sell/buy/lease

Make sure you have a real estate professional give you a valuation (they should always be free!). 

This is your first impression. 95% of buyers browse online, so if the place isn't updated, repaired, or staged and in open house condition, it likely won't sell within the first month.

Allow open houses, and have the place ready to show at a moment's notice. Homes that don't do a first weekend open house will likely sit on the market for 2-4 weeks.

Once you get an offer, you either accept, negotiate, or reject. Your realtor will guide you on many ways to negotiate to get the price you want.

Once an offer is accepted, the escrow process begins. Sellers will need to provide disclosures to the Buyer while the Buyer does inspections and gets their finances in order.

Once escrow closes, the keys are handed to the Buyer and proceeds of the sale are delivered to the Seller. Pop open the champagne bottle!

It's not as easy as "I found a house, let's make an offer!" Offers need to be accompanied by finances or a loan preapproval, which will determine your budget. 

Online, drive-bys, open houses, private showings with your realtor--however you do it, thoroughly search for your next home, and be realistic since no home is complete perfection.

Once you've found the right property, discuss offer terms, strategize, and have your realtor write the offer for you.

Once your offer is accepted, escrow begins. Read disclosures carefully. And do thorough inspections. Some Buyers do several inspections, which cost money, but worth it because the inspection reports can make or break a sale.

Most Buyers finance their purchase, and will have to jump through several hoops to ge the loan approved. Make sure you do what the lender asks, keep your income and downpayment steady, etc.

Just before escrow is closed, the Buyer sends in the rest of the downpayment, the loan, if any, is funded, and the keys are handed to the Buyer. Pop open the champagne bottle!

Leasing out your property can be just as involved as selling. First and foremost, talk to a realtor to get a valuation based on recent comps as well as local market activity.

Do you allow pets? Are any utilities included? Do you accept shorter term leases or is it 12 month minimum? Discuss with your realtor how best to structure your requirements.

Just as you would do in a sale, you need to get the place ready to show. Make necessary repairs, paint, update as needed.

Once the place is ready, take photographs and list online and start showing to prospective tenants.  A realtor will arrange all of this, unless you're listing on your own.

Once application(s) are received, review and run credit checks, review financials, current and past landlords, etc.

When a tenant is secured, accept move-in funds, make any utilities arrangements, notify the building, and deliver keys.