| The decision to sell your home yourself is | | | | paperwork or signatures. The cost of paying an |
| becoming more and more popular. According to | | | | attorney with experience in real estate or even |
| various sources, the percentage of home sales | | | | paying a very small commission to a Realtor is far |
| that were completed without a Realtor is in the | | | | less than the cost of losing the sale. |
| neighborhood of 14%. And that figure doesn't | | | | Be Clear About Your Legal Responsibilities When |
| count sellers who used a discount Realtor service | | | | You Sell Your Home |
| like flat fee listing, or an open listing contract, | | | | Yourself |
| either of which will lower the cost of your | | | | If you choose not to consult a real estate |
| commission considerably. | | | | professional, do find other ways to educate |
| There are a lot of things that go into selling your | | | | yourself. There are inspections, evaluations, |
| home yourself, but let's skip right past setting the | | | | arranging for escrow and escrow fees, any one |
| right price, imagine that you did all the right things, | | | | of which can delay the sale of your house, or |
| got the house into great shape, advertised in all | | | | side-rail it entirely. Understand exactly what repairs |
| the right places... and in less than two weeks - | | | | you are obligated to make before closing, what |
| you've got an offer from a buyer at a price | | | | percentage of costs you're taking responsibility |
| that's only a few thousand below your lowest | | | | for and exactly what concessions you and the |
| acceptable price. What do you do now? | | | | buyer have agreed upon. |
| Negotiating With a Buyer When You Sell Your | | | | Here are a few things that may be among the |
| Home Yourself | | | | disclosures and inspections that of your sale: |
| Be prepared to negotiate with the buyer. | | | | Roof |
| Remember, while you've been reading about how | | | | Wiring |
| to sell a home, they've been reading about how | | | | Plumbing |
| to buy a home. Everything they've read has told | | | | Termites |
| them to bid low. Negotiating doesn't necessarily | | | | Lead Paint |
| mean lowering your price, though. Instead, you | | | | Warranties on All Home Fixtures |
| can offer other concessions or enticements. One | | | | Major Repairs |
| popular concession is for the seller to offer to | | | | Selling your home yourself can save you |
| cover the closing costs, or to buy points that will | | | | thousands of dollars in real estate commissions, |
| lower the interest rate on their mortgage. | | | | but it's important that you know all of your legal |
| Consider Hiring a Real Estate Consultant to | | | | responsibilities. Make sure that you don't miss the |
| Oversee the Sale | | | | smallest detail so that your closing goes through |
| Once you've settled on a price, you don't want to | | | | without a hitch. |
| lose the sale because of an oversight in the | | | | |