Most buyers find it helpful to have a professional real estate agent on their side to guide them through the process. Real estate agent identifies home value trends, provides referrals for a trusted lender, attorney, contractor or other vendors, knows when to argue for a lower price and how to negotiate contingencies and repairs and simplifies the process by handling hiccups, staying on top of due dates and overseeing paperwork.

Unless you’re buying a home with all cash, getting pre-approved by a lender will give you an official verdict on your home buying budget. When you’re pre-approved, you’ll receive a pre-approval letter. Not only does it officially let you know how much you can borrow, but it can come in handy when submitting an offer. A pre-approval letter shows a seller you’re serious about buying their home. This is especially important in a hot market, when you’re likely competing against other offers.

Make sure to take advantage of all the available options for finding homes on the market, including using your real estate agent. Try to stay flexible — you’ll probably need to adjust your criteria as your home search continues. For example, you might decide it’s worth sacrificing an extra bedroom to be in your desired neighborhood. Play around with search parameters and see what your money would buy if you changed your wish list a bit.

Your real estate agent will help you decide how much money you want to offer for the house, along with any conditions you want to ask for, like having the seller pay for your closing costs. Your agent will then present the offer to the seller's agent; the seller will either accept your offer or issue a counteroffer. You can then accept, or continue to go back and forth until you either reach a deal or decide to call it quits.

Your real estate agent should be able to recommend a trustworthy, licensed home inspector. Usually, the inspection is scheduled within a week of the contract being signed. It’s recommended that you attend the inspection, as it’s a good way to get a better understanding of the inner workings of the home. Usually, your agent will attend as well. After you receive the official inspection report, you’ll have time to discuss the findings with your agent and decide how you want to respond to the seller.

Things you'll be dealing with and paying for in the final stages of your purchase may include: having the home appraised (mortgage companies require this to protect their interest in the house). You’ll need to have proof of a homeowners insurance policy before closing. Once you’ve completed the following steps, assuming everything checks out, you should receive the “clear to close,” which means that the lender has approved your purchase.

On closing day, expect to spend at least a few hours at the title company signing paperwork. You should also be prepared to bring funds to cover your closing costs, which typically range between 3-5% of the sale price. Once the signing is complete and the sale is recorded, you’ll receive your keys. The house is yours!

You've signed the papers, paid the movers and the new place is starting to feel like home. Make sure to set up utilities for the new home — things like electric, cable and internet. Congratulations on becoming a new homeowner!

Selling a home is more overwhelming than most homeowners think.But hiring the right agent at the start can make it a whole lot easier. A lot goes into choosing the right agent. If you’re unsure where to start, get referrals from trusted friends, family, and neighbors. Although the ultimate goal is the sale, think about your compatibility outside of the transaction. Their ability to connect with you on a human level through the ups and downs of a home sale is just as important as their expertise and knowledge of the market.

Renovations not only make a home look more enticing to potential buyers, but the right improvements can also increase your home value. Not all renovation projects are worth the cost, time and effort they’ll take to complete, however. Your real estate agent should be able to advise you on the top areas of focus that will help your property attract the best bid.

Preparing your home to sell should also include arranging your furniture, organizing and decorating in a way that appeals to the widest range of potential buyers. There are multiple degrees of home staging to choose from, based on your budget, timeline and how valuable staging is in your local area. Some staging can be done in a DIY manner, while other larger staging projects are typically completed by a professional.

Now that your home is in good shape, you’re ready to list the home and attract buyers. Finding the right listing price for your home can be a challenge, but it’s one of the most important factors in a successful home sale. Your real estate agent should be an expert in home values in your area, so they’re a great resource for finding the right listing price. Plus, they can provide guidance on a pricing strategy that will spark the most interest and maybe even inspire a bidding war.

Invest in professional-grade photography for your online listings. Most real estate agents will include professional photos in their marketing plan, so you can expect your agent to coordinate the photo shoot. Once your agent shares your home on the multiple listing service– which is a database of every home currently for sale in the area – buyer’s agents will be able to view your property and some basic property details. Discuss virtual home tour options with your agent and other ways to generate maximum buyer interest. For in-person showings, it’s best that you leave the premises so the buyer can freely ask their agent questions and visualize the home as their own.

If you are in a seller’s market—defined by low inventory and high buyer competition—it is likely that you will receive offers at – or above – asking price. You can respond to an offer by a) accepting the offer, b) making a counteroffer, or c) rejecting the offer. Counteroffers should always be made in writing and provide a short window of time for the potential buyer to respond. If you are selling in a buyer’s market, you may have to be more open to negotiation. Discuss negotiation strategies with your agent to work toward a satisfying final price.

Selling a house can be expensive, so review your estimated closing costs ahead of closing day to prepare for the charges you’ll see. Closing costs for sellers can be as high as 8 to 10 percent of the sale price of the home, and that amount is made up of your agent’s commission, the buyer’s agent’s commission (which is typically paid by the seller), and taxes and fees. But, assuming you have some equity in the home you’re selling, these costs will come directly out of the profits you’ll be receiving upon closing.

Congratulations! Your home is sold, but there are still some final steps before the deal is done. This is the time to ask the buyer to release any contingencies, sign the title, and close escrow before handing over the keys. Consult your real estate agent for any questions about legal documentation and settlement costs.