Selling Your Own Home

As a real estate agent, I hate to advise anyone into attempting to sell their own home. Not only because I am losing a potential customer, but also because of all of the time and expense that is associated with it.

Here are just a few of the things you will be responsible for when selling on your own:

1. Know your property
2. Research the current market and property laws in your area
3. Set the price
4. Determine financing alternatives
5. Perform a "walk-through" of your property (outside and inside)
6. Make all repairs
7. Research your neighborhood
8. Establish a marketing budget - Advertising costs, sign fees, attorney, closing agent and other professional fees, excise tax for the sale, all prorated taxes and fees associated
9. Investigate the real estate sections of local publications
10. Proper listing on the internet
11. Establish a marketing plan
12. Write and design your ad
13. Clear your schedule - Make arrangements so that you have free time to schedule appointments at the prospective "buyer's convenience", as well as for any "open houses" that you hold. If you are working with an agent, he or she will take care of showings and open houses on your behalf. It is best to allow your agent to show your home on their own so that the prospective buyer does not feel uncomfortable or pressured by the seller.
14. Purchase and install a "for sale" sign
15. Prepare a fact or sell sheet
16. Purchase "open house" signs
17. Set up a schedule of open houses - While most are held on the weekend, this is not convenient for all buyers. Make sure that you coordinate your print advertising to include information about your next open house.
18. Create and keep a list of prospective buyers
19. Negotiate the offer
20. Get your forms in order
21. Negotiate final terms of the sale
22. Perform the final walk-through

If the prospect of this doesn't have your head spinning, actually performing all these tasks will. An experienced agent is there to handle all of the complicated details and make the home selling process comfortable and manageable.

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