| For Sale by Owner or "FSBO" is a term used in | | | | underestimate the power of referrals. Use free |
| the real estate industry to describe homeowners | | | | electronic media to recruit as many referral |
| who choose to sell their homes privately; meaning | | | | sources as possible. |
| without contracting a real estate agent to handle | | | | Next, look for other free and/or inexpensive |
| the transaction. Most folks who choose this path | | | | online sources that allow you to list your home |
| do so because they recognize the significant | | | | for sale. Sites such as Craigslist and some locally |
| savings that can be realized by cutting out the | | | | operated hometown news and newspaper sites |
| agent and their hefty fees. Avoiding the typical | | | | offer free or low cost real estate listings. Mention |
| agent's commission of 6% can equate to | | | | all the important features and selling points in your |
| thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars in | | | | description. Remember that people like to see a |
| potential savings. This substantial financial benefit | | | | lot of pictures. A gallery of nice pictures that |
| should be enough to motivate just about anyone | | | | show off your homes strong selling points will help |
| to take a serious look at the FSBO option. | | | | pique the interest of prospective buyers. Take |
| Although the FSBO option offers plenty of | | | | advantage of free online listing services when you |
| financial incentive, many homeowners ultimately | | | | can. |
| fail in their attempt to sell their own home. | | | | Do not forget about the importance of print |
| Eventually they become discouraged and end up | | | | advertising. Make sure to run small newspaper |
| seeking the help of a real estate agent. | | | | ads, especially when you are planning an open |
| Unfortunately, they end up paying the huge | | | | house. Plenty of prospective home buyers look at |
| commission fees they were trying to avoid in the | | | | the Sunday paper to plan their "open house runs" |
| first place. One of the biggest reasons people fail | | | | for the day. There are also plenty of publications |
| at selling their home themselves is because they | | | | such as church bulletins and organization |
| were not able to attract enough potential buyers. | | | | newsletters available in most areas that you |
| If you want to sell your home, you need to | | | | should consider advertising with. Bulletin boards at |
| attract buyers. The more interested buyers you | | | | the grocery stores are a great place to tack up |
| have, the better your chances are of selling your | | | | your brochures and it won't cost you anything |
| home. So, if you want to attract a lot of potential | | | | other than the cost of the paper and ink. |
| buyers, you need to have a solid marketing | | | | Incorporate pictures into your print ads and |
| strategy in place. | | | | brochures whenever possible. A picture is worth a |
| Described below are some helpful tips that will | | | | thousand words! Always remember to include |
| help you to create and execute an effective | | | | websites and online information in your print ads |
| marketing campaign for yourself. The better you | | | | so people have complete access to your postings |
| are at executing a solid marketing plan, the more | | | | and pictures. |
| potential buyers you will attract. More buyers | | | | One yard sign doesn't cut it. Proper signage |
| means a better chance of finding the right buyer | | | | placement is important especially if you home is |
| who is willing and able to pay the price you're | | | | on a side street or off the main road. You should |
| asking. Effective marketing takes creativity, time | | | | post your signs at strategic locations so that they |
| and effort. The good news is that the marketing | | | | lead buyers directly to your home. Again, this is |
| methods described here are either completely | | | | especially important when you are hosting an |
| free or dirt cheap! | | | | open house. Consider putting balloons on your |
| For starters, be sure to take advantage of the | | | | signs as an added attention getter. |
| free web resources available to you that allow | | | | A final tip would be to send out a letter by regular |
| you to advertise your home for sale. Utilize all the | | | | mail to all of your friends and family and let them |
| social media available to you as tools to help | | | | know that your home is for sale and you would |
| promote your home for sale. Let your friends on | | | | appreciate if they would post a brochure up on |
| Facebook and Twitter know that you are selling | | | | their bulletin board at work. Include multiple copies |
| your house. Ask them to spread the word to | | | | of your brochure in your mailers. Most households |
| their friends. If you have a blog, use it to let | | | | have more than one worker who can post your |
| people know that you're selling your home. Send | | | | listing, so it's a good idea to send them extra |
| an email with photos and details of your property | | | | copies. Be sure to include any website addresses |
| to your entire email list. Think outside the box and | | | | or posting details so they can see more about |
| ask for referrals from friends and family! You | | | | your home online. |
| never know who has a friend or a co-worker or | | | | Remember that you need plenty of interested |
| a cousin who's in the market for a home just like | | | | buyers to land the sale. Be creative in your |
| yours. Remember you need to get the word out | | | | marketing efforts and get the word out to as |
| to as many people as you can. Don't | | | | many people as you can. |