Other Tips

 

  • When selling your home for sale by owner, have open house often.  When you have open houses, invite friends, family, and neighbors over to check out your house.  By doing this, it will inform them all that you are selling and they can assist by word of mouth to all of their friends and family.  Many times they know of someone looking to buy a home or they may want to get someone they know into the neighborhood to live close to them.
  • Always answer any questions honestly.  If there is an ugly patch of carpet where your dog chewed up an ink pen, let the prospective buyers know it.  If the roof leaks in the spring, but it's now summer and you've painted over the stain, tell the prospect.  Anything you misrepresent can and probably will be used against you. And of course, you would want the same honesty when you purchase.
  • Remember to be willing to show your home a lot and at anytime.  In the end its well worth it. (Please use caution when showing strangers)
  • Asking price is the success or failure of a For Sale By Owner.  It must be high enough so the seller doesn't do all the work for nothing, yet pricing too high will make it hard to generate interest in the property. 
  • Hire an inspector to go through your home before you list it.  One way to prevent potential litigation for a problem you were unaware of is to get an inspection before you list, that way there will be no nasty surprises years later when the new owners discover something that began while you owned it, but didn't disclose it.  You don't have to necessarily fix the problems, but you do have to disclose their existence.
  • The Kitchen is the single most important room that sells the house.  Create a spacious feeling in the kitchen by putting away small appliances, such as microwave oven, toaster, and blender.  Also be sure that the kitchen counter is free of personal mail, magazines and newspapers.
  • Be willing to spend some of the savings from not hiring a realtor on advertising.  Remember that your home is competing for attention with those listed by real estate agents and they are putting ads in home magazines, mailing out flyers, etc.  Establish a budget that will realistically promote the sale of your home!
  • Disqualifying prospective buyers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status, or national origin is illegal.  Discrimination can get you into a heap of legal trouble and can cost your big bucks.  If in doubt, check with the Equal Housing Opportunity agency in your area.

Other Tips

 

  • When selling your home for sale by owner, have open house often.  When you have open houses, invite friends, family, and neighbors over to check out your house.  By doing this, it will inform them all that you are selling and they can assist by word of mouth to all of their friends and family.  Many times they know of someone looking to buy a home or they may want to get someone they know into the neighborhood to live close to them.
  • Always answer any questions honestly.  If there is an ugly ptach of carpet where your dog chewed up an ink pen, let the prospective buyers know it.  If the roof leaks in the spring, but it's now summer and you've painted over the stain, tell the prospect.  Anything you misrepresent can and probably will be used against you. And of coursse, you would want the same honesty when you purchase.
  • Remember to be willing to show your home a lot and at anytime.  In the end its well worth it. (Please use caution when showing strangers)
  • Asking price is the success or failure of a For Sale By Owner.  It must be high enough so the seller doesn't do all the work for nothing, yet pricing too high will make it hard to generate interest in the property. 
  • Hire an inspector to go through your home before you list it.  One way to prevent potential litigation for a problem you were unaware of is to get an inspection before you list, that way there will be no nasty surprises years later when the new owners discover something that began while you owned it, but didn't disclose it.  You don't have to necessarily fix the problems, but you do have to disclose their existence.
  • The Kitchen is the single most important room that sells the house.  Create a spacious feeling in the ktichen by putting away small appliances, such as microwave oven, toaster, and blender.  Also be sure that the kitcen counter is free of personal mail, magazines and newspapers.
  • Be willing to spend some of the savings from not hiring a realtor on advertising.  Remember that your home is competing for attention with those listed by real estate agents and they are putting ads in home magazines, mailing out flyers, etc.  Establishy a budget that will realistically promote the sale of your home!
  • Disqualifying prospective buyers on the basis of race, color, religtion, sex, handicap, family status, or national origin is illegal.  Discrimination can get you into a heap of legal trouble and can cost your big bucks.  If in doubt, check with th Equal Housing Opportunity agency in your area.