Selling
Selling After a Decade? Plan the Move, Not Just the Listing.
Selling | NAR national profile | Transactions July 2025-June 2026; released November 5, 2026
Long ownership can make a sale feel unfamiliar. Start by connecting the sale proceeds, your next home and your timeline.
The median seller in NAR's latest profile had owned the home for 12 years. If your last transaction was that long ago, there is no reason to expect every detail to feel familiar.
You may know your home exceptionally well while still needing a fresh view of the selling process. Start with the move you want to make, then work backward to the listing.
Turn estimated value into a usable plan
An estimated sale price is not the same as money available for your next purchase. Ask for an estimate that accounts for your mortgage payoff, expected transaction expenses and any planned preparation work. Treat uncertain items as estimates, not guaranteed proceeds.
Then examine the next step. What would suitable housing cost? Would you buy before selling, sell first or arrange another sequence? Each path has practical and financial tradeoffs. Discuss financing and contract questions with the relevant professionals before relying on an assumed timeline.
Prepare selectively
Collect records that may help explain the property: major improvements, permits you have, warranties and maintenance history. Ask which repairs or presentation changes are worth considering before spending on a broad renovation.
Also identify the parts of moving that take time regardless of market conditions. Sorting belongings, arranging a move and coordinating household schedules can be as important as choosing a listing date.
A successful sale should support what comes next. The goal is not simply to reach an appealing number on a contract. It is to understand the proceeds, obligations and timing well enough to make the next move with fewer surprises.
National survey results do not predict an individual seller's proceeds. Tax, legal and financing questions require advice specific to the transaction.