Ten FSBO Tips

What type of sale sign will you place in front of your expensive home? Do not use a small piece of cardboard on a flimsy wire stand. Use a quality sign with space for your phone number. There are companies that rent signposts and remove the post after the sale. Durable metal frames are another excellent choice and an industry standard.

Show buyers you are a serious seller!

Different than value. Price your home too low and lose money. But ask too much, thinking you will gradually go lower, is a huge marketing mistake. Chat with an experienced local broker. Be frank that you are considering FSBO but ask for an opinion of value and pricing strategy. Most brokers will welcome the opportunity because at some point, you might change your mind about going FSBO.

Ideally, they are not present during showings. If your inside pets must be at home, have a contained location. But do not put your pets in a room and make that room off-limits. Buyers want to see your home...all of it. And never let your pets free-range and assume you can leave instructions to buyers  (and their kids) to leave exterior doors closed.

Even if you are home during showings, consider a contained location for your pets. Buyers may or may not be animal lovers. Best to assume your buyers do not want to be barked or hissed at, stalked, nuzzled, slurped, or nipped while touring your home.

Just placing a sale sign in the front yard is like rod-and-reel fishing. If you would rather fish with a net, place your FSBO in your local multiple listing service (MLS). Some brokers will do so for a small fee. Yes, you can advertise in print media and online. But none of that matches the exposure of being in the MLS. And guess where many online companies get their information.

Most buyers order an inspection, but one of your best pre-sale investments is to get your own. A limited inspection, known as a 4-point, examines the four major components of your home: electric, plumbing, roof, and HVAC.

Why pay for an inspection upfront? Most contracts allow the buyer to cancel due to condition concerns. If one of your major systems has a problem, fix it before going on the market. Cancellation or price renegotiation is less likely if your major components are sound. And a satisfactory 4-point is a terrific handout. It gives you an advantage when buyers are comparing other homes.

Keep informed about homes for sale or recently sold in your neighborhood. Be sure your home stays competitively priced. If yours is "almost" one of the best priced homes in the area, it might be "almost" sold for quite a while.

There are several ways to prepare your home that take some effort but do not cost much. Be sure to clean and declutter. Spruce up your entrance and front landscaping for a good first impression. But do not paint that small piece of trim in the garage a buyer might not notice, care about, or pay more for.

Have a friend or relative who does not live with you give your home a sniff test. Cigarette smell will cause many non-smokers to rule out your home. Surprisingly, some smokers have the same reaction. Pets can cause a similar issue. A good cleaning and air freshener might help but do not replace one irritating odor with another. It may be time for interior painting or carpet cleaning.

You might have an impressive stein collection and be proud of your diplomas on the wall. Those pictures of the family at the theme park bring back great memories. Put it all away! Buyers touring your home imagine themselves living there. Make it easy for them.

Another worthwhile, upfront expenditure. Buyers search online. Good photos are enormously important. When you look at homes online, one thing becomes clear: homes with professional photos and those without. Do not be the FSBO photographer with odd room angles, gloomy interiors, or cluttered countertops.

You might see online photos of a prior sale or nearby amenities. Do not use someone else's work without permission. You can be sued.

Place your inside handouts in a conspicuous place, such as a kitchen counter (that you have already decluttered of course). Provide copies of any available property appraiser records, transferable warranties, survey, and inspections. Buying a home is a big deal! By providing more information, buyers will be more comfortable with you and your home.