Selling your house can be challenging and emotional, but with a little planning ahead and the help of an agent, the whole process can be easy.
- Work with an agent - Select someone local who knows the area.
- Market your home and set the price - A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list price.
- Show your home
Safety essentials when selling.
Here are some guidelines to follow.
Do not put a "FOR SALE BY OWNER" sign on your property. This invites
strangers to come to your door at any time and relaxes the natural vigilance of your neighbors
regarding strangers on your property.
If someone calls on your ad, get their name and phone number. Tell them you
will call them right back. This will enable you to verify that they have given you a correct phone number.
Try to get as much information about the caller as you can before giving out your address.
Never show the house alone
Discuss the situation with your children. Be sure they know that they should not let strangers in.
Alert babysitters as well.
If your home has a burglar alarm, do not demonstrate its workings, power source location
or cut-off switches.
After showing people through your property, recheck all locks on windows and cellar entries.
It only takes a second for someone to unfasten them.
Are You Really Prepared To Sell On Your Own?
Key questions for you to consider.
Do you know what similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for in the last six months?
(Asking price is not a reliable indicator.)
Are you aware of the Federal and State laws and disclosures that you must follow as a For Sale By Owner?
Do you know who is a serious home purchaser and who is just serious about finding out what you have in
your home?
Are you capable of qualifying a VA/FHA purchaser? A conventional purchase?
What do you do if your home does not appraise for the price that you have sold it for?
Drawbacks To Consider
You have one property to show...
I have many properties to show in a marketplace where homes are bought by comparison.
The buyer will not share their financial situation with you.
I will bring you only financially qualified buyers.
The average homeowner overprices and may accept a price below market value. Overpriced homes
tend to sit on the market, losing value as buyers suspect a problem.
I will price your property to sell at fair market value.
Well meaning friends will give you conflicting suggestions.
I have facts at hand and experience as a professional.
You may make expensive and unnecessary improvements to the property.
I will advise you on how to spend the least and get the most for it.
The direct buyer will not share likes & dislikes with someone they may be negotiating with.
Buyers will communicate their feelings about a property to a Realtor.
You can't follow-up with a buyer. They'll think your anxious to sell.
Following up is what I do!
It is difficult to be objective in a negotiation with the buyer.
I am trained to be objective and move the parties toward a win-win conclusion.
You may accept an insincere offer and then spend months in litigation to free the property
just to put it back on the market.
I am experienced in seeing trouble spots and acting quickly in the best interest of my client.
