How to Sell My Home Without Putting it on the Market

Sell your home yourself and save.

Fewer people are listing their homes with realtors these days. Too many complain that when they listed their property with a realtor, nothing happened. Many found out too late that if they sold their property themselves while listing with a realtor, they still owed the realtor a commission. Increasingly, people are deciding to sell for themselves and not pay realtor commissions. The helpful suggestions below will help you with selling your home.

Instructions

How to Sell My Home without Putting it on the Market

1. Enhance what realtors call the curb appeal of your home. Curb appeal refers to the first impression potential buyers get when they drive by your home. Keep your grass mowed and your walkways and shrubbery neatly trimmed. Make sure your yard stays neat, clean and clutter-free. Remove any inoperable vehicles and all other eye sores that give an unkempt impression.

2. Clean the exterior of your home. Pay special attention to the windows and entrances. Clean, uncluttered entries welcome potential buyers instead of turning them away. Check the condition of your exterior paint while you are cleaning. Paint it if it needs it, or hire someone to paint it. Painters are not cheap, but investing a few hundred dollars in paint can yield thousands in profit.

3. 

   Clean homes sell.

   Clean and refurbish where needed in the interior of your home. Work to restore the high traffic, high use areas. Paint what needs painting and remove foot traffic stains. Kitchens and bathrooms must be clean and stain-free. These two areas say more about your personal cleanliness than any other part of your interior. Avoid the use of products with strong odors in these areas. Strong odors give the impression of something being covered or hidden. Open windows as often as possible for that fresh, open air smell throughout your home.

4. Tell your family, friends, and neighbors you are selling your home. Word of mouth has always been the best advertising, especially when you have something people really want. Use a casual tone when telling others you are selling. Avoid sounding desperate, and do not share any dire circumstances. Desperation and hardship revealed to the wrong person will put the buyer in control and invite the sharks. Suddenly, you are their opportunity for a great deal.

5. 

   Advertise tastefully.

   Post your For Sale By Owner sign with your phone number. Consider For Sale signs that also have the words, "By Appointment Only." Pre-screen to eliminate "tire kickers" and nosey non-buyers. Run ads in your local papers including the paper for the capitol of your state to get extended ad coverage. Keep in mind that posting an Internet video tour of your home will expose you to more buyers, but it can also expose you to personal danger risks.

6. Contact a real estate attorney to prepare your contract and get his closing fees and availability. Build these costs into the price of your home. Confirm your asking price with him to be sure it is within range. Require a non-refundable earnest deposit sent to your attorney as part of signing a contract. This will tell you very quickly whether your buyer is serious or not.

Tips & Warnings

• Work closely with your attorney in all aspects of your sale.

• Do not hesitate to ask personal information from potential buyers. Doing so will save you a lot of wasted time and frustration with unqualified buyers.

• Be very careful whom you allow into your home under the pretense of purchasing it.

References

• Audrie.com: Home Selling Tips

Resources

• For Sale by Owner (FSBO): Sell your Home