Dumping Your Realtor? What Now
So you have decided to take over the marketing of your home yourself? Why not.
No one knows your home better that you do.
But, before you get started, heed the words of Horace mann "There is Nothing So Costly As Ignorance" This admonition could surely apply to those that fail to arm themselves with the knowledge and resources necessary to successfully navigate the shifting sands of today's housing market.
We now have an unprecedented level of access to information, advice, and listing resources, which were once the sole province of real estate professionals.
So, do your homework, and enlist services of three real estate pro's that you will surely want to keep on your team.
If you are selling your home with or without a real estate agent you should get an appraisal before you decide on a selling price.
An agents experience and judgment will only get you in the ballpark.
It's also not the time to take the advice of your uncle Harold who used to be in the business.
You need to detach yourself emotionally from this decision and allow a professional home appraiser to give you an honest assessment of your homes value in today's market.
This can not be done with a ride by, quickie appraisal.
You must allow the appraiser to walk the property, and most importantly, do the neighborhood comps.
This is the most important decision that you will make in the entire process.
Do not make it blindly.
You have worked hard to purchase your home.
The equity that you have in it is real money.
Do not give it away by making an ill informed decision without all of the facts.
On the other hand, if you overprice your home, it will just sit on the market failing to attract a buyer at the listed price.
Hire a professional.
Only then can you negotiate with buyers in confidence that your asking price is right on the money.
Get a Pre listing home inspection.
Remember, this is all about gathering the necessary information to successfully sell your home.
An independent home inspection done by a professional home inspector is the only way that you will really know the true condition of your home.
All states have some form of full disclosure law requiring home sellers to completely disclose to potential buyers any known adverse conditions existing in their home.
What better way to fully comply, and minimize full disclosure liability, than to get a professional home inspection? Many fsbo listing sites will allow you to post the complete inspection report along with your home listing.
What if the inspector uncovers adverse information that will affect the value of my home? Would you not prefer to find out now and have it repaired on your own terms, at a price that you negotiate? Adverse negotiations with the specter of a looming closing date will almost always turn out badly.
A professional home inspection will cost you around $300.
But, will pay huge dividends in peace of mind by minimizing liability concerns, and alleviating unpleasant closing table surprises.
You have found a buyer ! They came to look three times and made an acceptable offer.
They are very excited, having decided where the furniture will go in their new house.
Lost in all the excitement is often the most important consideration.
Has anyone asked if these perfect buyers can actually afford to buy your home? Enlist the aid of a mortgage professional.
It is his job to ask questions that most of us won't ask.
If you allow a mortgage professional to pre qualify potential buyers, the likelihood of your home being off the market while waiting on an unqualified buyer to arrange financing will be negligible.
Also, be very careful with pre approval letters that buyers may have.
With today's market volatility, yesterdays approval may be today's rejection.
If you allow the mortgage professional to do their job, you can negotiate in good faith with only qualified buyers.
More and more sellers are making the choice every day to sell their homes themselves.
It may be due to declining home values, or just an attempt to maximize return on investment.
It is not easy.
But, if you take advantage of the many free resources available and assemble your team of local experts to support you, your return will be well worth the effort.
Good luck.
No one knows your home better that you do.
But, before you get started, heed the words of Horace mann "There is Nothing So Costly As Ignorance" This admonition could surely apply to those that fail to arm themselves with the knowledge and resources necessary to successfully navigate the shifting sands of today's housing market.
We now have an unprecedented level of access to information, advice, and listing resources, which were once the sole province of real estate professionals.
So, do your homework, and enlist services of three real estate pro's that you will surely want to keep on your team.
If you are selling your home with or without a real estate agent you should get an appraisal before you decide on a selling price.
An agents experience and judgment will only get you in the ballpark.
It's also not the time to take the advice of your uncle Harold who used to be in the business.
You need to detach yourself emotionally from this decision and allow a professional home appraiser to give you an honest assessment of your homes value in today's market.
This can not be done with a ride by, quickie appraisal.
You must allow the appraiser to walk the property, and most importantly, do the neighborhood comps.
This is the most important decision that you will make in the entire process.
Do not make it blindly.
You have worked hard to purchase your home.
The equity that you have in it is real money.
Do not give it away by making an ill informed decision without all of the facts.
On the other hand, if you overprice your home, it will just sit on the market failing to attract a buyer at the listed price.
Hire a professional.
Only then can you negotiate with buyers in confidence that your asking price is right on the money.
Get a Pre listing home inspection.
Remember, this is all about gathering the necessary information to successfully sell your home.
An independent home inspection done by a professional home inspector is the only way that you will really know the true condition of your home.
All states have some form of full disclosure law requiring home sellers to completely disclose to potential buyers any known adverse conditions existing in their home.
What better way to fully comply, and minimize full disclosure liability, than to get a professional home inspection? Many fsbo listing sites will allow you to post the complete inspection report along with your home listing.
What if the inspector uncovers adverse information that will affect the value of my home? Would you not prefer to find out now and have it repaired on your own terms, at a price that you negotiate? Adverse negotiations with the specter of a looming closing date will almost always turn out badly.
A professional home inspection will cost you around $300.
But, will pay huge dividends in peace of mind by minimizing liability concerns, and alleviating unpleasant closing table surprises.
You have found a buyer ! They came to look three times and made an acceptable offer.
They are very excited, having decided where the furniture will go in their new house.
Lost in all the excitement is often the most important consideration.
Has anyone asked if these perfect buyers can actually afford to buy your home? Enlist the aid of a mortgage professional.
It is his job to ask questions that most of us won't ask.
If you allow a mortgage professional to pre qualify potential buyers, the likelihood of your home being off the market while waiting on an unqualified buyer to arrange financing will be negligible.
Also, be very careful with pre approval letters that buyers may have.
With today's market volatility, yesterdays approval may be today's rejection.
If you allow the mortgage professional to do their job, you can negotiate in good faith with only qualified buyers.
More and more sellers are making the choice every day to sell their homes themselves.
It may be due to declining home values, or just an attempt to maximize return on investment.
It is not easy.
But, if you take advantage of the many free resources available and assemble your team of local experts to support you, your return will be well worth the effort.
Good luck.
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