TIPS TO SELL A HOUSE BY OWNER

Selling your house by yourself is not an easy task though it is financially appealing as you avoid paying a listing agent commission. To sell a home by owner properly, you will have to work hard enough to get the attention of buyers and attract competitive offers. Before we dive into special tips for selling a house by owner, it is foremost and essential to understanding for Sale owner pros and cons, which will be discussed in the latter part of this book.

Below are specific tips to learn how to sell your home like a real estate professional would:

1. Set an attractive price for your home: Before putting your home up for sale, it is vital to determine its worth to potential buyers. Make sure to put your price at a considerable rate; if the cost of your home is too high, it could ward off potential buyers from even taking a look at it. It would help if you also stay informed about the value of your home. Choosing an arbitrary number for your home could mean undervaluing or overvaluing it. Both won't be favorable to you as undervaluing would mean leaving money on the table, and overvaluing could kill buyers' interest.
   
   
2. Take photos- After you have determined your listing price, take pictures! Before taking photos, you'll likely have to prepare the home by cleaning and decorating. Ensure the images are taken on a sunny day with the lights on and the blinds open. You can take the pictures yourself or hire a professional photographer. That should cost you a few hundred dollars which is money well spent to entice potential buyers to come around.
   
   
3. 3. Create an engaging listing description- Aside from pictures, the listing description is the subsequent thing buyers look at, so creating a comprehensive and enticing listing description is quite essential. Buyers can search by keywords on sites if they are looking for specific house features, so putting out your home's top attributes with strategic keywords can ensure it ends up in front of the right buyer..
   
   
4. Create ads and distribute signs to promote sales- This is another helpful tip for sale by the owner. Physical signage helps inform your neighbors and people about the sale of your home. In addition to signs, you can also utilize social media by posting ads on websites, listings on Facebook, and other media platforms for publicity. Tell your friends and even co-workers that you are selling; share your list on community pages, and so on.
   
   
5. Act like a real estate professional- You want to sell your house by yourself; you have to act professionally. Some buyers hesitate to work with an owner selling their home because they assume your inexperience might slow down the process. So it's up to you to prove buyers and agents wrong with your professional approach and technical know-how.
   
   
6. Treat your feedback seriously- Always listen to what your buyers are saying about your home, the condition, listing price, and other features therein.
   
   
7. 7. Don’t take negative comments personally- The fact around this is that no matter how hard you love your home or beautiful you view it, it may not be everyone's taste. It can be hard to bear criticism from buyers about the home you live in, but that is what makes you professional and capable of selling the house by yourself.
   
   
8. Confirm a buyer's financials- Know your buyer's pocket. When you receive an offer, you might need to confirm if such a buyer is qualified to afford a home. Find out how much of a down payment a buyer has to offer. If your home has been listed for a few weeks and you didn't get an offer, you might consider lowering the price to attract buyers.
   
   According to Zillow Group Report, 29% of sellers seal the deal by lowering their home sales price.
   
   

9. Hold an open house- This is another tool you can use to sell your house by yourself. It pulls potential buyers to see your home at one time, providing them with the opportunity to see your home up close without a hard sales pitch. An open house can be scheduled instead of having a private appointment with potential buyers. Ensure to advertise the open house ahead of time, prepare listing out sheets to give buyers when they come touring, and offer refreshments.
   
   

PREPARING THE HOME FOR SALE

It is necessary to give your house a nice look and view whether you are selling by FSBO or selling with an agent. To get as much money as possible out of it, you'll have to make your house look perfect before listing.

1. Cleaning- Clean your home, make every nook and cranny shine. Scrub the tiles, wash the windows, and shampoo the carpets.
   
   
2. Declutter- Get rid of the clutter and junk, put personal items in storage, and dispose of obsolete items to make your home's storage look ample. Don't put everything in a closet.
   
   
3. Staging -is all about organizing and decorating your room to make it look presentable. You can do this yourself or hire a professional stager
   
   
4. Painting and fixing repairs- You might also want to consider painting the interior of your home. Make the necessary repairs and resolve any issues buyers will notice during a tour to avoid problems during a home inspection.
   
   
5. Curb appeal- The exterior of your home is the first thing a buyer sees upon their arrival at your home. Clear the weeds, plant flowers, and keep toys or bikes out of sight.
   
   
6. Take photos
   
   
7. Marketing- When you prepare your home for sale, your marketing strategy is vital, especially if you are selling independently. Getting your listing in front of potential buyers is entirely up to you. Printing flyers and brochures and the use of social media are also good tools for marketing.
   
   
8. Security and finding qualified buyers- When you are eager to find buyers, you should also be careful not to compromise your safety. Whether It is an open house or a private showing, write down names and contact details for both buyers and their agents, you can go as far as requesting for ID. Having these records not only gets you serious buyers but also prevents theft or makes it easier to recover stolen valuables if such occurs.
   
   
   

All these cover the home inspection area as it involves examining the conditions and safety of the home.

Zillow Home Selling Guide: https://www.zillow.com/sellers-guide/

Forbes Real Estate Tips: https://www.forbes.com/real-estate/

Realtor.com Home Selling Advice: https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/