+ RSS5 FSBO Tips To Ensure A Quick Sale
If you're looking to sell your own home, chances are you are either familiar with real estate selling or you're simply looking to save some money in this struggling economy. Either way it's important to know the most critical steps involved with the sales process.
The FSBO process can be somewhat complicated, but it shouldn't be. After all, no one knows a home like the rightful owners. If you do your homework and understand the market in your area chances are you'll already have a head-start on the competition.
Here are some valuable steps to take when selling your own home:
1. Clean, clean, clean. A nice and clean home shows better than the average "somewhat of a mess" house. Buyers that come through will know that you've taken care of the home if it is tidy. Worst-case scenario, if you absolutely hate to clean like some people do, hire a cheap cleaning service to do a once-over for you.
2. Stage your home so it shows well. Don't hire a staging company or rent furniture - simply use what you have an make it look nice. Kitchens and bathrooms are the most important rooms in the home. Be certain that they are tidy and organized. Remember to let as much possible light in these rooms as possible, and if the showing is at night be sure to keep the lights on - especially in bathrooms!
3. Ensure you do your homework and realize your home's actual value. Two reasons this is a good idea - one, you'll get an offer quicker. Two, if you price your home too high and someone actually buys it, the chances of it closing are slim to none. Banks these days have tightened their lending structures and if the bank doesn't appraise it, you might find yourself back to square one at the 11th hour. This is worst-case scenario and you need to price it correctly so you have no concern of this happening 30-60 days down the road.
4. Use a good FSBO service. These services are available online and will promote your property on the Multiple Listing Service, or MLS. It's important to get in front of the realtors that are representing the buyers for your home. If you aren't listed, chances are you'll get fewer showings and absolutely no traffic at your open houses.
5. If you receive a purchase agreement to buy your property, you might want to consider hiring an attorney to guide you through the contract. Local attorneys can facilitate the deal for you, usually for a small fee. A couple hundred dollars to know you're in good hands is certainly better than paying a realtor a large fee for doing exactly what you can do by yourself!
There are plenty of other small things here and there that you can do to sell your own home - however, focus on these 5 areas and you might be surprised at how much luck you have. After all, saving thousands of dollars on real estate commissions is well worth it if all you have to do is put in a little time and effort in doing the proper due diligence.
