Plan to sell your home? If so, you may wonder if a Realtor is necessary. A Realtor can save you time by pre-screening buyers and handling the legal and financial details of the house sale. You save money by selling the house on your own but prepare for time consuming research, negotiations and meetings with potential buyers. With a strong knowledge of the home buying process and a marketing plan, you can sell your home without a Realtor.
Instructions
1. Research the home selling process and state real estate laws. Look online and at the library for real estate and home selling information. Request home selling pamphlets from local Realtors and lenders. Ask for advice from friends and relatives who sold their homes without Realtors.
2. Find out your house’s market value to set a realistic sale price. Look up the selling price of other houses for sale on your block and neighborhood in local real estate listings in newspapers and online.
3. Set a sale price based upon your house’s market value. Swimming pools, decks, finished basements and additional bathrooms all add to a house’s value.
4. Consult with a real estate attorney to guide you through offers, purchase agreements and the closing.
5. Create a budget for home repairs and for preparing your house for open houses. Be careful not to spend over your budget.
6. Make necessary home repairs. Projects can range from replacing wall paper to fixing a broken garage door. Be prepared for home inspections.
7. Prepare your house for visits from potential buyers. Focus on keeping the house clean, fresh smelling, free of clutter and inviting. Look for tips on preparing your house for potential buyers online. See the Resources section for a link.
8. Keep the outside of the house as beautiful as the inside. During the spring and summer, cut the lawn, remove weeds and plant flowers. Rake fallen leaves in the fall. Shovel snow in the winter.
9. Create a marketing plan to attract potential buyers. Write down the sale price and acceptable offer ranges. Think about the type of home buyers you want to attract and where to find them. Include plans to run newspaper ads and create fliers and a lawn sign. Describe where you will distribute the fliers and run ads.
10. Create open house fliers. Include at least two photographs of the house. The flier should describe the square footage of the property and amount of bedrooms and bathrooms. Special features such as a swimming pool, deck or newly renovated kitchen should also be mentioned.
11. Display a “For Sale” sign on your lawn that is easily viewed from long distances and includes a holder for fliers.
12. Partner with a mortgage company to offer financing options for buyers who have not already secured their mortgage plans. By establishing a relationship with a lender, you can get expert advice on the selling process and help with marketing your home.
Tags: your house, potential buyers, real estate, home selling, sale price, your home
