You Can Do It!

We would like to compliment you on your decision to Sell By Owner. By making this decision you will reap financial as well as personal rewards. Before we go any further it is very important to realize that Selling by Owner does take a commitment on your part. Here are a few points to consider:

Personal Commitment - The deal revolves around you. It will be your responsibility to coordinate appointments and inspections. You will need to follow up to make sure the necessary paperwork is completed. What this really involves is making a few phone calls. If you are not willing to make this commitment, stop here and call a Realtor. A Realtor would be glad to handle this for you, for a commission of course.

Time on the Market - Whether you are FSBO or with a Realtor it is important to have realistic expectations of the market. In a "Hot" market properties will obviously move faster than is a "Cold" market. Things like the location or condition of your home will also have an impact. Pricing will play a very important role. By pricing at or below the market, you will attract buyers much quicker than if you are above it. Fortunately with FSBO you do not have to add a realtors commission on top of the selling price, which in turn allows you to price competitively. 

Money - To sell your home you will need to spend some money. You have heard the term "penny wise-pound foolish"? The same applies here. Be prepared to invest $500 to $1,000. By paying a little now, you can save a lot later (like a 7% Realtor bill!)

Salesmanship - I have heard some people say that they just don't feel comfortable selling. In response I have a saying "The best sales people are not sales people at all". What I am saying is that you do not have to be a salesperson to sell your home. If you believe in your product (home) and you are priced competitively - you can do this! All you need to do is present you home in a positive manner and the buyer will sell himself or herself. Who knows your home better than you?

In conclusion, yes it will take effort on your behalf to sell you home. However, consider the alternative of paying a Realtor 6-7% commission (that's $14,000 on a $200,000 home). How many extra hours would you have to work to make this up? You can do it!

You can do it | Preparing your home | Price to sell | Market to sell
Showing your home | Negotiating/Closing the Deal | Moving