If you are looking at this page then you are probably thinking about selling your home yourself. You are probably also going to be surprised that I say "GO FOR IT!" Don't get all excited yet. I have some rules that I believe anyone considering selling their home should abide by.
1) Time: Put a time limit on how long you will try it yourself ( 1 month, 6 months, a year, doesn't matter as long as you stick to it) 2) Price: You must price it according to the current market. If you truly want to sell your home, You MUST have a REALISTIC PRICE! 3) Safety: You are opening your home to strangers. Use caution when showing your home to potential buyers.
If you can do these 3 things, then GO FOR IT and read on for some more tips I have. GOOD LUCK!
Make sure you are ready to do everything a Realtor would do. You may save money, but you will spend your own valuable time when selling your home. What all do you need to be prepared for? Marketing, Preparing your home for sale, Showings, Open Houses, Filtering Phone Calls, Paper Work, Inspections, Title Work, and just a little more.
If that doesn't sound like too much, keep reading I have tips!
Helpful Tips
Pricing
You must price your home realistically to sell it. Because you are not paying a commission buyers will expect your property to be priced lower, so you necessarily won't see the savings. The lower the price, the more likely you will sell it faster. Before you even put it on the market you need to determine the lowest price you would except. Get some Realtors to give you a comparative market analysis of your home. This will give you a realistic price range. Don't just go by one opinion though, some may over price your home wanting to get the listing. Remember that it doesn't matter what you think your home is worth, what it was worth years or months ago, or what your neighbors house sold for. The only thing that does matter is what someone is READY, WILLING, and ABLE to purchase it for.
Home Preparation
Having your home in tip top shape will help when selling your home. A home's first impression is always a lasting impression. Remove the clutter, personal items, and oversized furniture to help the buyer visualize them living in the home. Do a deep cleaning to make everything sparkle and shine. This is especially important in the bathrooms and kitchen. If you have bright colored walls, you might think about opting for a more neutral color scheme. You want to appeal to the average buyer. If you know of repairs that need to be made, go ahead and do them.
Marketing
Let's face it when selling a home price is number one and exposure is number two. If nobody knows about how great your home is and what a steal of a deal it is, it just won't sell. I suggest using all the resources available to you. Websites (some are even free), newspaper ads, local circulations, flyers, supermarket bulletins, and word of mouth. Tell everyone you know that you have a house for sale. When you go somewhere (bank, grocery store, mall) tell anyone that will listen. You shouldn't spend a lot of money, but you should spend it wisely.
Also know who you are marketing your home towards. Does your home fit into someone's investment property, first time home buyer's, or a large family. Once you know that, be sure and market your home to intrigue that buyer to come take a look.
There are pros and cons to trying to sell your own home. I understand and respect your decision to try it for yourself. With that being said, I would like to help you as much as I can. If you have questions or concerns during your efforts, please give me a call, text, or e-mail. I also have a kit especially made for For Sale By Owners. It has several tips and websites for you to use.