| If you are planning on selling your own home, you | | | | temporary email address to avoid spammers now |
| can save thousands of dollars by avoiding a | | | | and well after you're done selling your own home. |
| realtor's 6% fee. On a $400,000 home that | | | | Asking price. Obviously, your asking price is a |
| translates into $24,000 to be paid out of your | | | | major consideration when selling your own home. |
| pocket to the realtor. Add in attorney fees and | | | | Remember that comp search you did earlier? |
| other closing costs associated with selling your | | | | Order an appraisal from the real estate appraiser |
| own home and that big profit you thought you | | | | who quoted you the highest value for your home. |
| would make on the sale of your home has | | | | Then you can price your home slightly under the |
| evaporated. | | | | appraised value if you wish to sell quickly. |
| The following tips will help you sell your own home | | | | It is important to ask several appraisers for a |
| quickly. Additionally, learn how to prepare your | | | | comp search before ordering your appraisal. I |
| home for the marketplace and maximize your | | | | have seen appraisers differ as much as $100,000 |
| profits. | | | | on the value of a home. |
| What's Your Market? Do you know your local real | | | | Buy a Warranty. Offer a one year home |
| estate market? Specifically, are you familiar with | | | | warranty especially if your house is older. A |
| home prices, market conditions, the schools, local | | | | warranty gives potential buyers the assurance |
| government, etc? Knowledge is power as well as | | | | you are standing by your sale as well as offering |
| money in your pocket. | | | | peace of mind in the event something major |
| Here are two ways to find out what homes like | | | | breaks [like your furnace]. |
| yours are selling for in your area: | | | | Sweeten the Deal. In some cases you can sell |
| 1) Call several real estate appraisers. Let them | | | | your home much faster if you offer incentives to |
| know you are selling your own home and ask for | | | | buyers. You won't call them that, but if by |
| a comp search (comparative sales search). | | | | including your brand new washer and dryer units |
| 2) Check with a realtor for the going market rate. | | | | in with the sale helps to tip the sale in your favor, |
| Prepare Your Home. To get top dollar when selling | | | | by all means include them as part of your sale |
| your own home, make all minor repairs and paint | | | | package. |
| rooms as needed. Cut the lawn and trim the | | | | Wiggle Room. If your local real estate market isn't |
| shrubbery, get rid of everything you do not need, | | | | particularly hot, but you do have someone who |
| and put everything in its place. | | | | has shown interest in the house: |
| Get a professional home inspection. Then correct | | | | 1) Make certain you have some room to drop |
| every item on the inspector's list. Then have that | | | | your price to accommodate the buyer. |
| same inspector re-inspect the home and give you | | | | 2) Offer no money down financing. Call a local |
| a report stating the home is in perfect order. | | | | mortgage broker and ask them to pre-qualify |
| This will become a great marketing tool to show | | | | your prospects on one of their "no money down" |
| prospective buyers. | | | | loans programs. Simply tell the buyer to call your |
| Realtor vs. Do It Yourself. Once you are prepared | | | | mortgage broker for financing. |
| to list your home, you will need to decide whether | | | | 3) Offer to pay for the buyer's closing costs. This |
| to use a realtor or do it all yourself. That 6% fee | | | | expense would only be a few thousand dollars |
| can be a real drag on your profits, especially if | | | | and can be paid at close with your equity. |
| you are in a hot market and buyers are certain | | | | You may give up a few thousand dollars but think |
| to be interested in your home. | | | | of the money you'll save by deciding not to use |
| You can negotiate a lower fee or a flat rate with | | | | the 6% commission agent. |
| a realtor especially if you want them to share | | | | Use an Attorney. If you decide to sell the home |
| some of the headaches involved in selling your | | | | yourself, hire a real estate attorney before you |
| own home. | | | | start the selling process to make certain your |
| Start Marketing. Hire a photographer to take | | | | contracts and other paperwork is in order. You will |
| pictures of the inside and outside of your home. | | | | pay extra for his professional advice, but you will |
| Find a photographer who is familiar with real | | | | save many headaches or heartaches later on. |
| estate photography and who can put your home | | | | Yes, many sellers are choosing to represent |
| in the best possible light. | | | | themselves when selling their own home. You can |
| Next, create professional looking brochures or | | | | too, but please know that the work you will have |
| flyers just like realtors use. Include several full | | | | to do in order to bring about a successful sale can |
| color pictures, details about the house and your | | | | be time consuming and loaded with pitfalls. Count |
| asking price. | | | | all the costs and go with the plan that works best |
| Finally, add your information to select "For Sale by | | | | for you when selling your own home. |
| Owner" websites. | | | | Please feel free to reprint this article as long as |
| Make sure that you put all the web contact | | | | the resource box is left intact and all links are |
| information in your brochures and flyers. Use a | | | | hyperlinked. |