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How To Sell Your House Without A Realtor

James Anderson

August 3, 2020

Selling your house without a real estate agent, real estate broker, or realtor is not an easy feat. It requires organization, dedication, and patience. However, you can definitely do it yourself. In this article, we'll talk about some tips for selling:

  • What homeowners should know before they sell their home.
  • What obstacles they will face
  • And one simple way to sell your home if you don't have the time

Selling your home is an enormous deal and there are pros and cons. As a home seller, you need to take the correct steps before you're ready to sell. You'll end up saving money, removing frustration down the road.

Decide on a reasonable price for your home

You need to know your home's value when pricing your home.

Picture this: You decide on a price, follow the steps below, and nobody contacts you. That means nobody's interested in your house, right? Wrong! Your price could easily scare them off. Nobody wants to overpay for anything, especially a house.

The goal here is to put your emotional attachment aside and research the market value of your home. You don't want your house to sit on the market. You want to do everything you can when marketing your home.

Prices depend on a lot of factors including; location, room count, square footage, condition, etc. Because it's your house, does not mean it's more valuable than a neighbor with the same house. Be rational.

If you need help with pricing, just like home loan calculators, home value calculators are available. This is a ballpark, but it's better than guessing sales prices. Zillow has an easy-to-use home pricing calculator. Don't just stick with one calculator, try out a few to see how they differ.

Fix your home up before selling

Beauty attracts people. Anything easy on the eyes draws our attention. It doesn't matter if it's people, cars, homes, etc. We naturally like things that are aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, consider making your house beautiful.

For starters, if you're not sure what needs fixing, schedule a home inspection.

In 2017 National Association of Realtors found that 31% of realtors staging a home may see a 5-10% value increase. For comparison, if you had a $100,000 home, that's a $5,000 - $10,000 increase. Sometimes small changes in repairs can mean a few thousand dollars extra in your pocket.

There are a few simple things you can fix:

  • Paint the outside and inside if needed
  • Replace anything in the home that's broken. This includes:
    • Washing machine
    • Refrigerator
    • Sinks
    • Toilets
    • Showers
    • Floors
    • Siding
    • Trim
    • Countertops

For bigger value improvements that take more effort, you can remodel:

  • Kitchen
  • Master Bedroom
  • Bathrooms

I know it seems like a lot. But it's easy to reach out to contractors and get estimates. Also, there are many articles that explain how home improvements increase your property value.

Give enough detail in your home listings

Have you ever purchased something online, and when it arrived it looked different? You don't want a home buyer to feel that way. Buyers hate surprises. So when you're writing your listing, give as much detail as possible.

A few things to include when listing your home:

General information:

Giving detail about the home is what buyers want to read. Be sure to include:

  • Square footage
  • How many bedrooms and bathrooms
  • The year built
  • Air conditioning/heating
  • Parking
  • Appliances
  • Basement

These are only a few ideas. The more information you can provide, the better.

Pictures:

We all have cell phones that take amazing pictures. Because of this, there should be no reason to have poor photos in your listings. If the photos are too dark, bring in some more light. Don't forget to show them the outside since you're marketing the property too.

Consider the angles you're taking in the photos. If you take a photo of the bedroom, kitchen, or living room, try to capture the space. Look at the photos as if you're the one buying the home.

Ask yourself, do these photos get me excited? Do they make me want to see the home in person?

If you can't take the pictures yourself, consider hiring professional home photographers. There are freelancers and companies that do this for a living. Look online for local photographers and request a quote. Some may even charge a flat fee.

Remember, you have a home to sell. It's not a used furniture set, it's a home! You want to get it right the first time.

Description:

Make a detailed list. Tell the buyers why your house is right for them. Write your description with every selling point you can think of. It should tell them why they're interested in purchasing your house.

You want your description to paint the picture for them. Make them see themselves living and raising a family there.

But be honest. If there are things they need to know before they see the home, tell them. Buyers appreciate a seller who is honest and upfront with them.

If you have trouble writing an appropriate description, read some other listings. By finding examples, you'll have a suitable starting point for ideas on what to write.

There are many homes without an agent listed on sites. The MLS listings are a significant start for homeowners selling without an agent. It's not uncommon to see a home by owner listing.

Websites that list houses can range in price, but can start at around $100 for 6 months. Free sites include Craigslist, Nextdoor, Facebook, and Zillow. Check around and you'll find a bunch more.

Create a YouTube video showing the inside and outside to market your property. Once you have everything filmed, upload it, and post it on home buying sites. Some people will even create a website on WordPress or Wix . They'll share them on social media, forums, and other top traffic sites.

Don't be afraid to post it as much as you can. The aim is to put your home in front of everyone. Remember to include your phone number so they can call or text you.

Hold An Open House

As soon as your house gets listed online, advertise your open house dates and times quickly. If you need some ideas, you can visit the local open houses going on near you. Once you have some ideas, you can start preparing your home.

Just like #4, make sure you advertise your open house everywhere. Social media, print flyers, send out emails and have your friends share them for you too. Once you get replies, you can set up appointments times to sell a potential buyer a great home.

Open houses are a must when selling a home. It gives the buyer something to see in person. They can check out the property and ask questions. Be sure to engage with everyone there and make them feel comfortable.

Try to keep your home clean and organized until it sells. You don't want to push a potential buyer in the wrong direction and a dirty home could do it.

Finally, we understand that not everyone is a realtor, so if this seems difficult, there's another great option.

Sell Your Home To A Cash Buyer

Sell to a home cash buyer in Huntsville. Cash buyers make it easy because they know there are many cons of selling a home yourself. If your home needs a lot of work, cash home buyers will purchase your home in its current condition. You can put extra money in savings accounts and checking accounts. If you have debt, you can pay off student loans, auto loans, etc.

Conclusion

Selling a home isn't easy, but you can do it, especially if you follow all the steps above. Alternatively, try a no-hassle solution by selling your home to a home cash buyer. You might find yourself surprised by the offer!

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