Selling your house FSBO
With the potential rewards that can be gained--saving $4000, $8,000, $12,000 or more (minus your expenses) by not having to pay a Brokerage commission, many people wonder why less than 20% of home sellers undertake the task of selling their houses on their own. Possibly it has something to do with expertise. Many home owners who consider a self sale of their house back off when they see the level of knowledge and commitment that is needed to do an effective job. If you decide, however, that self selling is the best option for you, you will find the vast majority of the information on this Web Site to be of value. Most of what you will find here will be geared to either doing the job yourself or monitoring the job that your Agent is doing. The most successful home sellers are those who take an active role in the process, whether it is as a sale by owner or a sale by agent. If you feel that the best route is to sell your home yourself, then having as much information at hand is crucial.
Advantages of selling on your own home -
- There is no Brokerage Fee (commission) to be paid. You receive all of the proceeds (less marketing costs). This is, of course, the biggest benefit of selling your own house.
- You are in total control of the transaction.
- If mistakes are made, they are your own. There is no one else to make mistakes "for" you.
- If your equity is low, you may be able to sell your house without having to write a check
- You are always available at the home for showings, answering inquiries, etc.
- You must rely on your own instincts.
- All marketing and advertising costs are your own, which can be an expensive proposition. For an economical way of marketing your home with a wide reach, visit
ForSaleByOwner.com, where you can list your home online. - Unless you pay to have your listing included, you will not have access to the MLS--the Multiple Listing Service. You must hunt for buyers one at a time.
- Without all the tools in hand, you may underprice or overprice the house. For information on getting price comparisons for your neighborhood, visit the HomePrice.net site. Or, if you're thinking about selling your home in the next 12 months, DiTo Property consultants can help you get an estimate of your home's value. Knowing how much your home can be worth is one of the first steps in beginning to market the property.
- If you are not skilled in negotiation, you may leave money on the table.
- All of the paperwork, legal forms, etc. are your responsibility and must be handled by you
- If you want to give maximum benefit to your efforts, your free time will be somewhat or severely limited.
- Many buyers believe that if you are selling on your own and not paying a commission, it is they (the buyers) who should get the saving--not you.
- As you approach negotiations, you must sever emotional ties with your house or you will place yourself at a disadvantage.
- You must become knowledgeable of legal and financial issues to be most effective.
- Don't scrimp on your house preparation. Remember, you will be in competition with house listed by Agents who will coach their sellers on all aspects of preparing their homes.
- Be aware of all legal requirements for disclosures in your area. Not disclosing necessary information or not using the correct form could leave you open to legal action from a buyer.
- Become an expert in Adevertising and Marketing. Make your house stand out!
- Familiarize yourself with offers and contracts now--don't wait until you have one in your hand.
- Get maximum exposure. ForSaleByOwner.com offers a complete menu of services if you want to sell your home on your own. Packages available range from a comprehensive marketing plan up to a complete deluxe package taht will market your property until it is sold and keep your home on the MLS and Realtor.com for 6 months.
- Is selling quickly is the most important goal? You may want to consider contacting us.
- Be aware of equal housing laws. Not only is discrimination stupid (you limit your potential market), it's illegal!