Tips for For Sale by Owners

Selling your own home is a great way to be familiar with a lot of the ins and outs involved with marketing real estate and attracting buyers. Subscribe to my newsletter so I may send tips on how you may improve your chances of selling. I will share tips you can benefit from for your buyers, use a sample brochure, checklist, how to prepare your home, and a wealth of information to help you succeed.

Specializing in Marion County, Florida. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the sale of your home.

Preparation

Yard neat, lawn mowed, garage tidy
Cars removed or parked elsewhere
Minor repairs made
Closets neat, oven clean
Pets removed

Announcing Your Open House

Create an ad. Advertise in the newspaper on the day of your Open House. Also, the Providence Journal has a Preview of Sunday Open Houses section in the Saturday paper, so you can advertise the day before. This section has been very helpful with my open houses.
Have a flyer/fact sheet printed in large quantities.
Hand-deliver invitations to 50-60 homes in the general area the day before the Open House.

Signs, Flags & Balloons

Put up a minimum of 6 signs.
Dress up your open house with flags and balloons.
Be sure to ask for permission when placing signs on private property.
Place signs leading to the house from at least two directions.
Place signs at highway exits close to the house.
After placing signs, drive the route yourself, to be sure they are easily visible and not hidden behind trees, bushes or telephone poles.

Conducting the Open House

BEFORE

Park your car away from the house.
Double-check to make sure the home looks inviting.
Garage doors should be down, front door open.
Water the front lawn.
Air out the interior with non-perfumed room deodorizer.
Turn lights on where needed.
Keep the television off; if the radio is on, it should be tuned to an all-music station, at low volume.
Light a fire in the fireplace, if the weather permits.
Sprinkle vanilla or cinnamon on a cookie sheet and place in a warm oven.
Use a guest register, placed near the entrance.
Set up a table for your flyers, brochures and other handouts.

DURING

Greet guests at the door. Try to get their names, and then use them. Have them sign the guest register and hand them a flyer.
Control the showing and watch for buying signs.
Ask as many qualifying questions as possible:
- This home is about $100,000. Is that about what you' re looking for?
- This home has four bedrooms. Is that what you need?
- Are you renting now, or do you own your own home?