Tips To Sell Your Home Yourself: How To Sell Your House Without A Realtor
If you're thinking of moving, you're probably dreading writing that big commission check to a realtor. While it's true that in some cases, you can sell a house faster with the help of a realtor, many homeowners are attempting to do it themselves so they can save thousands of dollars. If you're thinking of making a sale without a realtor, here are a couple of tips to sell your home yourself.
Tip #1: Purge, Purge, Purge!
Getting rid of clutter is the first step. Potential buyers can't see the promise if all they see is your clutter. Take some time to go through your belongings and throw away anything that you've been hanging onto needlessly. Additionally, take a critical look at your furnishings. If your living room is looking a little cluttered, think about moving some extra furniture pieces into storage. Remember that many people will be opening your closets and cabinets so make sure they're cleaned up and clutter-free as well (meaning, don't just stash junk in them!).
Tip #2: Paint Everything A Neutral Color
You might like that bright red wall in your kitchen or the bold stripes that make up your living room, but potential buyers probably won't! That's why repainting everything a neutral color is one of the biggest tips to sell your home yourself. You want buyers to walk in and see that your living room could become theirs and creating a neutral palate helps them see their belongings in each and every room.
Tip #3: Spruce Up The Outdoors
Many people will come across your home simply by driving by so it's important to set a great first impression with the outdoors. Sprucing up the exterior of your property isn't terribly hard -- and it shouldn't cost you a ton of money. First, rent a powerwasher and give everything a good wash. This will help get rid of dirt, cobwebs and anything else that might be making your house look dingy. Then plant some colorful flowers around trees and shrubs and cover the dirt with a layer of fresh mulch (some cities offer free mulch for homeowners so check into that before spending any money). If you don't have the space for flower beds, consider getting some flowers in decorative pots to add a splash of color. Lastly, buy a new welcome mat for your front door.
Other Tips To Sell Your Home
One major thing you need to think of is how you're going to market your house. Typically, a realtor would handle this for you, so it's important to take the steps to make your house visible to potential buyers. One very easy way to do this is to put an informational sheet outside of your house. Potential buyers can drive by and quickly grab one of these flyers to learn more. Also consider marketing your house on Craigslist, in your local newspaper and on community bulletin boards around town.
These steps are good, but you really need to get your house visible on the MLS. MLS stands for multiple listing service and it's the directory of homes for sale in your area that realtors use to help their clients find a home. You will need to pay a small fee to get your house listed in the MLS, but this fee is a fraction of what it would cost to pay a realtor.
Many people are intimidated by selling their home themselves, but there's no reason to be scared as long as you use these tips to sell your home yourself. These tips to sell your home are only a few of the many things that you can do to help ensure a quick and easy sale.
Tip #1: Purge, Purge, Purge!
Getting rid of clutter is the first step. Potential buyers can't see the promise if all they see is your clutter. Take some time to go through your belongings and throw away anything that you've been hanging onto needlessly. Additionally, take a critical look at your furnishings. If your living room is looking a little cluttered, think about moving some extra furniture pieces into storage. Remember that many people will be opening your closets and cabinets so make sure they're cleaned up and clutter-free as well (meaning, don't just stash junk in them!).
Tip #2: Paint Everything A Neutral Color
You might like that bright red wall in your kitchen or the bold stripes that make up your living room, but potential buyers probably won't! That's why repainting everything a neutral color is one of the biggest tips to sell your home yourself. You want buyers to walk in and see that your living room could become theirs and creating a neutral palate helps them see their belongings in each and every room.
Tip #3: Spruce Up The Outdoors
Many people will come across your home simply by driving by so it's important to set a great first impression with the outdoors. Sprucing up the exterior of your property isn't terribly hard -- and it shouldn't cost you a ton of money. First, rent a powerwasher and give everything a good wash. This will help get rid of dirt, cobwebs and anything else that might be making your house look dingy. Then plant some colorful flowers around trees and shrubs and cover the dirt with a layer of fresh mulch (some cities offer free mulch for homeowners so check into that before spending any money). If you don't have the space for flower beds, consider getting some flowers in decorative pots to add a splash of color. Lastly, buy a new welcome mat for your front door.
Other Tips To Sell Your Home
One major thing you need to think of is how you're going to market your house. Typically, a realtor would handle this for you, so it's important to take the steps to make your house visible to potential buyers. One very easy way to do this is to put an informational sheet outside of your house. Potential buyers can drive by and quickly grab one of these flyers to learn more. Also consider marketing your house on Craigslist, in your local newspaper and on community bulletin boards around town.
These steps are good, but you really need to get your house visible on the MLS. MLS stands for multiple listing service and it's the directory of homes for sale in your area that realtors use to help their clients find a home. You will need to pay a small fee to get your house listed in the MLS, but this fee is a fraction of what it would cost to pay a realtor.
Many people are intimidated by selling their home themselves, but there's no reason to be scared as long as you use these tips to sell your home yourself. These tips to sell your home are only a few of the many things that you can do to help ensure a quick and easy sale.