How To Sell Your Home By Yourself
Most homeowners that are considering selling their home want to sell as quickly as possible, for the highest price possible, while spending as little as possible. Although there is benefit in hiring a professional to sell your home, there’s also great value in understanding how to save money by doing it yourself. But before attempting to sell your home by yourself, read on to learn more about which things you should pay close attention to.
Here are a few easy things you can do to sell your home:
1. Start outside (the outside is what buyers see first)
Take a look at what might be a sore eye: overflowing garbage cans, wood scraps, junkyard stuff. A tidy exterior speaks volumes of the owners. Does the clutter outside the house mean that the inside will reveal more clutter? What about the roof? Is it in good condition; if not, when was the last time it was replaced? Is the garden attractive and inviting, or are there bushes and trees that need trimming? Is the lawn brown and depressed, or is it alive and green? Are the outside lights working? Is the paint falling off?
2. Go inside the house
Again, we’ll repeat the issue of clutter. If your home has hardly any space to walk around and there’s too much furniture, knick-knacks and unnecessary items lying around, it is difficult for buyers to visualize how their furniture will look in your house. By not removing clutter, you’re not allowing them to “mentally move in.”
Repair doors that squeak, faucets that leak, and windows with cracked or broken glass. Don’t forget floor slabs that have come loose. If the paint’s peeling off, fix that one too!
3. Environmental concerns
Be prepared when potential buyers ask you about radon, asbestos, lead, and energy-efficiency appliances or devices. Be sure to look at a list of asbestos-containing materials and other dangerous chemicals so you can identify them on the spot. There’s a heightened sense of the environment right now, and your house will be competing with newly-built homes that bear the mark of energy efficiency. You may want to have your house inspected by a certified inspector for any radon, asbestos, or lead content. When you show a healthy inspection report, you stand a better chance of selling your house.
4. No one’s buying
Inexperienced sellers make the mistake of not pulling down their ads after a certain period of time. They think that if they leave the ad long enough, a buyer will show up eventually. Be careful. If your house is still in the market after a year while other homes in your neighboring are selling within a reasonable period of time, then take a step back. You ought to take the ad out and place it again at another time. When buyers see that your house has not sold yet, they begin to question why (“maybe it’s haunted”), or they could offer a much lower price if they sense you’re desperate.
5. Sharpen those negotiation skills
Speak to realtors or read up on negotiating skills. The basics are: the seller always starts high while the buyer will always start low. This way, sellers and buyers have plenty of room to negotiate. Be flexible so that you don’t turn away a serious buyer; by the same token, know when to stop haggling. That’s why we have offers and counteroffers in real estate. Both sellers and buyers want value for their money.
6. Pets Away! Cooking Odors Ayoy!
Don’t be mistaken in believing that people love pets as much as you do. Some buyers specifically say that if there’s a pet in the house, the first thing that worries them is invisible pet dander or hair shedding. We recommend you eliminate all unpleasant odors from the house, especially if you cook with exotic ingredients that have strange smells.
7. Timing and Reason
It’s common sense not to sell your house when the market is down unless, of course, you’re desperate for cash. Also, don’t sell your home for the wrong reasons. If you love your home but want to sell it because you’re recently divorced and staying in it stings you with painful memories, wait it out. Time heals all wounds, but a house sold is gone forever.
8. Documentation and all things legal
Protect yourself by requesting that a buyer who is about to buy your house put funds into escrow, or have a third party set this up. You wouldn’t want to be unpleasantly surprised to end up with a house that you took off the market because the buyer said he was “approved for a mortgage loan.” Always ask for proof of the buyer’s financial condition. Do not give them the keys to your house or transfer ownership until you’ve got the money in the bank and all papers are in order.
We Can Help
It is certainly possible to sell your home by yourself. And in some cases, it may work in your favor to do so. Just be sure that whichever way you decide to go, your decision is informed. You can limit your risk and increase your odds of success by scheduling a free consultation with an experienced real estate investment company, such as Aecom Investments. Our experienced staff can help you explore and understand your options while creating a tailored-made strategy to sell your home quickly. If you are currently considering selling your home, then give us a call now on our 24-hour access line at (877) 753-5956 or leave your contact information here so one of our support team members can assist you.
Read more about How To Sell Your Home By Yourself here: The Real Estate Pros.