Selling your own home may seem like an enticing option to save money, but there’s a lot that goes into selling a home that the average homeowner may not be aware of. For those who think they’re up to the challenge, we’ve outlined a few key points if you’re considering selling your home without a realtor.
Marketing Your Home
Selling your own home means you’ll be in charge of your marketing. Make sure your home is listed on the multiple listing service (MLS) in your area to reach the most buyers. You’ll be the one showing the house and negotiating the sale with the buyer’s agent, which can be time-consuming, stressful, and emotional for some people.
Check Out Our Real Estate Marketing Checklist:
- Professionally installed sign
- Professionally designed & printed “Just Listed” postcards
- Professionally designed & printed property brochure
- Open house marketing in local venues
- Social media marketing – Facebook and Instagram are huge players in the real estate marketing game.
- Virtual tour – like this example from Windermere Real Estate’s Certified Listing Program
- YouTube video
- Multiple Listing Service (MLS) input with syndication to all the major marketing portals – note: you cannot list your home on the MLS on your own; you will need to work with a licensed real estate broker (click here to request a call back from a Colorado-based licensed real estate broker)
With so many homes on the market today, it is essential that these buyers see your home first. Savvy online marketing has never been more important!
Selling: Don’t Overprice Your Home
Every seller wants to get the highest possible price for their home, but it is important to let the housing market determine your home’s value. If you find yourself sentimental about the sale, you may be letting your emotions dictate the price.
Another factor could be allowing your financial situation to determine how much you are willing to accept. You will need to do a market analysis that includes the value of similar homes in your area, and this research should be your guide to selling your home.
Additionally, consider how homebuyers will search for your home online. Pricing a home at $301,000 will prevent searchers with a $300,000 budget from finding and considering your listing. Learn about our top 4 selling mistakes here.
You Need To Prepare Your Home Before Showing
Sellers who do not clean and stage their homes throw money down the drain. When preparing to sell your home, there are a number of important steps to take to ensure the process goes smoothly. However, with so many steps involved in selling a house, there are often some overlooked items. To expedite the selling process, one crucial step is to make minor repairs and thoroughly clean the home before putting it up for sale. As you prepare to put your home on the market, be sure to tackle these often overlooked repairs while tidying up.
Get a Pre-Inspection Done
Before you sell your own home, getting a pre-inspection done in advance will save you from surprises down the line. Home inspections can reveal hidden flaws and potentially pricey repairs, not only opening up the conversation to further price negotiations but slowing down the sale and putting off the home buyer.
A pre-inspection, like Windermere Real Estate’s Certified Listing 5-Point Pre-Inspection, completed before listing your home will reassure prospective buyers – giving them peace of mind and confidence in the price and condition of the home. In some cases, a pre-inspection can even point out your home’s selling points, such as kitchen and bathroom upgrades. During a pre-inspection, a professional home inspector will identify problems or potential problems with your home, such as leaks in the roof, possible water damage, remodeling efforts that don’t meet current building codes, and improperly grounded outlets. The home inspector will then prepare a written pre-inspection home report, detailing its findings and outlining a list of recommended repairs.
Exterior Repairs and Yard Clean Up
Your home’s curb appeal is extremely important to prospective buyers, and it is also a prime factor during the appraisal. To secure the highest possible price when selling your home, be sure to tackle yard clean-up and minor exterior repairs. Mowing the lawn, pruning overgrown trees and shrubs, weeding the flowerbeds, and adding a fresh coat of paint or stain to decking will all go a long way in making your home appealing to buyers. Additionally, it is important to clean out the gutters and make any necessary repairs to the roof before listing your home. Check out our blog, Before You Sell: Affordable Curb Appeal Tips, for more information.
Important Interior Repairs
While cleaning the interior of your home, be sure to include a thorough clean of your kitchen, bathrooms, and both interior and exterior window spaces. This deep clean will also enable you to check for any areas that need a fresh coat of paint or other aesthetic touches. At this time, it is also important to check that light fixtures are working properly and to make any repairs necessary to electrical outlets.
Tips on Tidying Up Inside
When preparing to sell your home, the last thing to do is to remove any clutter, inside and out, while giving your home a final makeover. Planting fresh flowers will make the entryway more inviting and using air fresheners will help the home smell clean while hiding any lingering pet odors or cleaning supply smells. One additional tip is to replace all outdoor lighting with new bulbs. Be sure to leave the outdoor lights on at night, as many prospective buyers will drive by the home at various times of the day as they envision living in a new home.
When preparing to sell your home, thoroughly cleaning the entire property and making minor repairs will go a long way in getting the highest possible price and making the whole selling process proceed quickly and smoothly.
Follow Our Home Selling Guide
Your home may be your single biggest investment and one of the largest financial transactions you’ll ever make. When you sell, you want the best price and terms in the shortest amount of time. Many marketing options, legalities, and details go into the sale. Use this guide to help prepare you for listing, showing, closing, moving, and more!
The Home Selling Guide includes:
- A Repair & Cleaning Checklist
- Tips for Showing Your Home
- Purchase & Selling Agreement Information
- Steps to Closing
- Home Inspection Information
- A Worksheet for Calculating Your Net Proceeds from the Sale
- Statement and Closing Information
- Moving Tips
- And a Handy Real Estate Term Glossary!
Download the Home Selling Guide
Working With an Agent
Listing agents are trained professionals who work with homeowners to sell their homes. Your listing agent will be there to answer any questions you may have throughout the selling process and will negotiate with buyers’ agents to get the best price for your home. But their value doesn’t stop there. A listing agent will list the home, coordinate showings, and open houses, and market the home. When choosing an agent, find someone with whom you are compatible both emotionally and professionally, and who cares about the goals of you and your household.
Closing Thoughts
Selling your home on your own is possible as long as you give yourself time to prepare and educate yourself on the process. However, using an experienced realtor is still the best way to ensure you are getting the best value for your home and preventing any legal issues from arising.
