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Sellers are always considering working without a Realtor, and in these difficult times people always think they can save money by doing so. (Think about it: if this were true would I even have a job?!)
So, you think you want to go it alone? See if you have the following qualities one needs to successfully sell a house by owner.
- TIME: I hope you have lots of free time. Selling your own home is time consuming. Prepare to take days off from your job and be willing to devote your free time as well.
- INTERIOR DESIGN SKILLS: Your house will need a makeover in this competitive market, especially if you don’t have a realty company behind you. Are you a novice designer? You will have to stage your home to SELL.
- MARKET RESEARCH SOURCES: Do you have the skills and resources necessary to research your market? You’ll need to know what homes are selling and for what price, what homes cost that are currently for sale and what features the recently sold homes have that made them sellable. You’ll need this knowledge to accurately price your home.
- MARKETING SKILLS: You will need to post ads in newspapers and figure out how to get your listing online. Then you’ll have to accurately but attractively describe your house, get for sale signs, organize showings and open houses, and other marketing opportunities.
- PEOPLE SKILLS: Get ready for people coming in and out of your home. You’ll have to work with people and other agents on the phone and in person. Will you be able to take the criticism of your home that will inevitably occur?
- NEGOTIATING SKILLS: Are you calm in battle? Can you be flexible? Can you handle difficult and demanding people? Are you emotionally detached from your house enough to work on negotiation for the sale without anyone to advise you on what is a good deal?
Okay, are you ready to list your house?
Here’s what I can offer:
- TIME: This is my full time job, selling people’s homes. I have a very low average days-on-market and a high list-price to sales-price ratio.
- INTERIOR DESIGN SKILLS: I have experience with what looks best in a home, take great photos of your home, and can help you stage it properly or hook you up with professionals who do great work.
- MARKET RESEARCH SKILLS: I have access to all the needed data, as well as years of pricing experience. If you can’t accurately and fairly price a home, you won’t be able to sell it.
- MARKETING SKILLS: I will promote your house in every place appropriate for your particular property. My strongest tool is the web, and I prepare excellent online presentations of the homes I sell.
- PEOPLE SKILLS: I’m used to working with buyers, agents, lenders, title companies and other real estate parties every day. It is second nature to me!
- NEGOTIATING SKILLS: First of all, we price your house correctly. Then in the negotiating room I work with you to advise you on the realities of the deals you are offered — whether they are good or bad, fair or not. I can also fight objectively on behalf.
More on AmyBSells.com:
- Why People are Afraid to Buy Your Home
- For Sale by Owner: Maybe Not.
- Winning (And Selling) With Your Realtor
[...] Six Qualities Needed to Sell Without a Realtor [...]