For Sale by Owner

Congratulations on your decision to sell your home!  Before you consider selling your house yourself, ask yourself if you are going to have the time needed to sell your house - even if you just cover the basics.

Even if a simple sign in your yard did persuade a potential buyer to knock on your door, how will you handle the following questions: 

• How does your home compare to others like it in the area?
   
• How did you determine the fair market value of this property?
   
• Can you help with financing?
   
• If I make an offer, who will draw up the paperwork?
  
• If I make an offer, who will hold my escrow deposit?
   
• Why aren't you using a real estate agent? Is there something wrong with the property?
   
• Since you aren't using a real estate agent, we can take their fee right off the top, right? 

Selling your home is one of the most important financial transactions you will make in your life and selling your home is nothing like selling a car. Every home is different, and every homebuyer wants to offer you as little as possible. So, how do you determine the real market value? 

How will you negotiate with buyers who want something for nothing? How will you prepare your home for sale? How will you market it locally and even nationally? Who will guide you through the complex paperwork and pitfalls of escrow and closing? Make sure you are really ready to handle all of that before pounding that sign into your front yard. Errors can be extremely costly. 

Remember: Buyers want to offer you as close to nothing as possible, so do your homework FIRST! While that "For Sale By Owner" sign might sound like a good idea, it usually means a different thing to buyers: "Try to steal this one." 

How to Stage Your Home - a short video

How a Virtual Tour Can Help Sell Your Home Faster