10 essential steps to selling a house

More tips on preparing your house to sell? Click here!

2 - Choose a real estate agent

Step two: choose an experienced and reliable real estate agent to help you sell your house. This is a smart decision that can make all the difference between a house that can't be sold and a house that... is already sold! And that's because if you have a real estate agent by your side throughout the selling process, you always have expert, personalized guidance, whether you're selling a house or buying the house of your dreams.

How to choose a real estate agency?
Choosing the right real estate agency is crucial to selling your house quickly and for the best possible price. But to do so, you must:

• Do a thorough search (you can use Google) to find a reliable real estate agency in your area.​
• Read the ratings and comments of other clients to get an idea of the reputation of the real estate agencies you have researched.
• Ask friends, family or neighbors who have recently sold or bought a house for recommendations.
• Check the credentials and licenses of real estate agencies to make sure they are properly licensed according to the law.
• Understand the skills and experience of the real estate agency teams.
• Evaluate the costs, in particular the commissions charged by real estate agencies to sell a house.
• And finally, choose an agency you can trust, with a qualified team that has an open communication relationship with the client and in-depth knowledge of the real estate market in your area.

Hiring a real estate agency on an exclusive basis? Find out if it's worth it!

3 - Benefit from the real estate agent's know-how

Step three: delegate. Because you can benefit from your real estate agent's know-how to sell a house quickly and well, without wasting time or energy!

In fact, even if you're willing to look at online listings for houses with similar interior space and amenities to your own, you don't have the knowledge or time to research and compare values, and find out about real estate market trends, for example.

More importantly, real estate agents themselves, equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge about the local market, can give you a long-term overview of current and historical conditions, and an expert insight into what clients are looking for.

Here's a list of the main steps to selling your home with the help of a real estate agency!

4 - Evaluate the property

The fourth step to selling a house: ask your real estate agency to help you determine the market value of your property through an appraisal that takes into account factors such as location, size, state of repair, special features and current market trends.

The real estate agency will also compare prices with similar properties in your area. In this way, they can give you a competitive and realistic price.

5 - Set the selling price

Step five: set the selling price of the property, using the expertise of the real estate agency. Preferably a competitive and realistic price that suits you and the potential future owner.

In this chapter, in addition to the property valuation, your real estate agent will take into account the current demand for properties in the region and the available supply. If there is a lot of demand and few similar properties, you can sell the house at a higher price, for example.

The conditions of the local real estate market also come into this equation for selling a house, since in a rising market, property prices can be higher, for example.

Finally, the sale price is set with some room for negotiation, as potential clients generally make offers below the established value.

6 - Create and publish an attractive ad

The sixth step to selling a house: create an attractive advertisement that includes...

• A detailed description of the house that highlights its strengths, such as "en-suite bedrooms", "built-in closets", "balcony with sea view" or "private parking".​
• Quality photos showing all the rooms in the house and the outside space, if applicable. Also a main photo of the house for sale that attracts attention because it's obviously the most beautiful photo of the house or the surrounding area (swimming pool, garden, terrace, view from the balcony).
• A catchy title such as "modern apartment in condominium with swimming pool" or "four-bedroom villa".
• Location, mentioning the services and attractions in the vicinity and also the benefits of the area: people with a quieter lifestyle will be pleased to know that the area is peaceful; more energetic people will prefer the proximity to the beach and couples with young children, a house with schools and bus stops nearby, for example.
• Contact details so that potential buyers can arrange a viewing or ask for more information.
• And, of course, the selling price (if you're willing to negotiate, mention it in the advertisement).

Identification of the seller(s)
Citizen Card or Identity Card and Taxpayer Number. If the seller is a company, it is necessary to present the Commercial Registration Certificate.

Permanent Land Registry Certificate
Document issued by the Land Registry Office, which certifies all the owner's information and details all the property's characteristics.

“Caderneta Predial”
Document issued by the tax office in the area where the property is located, which shows the tax and registration status of the property, as well as other relevant information such as location, description, identification of the owners and the property value of the house.

Use License
Document issued by the local council in the area where the property is located, describing the type of use for which the property is intended: residential or non-residential.

Property plan
Document issued by the town hall in the area where the property is located, which allows you to see all the areas of the dwelling in detail.

Energy Certificate
A document issued by a technician authorized by the Portuguese Energy Agency (ADENE) which certifies the energy class of a property, on a scale from A+ (very efficient) to F (not very efficient).

Click here to read all about Energy Certificate Guide in Portugal. 

Promissory Contract of Sale
A document signed by the party promising to sell (promissory-seller) and the party promising to buy (promissory-buyer), in which both parties undertake to enter into a definitive contract, at a future date, which closes the deal (deed).

Deed of Purchase and Sale
A document issued by the respective notary's office certifying a contract made in the presence of two witnesses, which is necessary to sell a house.

As you can see, in order to sell a house you need to gather together a set of documents that must be prepared in advance so that the whole real estate transaction process runs smoothly and without any hitches!

And if unforeseen circumstances arise, don't worry because your real estate agent will be able to deal with them quickly. That's why the presence of a real estate consultant is essential in this stage of selling a house, which is extremely complex and bureaucratic and can jeopardize the property transaction if not handled with due attention.

8 - Discuss renovations with your real estate agent

Eighth step to selling your home: even if you've made the basic repairs to improve your home before putting it up for sale, it's a good idea to discuss other repairs and improvements with your real estate advisor because an experienced specialist can guide you to get a better return on your investment.

Bear in mind that renovations to second-hand homes can be an effective strategy for increasing the value of the property and attracting more people. For example:

• Painting the interior and exterior (with light, neutral colors to give it a cleaner feel and more spaciousness).​
• Replacing the kitchen cupboards, worktops and appliances with more modern, more efficient and energy-efficient equipment.
• Replacing the bathroom fittings and tiles with more attractive materials.
• Installing new flooring if your floors are already very worn or outdated: comfortable, hard-wearing wooden floors in the bedrooms and living room, ceramic floors in the bathroom and kitchen and durable, easy-to-clean flooring in the garden, for example.
• Adequate lighting, with more efficient LED lights.
• Replacing conventional windows with double-glazed ones that improve energy efficiency.

9 - Prepare your house for visitors

Ninth step: prepare your house - in a neutral and welcoming way - to receive visits from potential buyers by following these simple tips:

• Make your home sparkle with a thorough clean.​
• Get rid of objects you don't use to keep your home tidy and organized.
• Organize closets, cupboards and pantries to show that there is plenty of storage space.
• Forget your favorite knick-knacks and opt for neutral, minimalist decor. Remember that potential buyers find it hard to imagine a house that notoriously belongs to other people as their own, with toys scattered all over the floor, family photos on the walls, cereal boxes on the kitchen worktops...
• Use candles or diffusers with soft scents to create a cozy atmosphere conducive to selling your home.
• Place a vase with natural flowers in the entrance, some colorful cushions on the living room sofa or other details that can enhance your home.
• Keep the curtains or blinds open to let in natural light
• Make sure every room is well lit.
• During the visit, go for a walk with the family (and pets, if there are any) to put people interested in your home at ease.