In 2016, a survey revealed that selling your home was considered by respondents to be more stressful than having a baby, planning a wedding or starting a new job.

It's not just that it's probably the biggest asset that you'll ever own and that you want a fair price for it. It's not just that there's always the shadowy possibility that the sale will fall through at the last minute. More than anything, it's that the process is notoriously long and daunting.

You have to market and sell your property, of course. But you also have to get your finances in order and attempt to sync up your sale with your next home. It can all leave you feeling, in Elvis Costello's phrase, like a juggler running out of hands.

At Milners Law, our team of conveyancing solicitors handle the legal side of things so you can focus on everything else. That's why we've put together this handy guide to selling your house with as few headaches as possible.

1. Do your homework (and your maths)

How much will it cost you to sell up and move? Of course, you'll have to pay the estate agent's fees – but there are other costs to take into account.

Once you've factored in stamp duty, conveyancing fees, hiring a removal company, getting the house surveyed and sorting out an energy performance certificate (EPC), you're looking – on average – at £14,000.

If you're planning on ending your current mortgage early, you may face repayment charges. If, on the other hand, you want to take it with you, you may need to pay "porting" fees.

So when you're budgeting for a house sale, make sure you've taken all these costs into account – or you might end up in a pickle.

2. Get your home ready for viewers

Naturally, you're going to want to make your house look appealing to viewers. This can involve everything from a fresh lick of paint to a deep clean of the kitchen.

One important factor to keep in mind is so-called "kerb appeal". In other words, how does the house look from the road? If your frontage has peeling paint or your roof is missing tiles, you might find that prospective buyers have made up their minds before they hit the welcome mat.

In fact, a YouGov poll of 2,000 adults in the UK found that well-maintained windows and a roof in good nick are the most important when viewing a property.

There's another thing to keep in mind that's easy to overlook – or oversmell, even. A house with stinky drains or a faint odour of rotting bananas isn't going to ingratiate itself with many buyers. You don't need to go crazy and bake cookies ahead of every viewing, but making the place smell nice is as important as making it look the part.

3. Get your property valued

Asking for the right price is essential to a smooth sale. Don't risk putting off potential buyers with a price too high – and don't rob yourself of a decent price by putting it too low.

You can easily get a ballpark figure through sites like Rightmove and Zoopla, which will show you what people have paid for similar properties in your area. By similar, we mean size and spec – not whether it's somewhere you would live yourself.

Once you've done this, you can get the estate agents in. Where possible, ask around – it's not uncommon for agents to give different valuations, so it's important to hear a few different voices before you attach the price tag.

4. Instruct your estate agent

You don't have to sell through an estate agent. Other options include selling your house privately and using property auctions.

But if you do decide to go down the estate agent route, take the time to compare fees and secure yourself the best deal. Once you've chosen the right one for you, you'll "instruct" them by signing a contract.

5. Get your house ready to be photographed

The estate agent will send around a photographer to take pictures of your home. Naturally, you'll want it to look good in every room.

It can also be worth checking the estate agent's floor plan and written description before they go ahead and publish it.

6. Sort out your paperwork

Get all your documents ready, including an energy performance certificate (EPC). You'll thank yourself later.

7. Get ready for viewings

An estate agent will conduct viewings for you, so all you need to do is make sure that the toilet seat is down and the fruit bowl is gleaming.

However, if you're doing viewings yourself, it can be worth rehearsing with a friend or family member. Salesmanship is a skill that requires practice – so don't let yourself believe it'll be all right on the night.

8. Hire a solicitor or conveyancer

Your next step is to hire someone to sort out conveyancing for you. This could be a conveyancing lawyer or a licensed conveyancer.

"Conveyancing" is a catch-all term that covers the legal aspects of property transfer. It includes:

• Drafting the contract
• Finding out information about the property
• Carrying out searches
• Coordinating the sale with the buyer's conveyancer
• Handling the transfer of money once the property has been sold
• Sorting out paperwork

Instructing a solicitor to undertake conveyancing can seem like hard work, but overall it reduces the number of things you need to think about.

Once you've taken these steps, it's a case of receiving offers and – hopefully – accepting one that works for you. Your solicitor or conveyancer will set dates for exchange and completion and draft the contract. And – boom – you're on the home straight.

At Milners Law, we have a friendly, professional team of accredited conveyancing solicitors who offer expert, jargon-free advice. In need of guidance? Then please don't hesitate to contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote.