How to List an FSBO Home

Did you know that nowadays only one-third of all home buyers used a real estate agent? Did you know that a seller can utilize MLS listings on their own, without an agent? In today’s real estate market these are absolute facts! It is now much easier and more profitable to sell your home as a “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) home than ever before. To ensure you earn all the money you can from selling your home, do it yourself! Forget the agents! Only you will have your best interests at heart when it comes time for you to sell your home anyhow. There are some things you must know how to do first though before you do sell your own home. We will examine some helpful tips in this article.

First, check the records on your property. Utilize your county courthouse files and personnel. Be certain there aren’t any liens or legal claims of someone else to take ownership of your home. If you want to stay clear of the courthouse a real estate lawyer can also help in this area. However, be sure to do this upfront! Now is the time to find out this information! You do not want to be unpleasantly surprised when you think you are ready to close a deal on your home.

Next, make sure you personally know the weaknesses and strengths of your property and home. This is another area where you do not want to wind up surprised! Have an inspection done early on by a professional inspector. They will let you know of any problems you have that need attention and are likely to impact your sale. You will be better off if you fix these problems right away yourself (using reputable professional services only.) However; if you choose not to fix them, you must adjust your selling price accordingly. Otherwise nobody will buy the home.

That leads us to the next tip for FSBOs – have the price of your home evaluated by an objective expert. Hire an appraiser for a few hundred dollars. They will be best suited to thoroughly evaluate your home and compare that evaluation to similar homes for sale in your town. This should not be a guessing game on your part! If you price your home too high, nobody will buy it. However; if you estimate it too low, you will be cheating yourself. Unless you happen to be an expert in this field, do yourself (and your family) a favor – get a professional home appraisal!

One last point in being an FSBO is to make sure you plan a selling strategy for yourself. Some research on your potential home buyers is in order here. Find out the things that stand out to them when they are looking for a home. Today only 36% of buyers will find out about homes from a real estate agent. That leaves a huge percentage of people that are looking on their own. Don’t forget – THEY want the savings offered by an FSBO too. When you discover what the public wants in their home, you can accentuate the features of your home that match their criteria.