlines the terms of the agreement.
- Property Disclosure Statement (PDS) – as discussed in Step 3 of our steps to selling a house, a PDS is a document that discloses any known issues with your home. It is at this stage of the process of selling a house that a buyer will typically ask for this document, which is why it’s a good idea to complete it early on in the process when you first hire a realtor.
- Title Search – at this stage, your real estate lawyer or notary will also conduct a title search through the BC Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) to ensure there are no liens, legal claims, or encumbrances that could impact the sale.
KEEP IN MIND: Even after accepting an offer, the sale isn’t final until all conditions are officially removed. Stay in contact with your realtor and lawyer during this conditional period to make sure everything stays on track.
Step 11: Completion
Congratulations – you’ve accepted an offer, and the conditions have been removed. Now it’s time to officially complete the sale!
This final stage in the home-selling process involves several legal and financial steps which are necessary to finalize the sale and transfer ownership. Fortunately, your realtor and real estate lawyer will handle most of the complex details.
That said, it’s important to understand the details. So, here are some of the key steps that must be completed during the completion phase of a home sale.
- Title Transfer – Your lawyer will prepare the documents required to officially (and legally) transfer ownership of your property to the buyer.
- Mortgage Discharge or Transfer – If you’re paying off your mortgage, your lawyer will request a discharge statement from your lender and settle any outstanding balance (including potential penalties). If the buyer is assuming your mortgage, your lawyer will coordinate with your lender to facilitate the transfer.
- Transfer of Funds – On completion day, your lawyer will receive the buyer’s payment, pay out your mortgage and any other outstanding costs, and then issue you a cheque for the remaining amount.
IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to plan or schedule your move. If you’re hiring professional movers or renting a truck, be sure to book well in advance – ideally before your key exchange date.
PRO TIP: If possible, try not to book your move at the beginning, middle or end of the month. Instead, aim for other times when movers have more availability.
Want to pay less for professional movers? Some movers give our clients better rates! Give us a call to learn more – 604-230-9339.
Bottom line: Completion is one of the very final steps to selling a house. During this phase, ownership will be legally transferred to the new owners, and you’ll receive a final payment from the buyer (through your lawyer). With the right legal and real estate support, you’ll move through this step smoothly – and happily head into your next chapter!
Step 12: Move Out
You’ve accepted an offer, signed the paperwork, and completed the sale. Now it’s time for the final step – moving out and handing over the keys.
Depending on the size of your home (and its contents), moving out can be a big job! So, be sure to plan ahead and start early (if possible) to make the process less stressful.
Here’s a move-out checklist to help you ensure everything gets done.
- Remove all personal belongings from the home.
- Clean the property – i.e., complete a “move out clean” (inside and outside cabinets, fans, appliances, etc.)
- Coordinate the key handover with your realtor.
- Forward your mail through Canada Post and update your address with banks, government agencies (like the CRA), subscriptions, and other services.
- Cancel or transfer your internet, utilities, and home insurance.
Pro Tip: It’s always a nice touch to leave a quick note for the new owners with helpful details, such as garbage collection days or the location of the water shutoff valve. It’s not required, but it’s appreciated.
Printable Home Selling Checklist
Want to make sure your home sale is on track? Print our home selling process checklist!
Get Our Checklist to Sell a House
Ready to Sell? Check off Step 3 (of the Steps to Selling a House) with Jenny + Suzanne.
Whether you’re just starting to plan or ready to list your home, we’re here to guide you through every step of the home-selling process. Our expertise, proven sales strategies, and one-on-one support make us the top choice for North Vancouver homeowners who want to sell quickly and for top dollar.
Contact us today for a no-pressure consultation or free home evaluation.
Call: Jenny – 604-561-9802 | Suzanne – 604-230-9339
Email: hello@jennyandsuzanne.ca