| Once you decide to sell your home, you may do | | | | in the process and who to hire. |
| what most people do and rush to set up some | | | | Line Up a Title Company |
| advertisements. Usually this means setting up a | | | | You will want to have a title company (or escrow |
| listing on a FSBO web site and then placing a | | | | company) ready just in case you need to move |
| classified ad in your newspaper. This is like putting | | | | quickly after finding a buyer. |
| the cart before the horse. The truth is you do | | | | Meet With an Appraiser |
| not want to start advertising your home for sale | | | | Nowadays appraisers are giving very honest |
| in either print or internet media without first taking | | | | assessments of your home's value. They don't |
| several other steps. These other steps are what | | | | fluff up appraisals like they used to. This is a |
| prepare you and your home to be shown to | | | | reality check, when compared to dealing with |
| potential buyers. If you start showing your home | | | | agents who tell you that your home will sell for a |
| to potential buyers before these steps are taken | | | | very high price. |
| you will do yourself more harm than good. So | | | | Meet With an Inspector |
| after deciding to sell your home yourself these | | | | You need to know up front if repairs need to be |
| are the first things you should do. | | | | made to your home. This will help you price it |
| Meet With a Marketing Company | | | | correctly also. |
| Your first step is to formulate your marketing | | | | Meet With a Home Stager |
| strategy and plan. A real estate marketing | | | | Either hire one, or do what the home stager |
| company (not a broker) can help you do this. | | | | suggests to clear your home and property of |
| They will create a sample plan for you as part of | | | | clutter and make it look like new. Professional |
| their proposal to perform services for you. | | | | home stagers use psychology to create an |
| Meet with an Attorney | | | | appearance that appeals to buyers. |
| An attorney experienced in real estate closings | | | | After doing all of these things, you should be |
| has deep knowledge of every part of the home | | | | ready to advertise your home for sale. You will |
| sale process. He can give you a good overview, | | | | want to follow the marketing plan and strategy |
| while at the same time giving you | | | | given to you by the real estate marketing |
| recommendations with respect to the other steps | | | | company. |