For Sale By Owner

Pricing Your Home
Price is the most important factor in selling your home. You must be realistic and attempt not to over/under price your home. Over pricing your home may turn away the best prospects for a sale. Under pricing may help your home sell quicker, but you will net less money. If you have a raised ranch, you can NOT compare your home to the colonial down the street. It is important to compare “apples to apples”. When pricing your home, do your best to take all of the emotion out of it and focus on facts and figures. It can’t hurt to try a little high, but if you receive no interest, you should lower the price. If you need help on pricing your home, please take advantage of our FREE Home Valuation.

Condition of Home
When you list your home, it should be in “move in condition”. What does that mean? It means that your home should be clean, no clutter, and all minor repairs complete. Your home is emotional to you, but not to the potential buyer. Are your paint colors neutral? If one of the rooms is painted in a bold color, you should re-paint in a color that is pleasing to most people. Try to walk through your home objectively (as a buyer would) and make a list. Doorbell doesn’t work? FIX IT! First impressions are lasting impressions! Been meaning to fix that squeaky closet door? FIX IT! If a buyer finds minor issues, they are going to wonder if there are major issues. You have one chance to make a first impression, start with curb appeal and work your way inside.

Safety
Once your home is listed, you will be receiving lots of calls (hopefully!). The majority of people who call you will be legitimate buyers, but some may not. If a caller asks to see the home at a time you will be out, do not say “I’m sorry, we won’t be home.” Say “I’m sorry, that time is not convenient for me. How about Saturday at 2:00PM instead?” NEVER let anyone know when you will not be home!

Pre Approval
Do not even consider any offers unless they are accompanied by a mortgage pre-approval letter from a mortgage company.

Negotiating
Determine your lowest selling price prior to listing your home. When a buyer makes an offer, do not be offended if the offer is low. Just as you want the most for your home, they want to pay the least. It doesn’t mean they don’t value you your home. They obviously like it or they wouldn’t make an offer. If you are unhappy with the offer, your choice is to counter offer or reject (with no counter offer). We advise you counter, it lets the buyer know that you are willing to work with them and in turn they will most likely work with you. Try not to get too friendly with the buyer, you want to stay completely objective and non emotional. If you find that you have gone back and forth on the price several times, at some point you can say that you want the buyers “best and final offer.”

Showing Your Home
Have the buyers sign in and if you feel necessary, show ID. Before the showing, make sure your home is clean and free of clutter. Light a candle. Try not to have any distractions such as a television. Have a flyer for your home available with highlights such as pictures, home improvements, schools and property description. Try not to follow too closely because the buyers may feel uncomfortable. Only point out pertinent information (roof was replaced 6 months ago) as opposed to unrelated information (my daughter took her first steps there). The most important thing is to make your buyers feel comfortable and let them see all that is great about your home!

Legal
Hire a Real Estate Attorney to handle all legal aspects of selling your home. There are forms that you are REQUIRED to complete. Plan ahead and have an attorney ready to handle the sale of your home.