When you decide to sell your property, there are a lot of things that you suddenly have to take care of. You find yourself awaited by so many processes that it can all seem overwhelming. While selling a property is not easy, you can manage the steps ahead if you know what to do. That, and a little order, can help you take it all in stride right to the end. Below, find the selling process explained from the very start to the end in just 5 simple steps.

Step 1: Plan to move out

Selling your property begins with you moving out of it. Plan to do this early, as early as months in advance of when you hope to sell. This will give you time to prep and go through the pre-sale processes. If you need to move into another property, make plans to rent/lease/complete building a new house. When it comes time to move out, remove all your personal items. It's best to leave only the bare essentials. This gives the new owners a chance to envision the property as their own, not what it used to be.

Step 2: Renovate the property

No matter how good you think your property looks, it can always look a little better. Plan to renovate some areas or the entire property. Think of what you would want the property to look like if you were a prospective buyer. If you need some ideas, look at different properties on the market and see the condition they are in, or the features they have. Common pre-sale renovations include plumbing work, electrical service, repairing the driveway, roof repairs, paint work, polishing floors and even installing a new lawn.

Step 3: Get the property valued

Once you have prepared the property for sale, get a valuation carried out. This is the surest way to determine how much you're going to get for it. Hire an independent valuer or inspector to carry out the job. You should get the results in a day or two at most. Note that the property could be valued for less, or more, than you thought, even with the renovations. This is simply due to market conditions or the location of the property.

Step 4: Hire an estate agent

Next, hire an estate agent. This is the person who will find a buyer for your house. They will market your property online, through sale signs, on magazines, and also newspapers. An estate agent will also find buyers through personal clients, though their circle of colleagues, and via open house shows. You will have to first agree on a commission which is what you'll pay the agent upon sale.

Step 5: Hire a conveyancing solicitor

Once your property is officially on the market, hire a conveyancer. This is the person who will handle the main legal work involved in the transfer of the property. They will prepare the sale agreements and contracts, review buyers and short list promising candidates, and they will communicate with the buyer and negotiate on your behalf. If anything should go wrong with the sale, a conveyancing solicitor is the person that will give you legal advice and handle any mediation or litigation processes, if necessary.

And that's it! Follow due diligence, take your time, and everything should fall into place with time.