How to Make Your House Selling Easy Without a Realtor

Selling a home can seem like a daunting task, which is why many people turn to a realtor when the time comes. However, there are advantages to selling a home yourself. Realtors typically charge around 6% of your sale price, which can cut into your profits quickly. They are also usually working with several clients at a time, whereas your focus can be solely on your home.

If you want to save yourself money and sell your home quickly there are a few things you need to know to get started.

Get Your Home Ready
While you may love your photo wall in the living room or that bright, funky color you painted the guest bath, your prospective buyers may not. You want your home to make a good first impression and for buyers to be able to envision themselves and their things in the space. The best way to do this is to make your home a clean slate. Here is a checklist of things you will want to do before listing your house:

• Declutter, take down photos and pack away knick-knacks.
• Give the entire house a deep clean.
• Re-paint rooms using a neutral palette.
• Add curb appeal

Set A Realistic Price
You are going to want to do some research on the housing market in your area and what homes with comparable square footage and features are selling for. If you set your price too high you will scare away potential buyers and end up sitting on the house longer. 

This part can be hard because people are attached to their homes and sometimes tend to feel they are worth more than what the market says. Setting your feelings aside and being pragmatic with your price will benefit you in the end. Have you been wondering how much my home is worth? It’s not always the easiest thing to calculate.

Even when it is considered a sellers’ market, you must tread lightly when pricing your home to sell. Consulting with companies that buy houses in your area is a good place to start if you are unsure about your price. Getting a second opinion from a local company never hurts.

Advertise
Gone are the days where you could simply stick a "for sale" sign in your yard and take out an ad in the local paper. The internet and social media have become crucial tools in home sales. Sites like Redfin and FSBO let you upload your listings for prospective buyers to browse. You want to make sure your listing shows your house in its best light so don't skimp on the details and consider hiring a professional photographer to take pictures for your listing. Spending a little bit of money to create the best possible listing will pay off in more interest in your home.

Don't Be Afraid To Ask Questions
In our daily lives, it's not polite or couth to inquire about people's finances, but you will need to set that aside if you plan to sell your own home. You don't want to waste time waiting on other folks to get their ducks in a row. Ask for things like their pre-approval letter and if there are any contingencies on their approval. Knowing how much a buyer has for a down-payment and what loan program they are using is also a good idea. You can check how much is my house worth with the help of real estate agents.

Selling your home yourself is exciting and at times a little nerve-wracking. However, it is also a realistic goal. Many of the homes on FSBO sell within only a couple of weeks of being listed. So once you have your home listed, be ready to negotiate and stand firm to get the best deal for yourself.