Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Agent’

Brian Shelton asked:


Houses for sale by owner are more common than ever. The “by owner” method used to be thought of as unprofessional but that’s no longer the case. There’s plenty of advice available in Internet FSBO (For Sale By Owner) discussion groups where “houses for sale by owner” buyers and sellers congregate to talk about their experiences.

A house for sale by owner means that a Real Estate Agent (REA) is not involved in the transaction. Since the average person moves every three to five years, and the average REA commission runs from 6,000 to $10,000, the FSBO route can save over $100,000 in commissions over the average lifetime! But there is a price to pay in return for saving those commissions because the seller will have to perform the duties the REA customarily performs.

What are those duties? It starts with advertising the home and arranging the showings, but it also includes making the legal disclosure requirements, purchase and sales agreement negotiation, arranging for title transfer and closing, plus handling the other details that inevitably come up before the deal closes.

You can be part of the house for sale by owner trend without having to be 100% on your own. If you’re concerned about the legal aspects of selling your home, you can hire a Real Estate Attorney to navigate the legal maze for you. What kind of legal issues do you potentially face? Here are just a few:

Completing the Residential Property Disclosure Form.

Completing the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form.

Distributing the EPA’s Lead Based Paint Hazards Booklet.

Drafting the proper Warranty Deeds.

Drafting the Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement.

These are not tasks to be undertaken by the uninformed! If you’re considering selling your home FSBO and feeling a little nervous about all that it entails, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are many FSBO guides and for sale by owner tips to help you out and they’re all on the Internet!

Houses For Sale By Owner can also be listed on FSBO web sites and in publications which are the functional equivalent to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) used by Realtors. Actual MLS listings are also available for a flat fee of around $250 to $600 depending upon where you live.

You can also list your home in many of the Real Estate Classifieds magazines that are given away at newsstands and convenience stores. All of this helps to generate traffic to your home so you can be part of the money-saving House For Sale By Owner trend!



Whittier Homes for sale
Geri Mason asked:


When acting as your own real estate agent, it is imperative that you cover all bases adequately.

(there is a free ebook: 101 Tips For Selling Your House,for you to download, that gives you plenty of tips for preparing your home for sale, from a link at the bottom of this page).

You must have a for sale by owner home that is in excellent condition and ready to be shown to potential buyers.

It is not difficult to prepare your for sale by owner home for show but it does require proper planning and a little bit of work on your part to ensure success.

The outside of your for sale by owner home is the first thing potential buyers will see so it is very important to make sure it is clean and attractive.

“Curb appeal,” or the way your home looks from the outside, is what attracts potential buyers so if you spruce it up a bit, they will want to view the inside of the for sale by owner home.

A neatly manicured and well-kept lawn implicitly signifies a well maintained for sale by owner home. You should make a weekly habit of cutting your lawn while your home is on display for sale. Be sure to rake leaves and to sweep the sidewalks on the weekends when your house is to be shown.

If you have shrubs and or trees, remove debris and dead limbs to make them more presentable. It is a nice touch to plant extra flowers for color or to add potted flowers to lighten up the landscaping.

If fences are in ill repair or need work, repair them and touch them up with stain or with paint. Put away lawn equipment, children’s’ toys, and any other outdoor items.

Keep large pets with neighbors so they do not interfere with the showing of your for sale by owner home.

The inside of your for sale by owner home is next on the list to make presentable for showing. It has been proven that people buy homes that appear spacious, clean, and solid.

Dark colors and clutter turn off most buyers, this means you must get rid of everything that you can possibly live without.

A good rule of thumb is this, if you cannot see your baseboard, the room is probably very cluttered.

To get rid of unnecessary things you may have, you may donate them to a charity or have a garage sale. The larger items that you must keep can be placed in storage.

If you will be painting your interior, use white or an off-white paint. You should also replace your light bulbs with brighter, higher wattage bulbs. Again, the look you are going for is bright and spacious. Be sure to clean everything thoroughly including carpets and mirrored surfaces.

Clean the oven and all appliances and be sure to polish any chrome fixtures. Be especially particular about ridding your home of any odors such as from smoke or from pets.

Fix any loose doorknobs, repair any broken windowpanes or leaky windowsills. Be sure any light fixtures are secure and in good repair. Also, be sure to repair any leaky pipes and to reapply caulk as needed.

These general tips will get you started on preparing your for sale by owner home for show. It is a good practice to view the for sale by owner home as though you are the buyer and to be particularly hard on yourself so a potential buyer won’t have to be.

If you are worried that you may overlook something, it won’t hurt to get a friend or neighbor to do a walk thru of the home and to critique your efforts. This will ensure a complete and thorough preparation and will boost the appeal of your home.

If you follow these tips you should have no trouble in selling your house.



Whittier Homes for sale