Thinking about selling our home, my last few encounters with realtors have left a bad taste in my mouth so I am content with never having to deal with one again. I’m thinking about throwing it on Craigslist now through the winter and then when spring comes maybe spend the money and advertise it a little more aggressively. I’m unsure of what steps I need to take, if someone comes in and puts in an offer, what happens from there? I think the FSBO websites have all the legal paper work, and I need to dig into that end some more, but has anyone on here sold their home on their own and have any tips? I’m sure I’ll have to write up a disclosure, have a contract written so the offer is in writing (I’ll prob just copy what was used when I bought my last home and this home). The buyer/ buyers bank organizes appraisals and inspections and from there do we meet at the title company and call it a done deal? Is there anything I need to study up on regarding the buyers financing that could cause a headache down the road? Thanks for the heads up.
Selling your home on your own
- Thread starter zach477
- Start date
"Unsure of the steps I need to take"
That's all you need to say. Go out and interview several real estate agents. Find one you do like. They are worth it. They will make the process easy, handle the tough stuff and earn their money. Talk with friends who have bought or sold in the area. Go talk to the banks, find out who they use, who they like.
That's all you need to say. Go out and interview several real estate agents. Find one you do like. They are worth it. They will make the process easy, handle the tough stuff and earn their money. Talk with friends who have bought or sold in the area. Go talk to the banks, find out who they use, who they like.
I tried to sell my house myself for 4 months.
Not one offer.
I turned my house over to a realtor who sold the house in about 2 weeks.
I talked to the people who bought my house after the deal was done.
They had walked by, driven by, and picked up the brochures I had out front.
They thought the price was too much!
As it turned out the realtor got them inside the house, once inside they loved it and it was exactly what they were looking for. The realtor told them "it does not cost anything to look".
The realtor then was able to help them with the financing, they made an offer and we sold the house to them.
Had they made me an offer they would have saved about $10,000.
When I turned it over to the realtor I raised the price $10,000 to cover the commission and expenses that I incurred for the realtor.
Bottom line the realtor got them inside our house which I could not do, then helped them with the finance which had I got them in the house I could not have done.
Not one offer.
I turned my house over to a realtor who sold the house in about 2 weeks.
I talked to the people who bought my house after the deal was done.
They had walked by, driven by, and picked up the brochures I had out front.
They thought the price was too much!
As it turned out the realtor got them inside the house, once inside they loved it and it was exactly what they were looking for. The realtor told them "it does not cost anything to look".
The realtor then was able to help them with the financing, they made an offer and we sold the house to them.
Had they made me an offer they would have saved about $10,000.
When I turned it over to the realtor I raised the price $10,000 to cover the commission and expenses that I incurred for the realtor.
Bottom line the realtor got them inside our house which I could not do, then helped them with the finance which had I got them in the house I could not have done.
my wife sold our house on facebook. I told her it was the dumbest idea. Made fun of her a little for posting it on fakebook. Well next day had someone come look at it i think on a thursday friday had an offer full price. Go talk to the title company its real easy you can do it with or with out attorneys we had no attorney. We signed the by sell i think in front of notary. Buyer takes it to the bank and they take it from there. Saved 6% from realator fees..Try it yourself well worth it if it sells. And yes I still here from my wife how awesome she is.
D
Dobber1
Well-known member
We sold our house FSBO 16 years ago and we would try to do it again. A lot has changed in 16 years, especially technology, and the use of it in all aspects of real estate transactions. I was amazed at the house inspection report from a house our daughter purchased a year ago. There were 180 plus pictures to go with a lengthy report on a CD.
We had our house priced 10% over what we were looking to get and had several realtors tell us it was overpriced when they were asking if we would be interested in listing it with them. We kindly declined their listing offers as we had an amount we needed to get as the new house we were buying was $187K. (Asked $209K, sold for $189K)
We started the process in June & sold the house end of August. The house was 23 years old without any upgrades. Still had the 70s shag carpet, shake shingle roof, single pane unfinished aluminum windows, etc. The house DID have excellent curb appeal. We gave the trim a fresh coat of paint, new bark in the planters, doubled up on lawn fertilizer/water, shined the windows inside & out which led to the demise of many birds trying to fly "thru" the house. We did not have very many people actually make an appointment to look at the house, but it only takes one. (That phrase is overused in selling a house)
After 3 months of little action and the new house getting closer to completion, I picked up the phone and called a woman who had come to look a couple times. She was looking for property to do a 1031 Exchange. She told me she "had put a deposit down on a house a couple blocks away, but she really liked our house." She was in the middle of a dinner party and said she "would call me back in a day or so." Well, she called back and said she was going to forego her earnest money ($1K) on the other house and make me an offer. I think we both thought we were getting a deal.
After considering her offer for about 15 seconds and accepting it, we then agreed on a short term rent back until our new house was ready to be moved into. I thought she was going to gouge us on the rent when she said seven.......teen hundred a month.
My house payment was $450, and I thought she was going to gouge us for $700 something.......that something was the word "teen"! After coming to, I quickly agreed, to avoid blowing the whole deal. I negotiated it down a couple hundred for taking care of the yard & avoided the chance of having to move twice.
She was probably in her late 60s at the time & had a relative locally who was an attorney. She had him draw up the contract, we met at the title company, signed the papers & that was it. I know I should have had my own contract written up, but I'm trusting, a gambler & stupid at the time.
If you've actually read this far, I might mention that I have a great dislike for realtors, because I was raised not being able to use the word 'hate'.
Good luck & go for it!
We had our house priced 10% over what we were looking to get and had several realtors tell us it was overpriced when they were asking if we would be interested in listing it with them. We kindly declined their listing offers as we had an amount we needed to get as the new house we were buying was $187K. (Asked $209K, sold for $189K)
We started the process in June & sold the house end of August. The house was 23 years old without any upgrades. Still had the 70s shag carpet, shake shingle roof, single pane unfinished aluminum windows, etc. The house DID have excellent curb appeal. We gave the trim a fresh coat of paint, new bark in the planters, doubled up on lawn fertilizer/water, shined the windows inside & out which led to the demise of many birds trying to fly "thru" the house. We did not have very many people actually make an appointment to look at the house, but it only takes one. (That phrase is overused in selling a house)
After 3 months of little action and the new house getting closer to completion, I picked up the phone and called a woman who had come to look a couple times. She was looking for property to do a 1031 Exchange. She told me she "had put a deposit down on a house a couple blocks away, but she really liked our house." She was in the middle of a dinner party and said she "would call me back in a day or so." Well, she called back and said she was going to forego her earnest money ($1K) on the other house and make me an offer. I think we both thought we were getting a deal.
After considering her offer for about 15 seconds and accepting it, we then agreed on a short term rent back until our new house was ready to be moved into. I thought she was going to gouge us on the rent when she said seven.......teen hundred a month.
My house payment was $450, and I thought she was going to gouge us for $700 something.......that something was the word "teen"! After coming to, I quickly agreed, to avoid blowing the whole deal. I negotiated it down a couple hundred for taking care of the yard & avoided the chance of having to move twice.She was probably in her late 60s at the time & had a relative locally who was an attorney. She had him draw up the contract, we met at the title company, signed the papers & that was it. I know I should have had my own contract written up, but I'm trusting, a gambler & stupid at the time.
If you've actually read this far, I might mention that I have a great dislike for realtors, because I was raised not being able to use the word 'hate'.
Good luck & go for it!
Being a Realtor and my wife a Escrow closing manager I will say the properties that have been sold FSBO some are a smooth deal but most are a nightmare.
From my wifes perspective she is the one FSBO's will take there half azzed contract to, or even worse one drawn by an attorney. They screw up more crap thinking they know best or "found it on internet". I have seen more FSBO contracts go to court than any. This is due to people not knowing the process like a realtor.
My advice to you is give it a try. Have a Realtor in mind if you bail and talk to this Realtor up front and ask if you are successful in getting a buyer can you PAY them for writing the contract and seeing through to closing. Typically you can do this for 7-900 bucks around here. Some will do it for 5 but wont do much extra work besides write contract. Then tell them if it doesnt work out they will get the listing.
From my wifes perspective she is the one FSBO's will take there half azzed contract to, or even worse one drawn by an attorney. They screw up more crap thinking they know best or "found it on internet". I have seen more FSBO contracts go to court than any. This is due to people not knowing the process like a realtor.
My advice to you is give it a try. Have a Realtor in mind if you bail and talk to this Realtor up front and ask if you are successful in getting a buyer can you PAY them for writing the contract and seeing through to closing. Typically you can do this for 7-900 bucks around here. Some will do it for 5 but wont do much extra work besides write contract. Then tell them if it doesnt work out they will get the listing.
great advice^
If you are going to sell it yourself, get a lawyer and a better ad program. Get help, too, with the initial pricing
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Sorry about himark's experience with attorneys. When I started my practice in a Colorado mountain town, a good part of my practice was cleaning up after & training real estate agents. The Colorado licensing changes and realtor liability cases over thirty years have really improved the breed here.
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Sorry about himark's experience with attorneys. When I started my practice in a Colorado mountain town, a good part of my practice was cleaning up after & training real estate agents. The Colorado licensing changes and realtor liability cases over thirty years have really improved the breed here.
Sold my first house within 2 weeks via FSBO back in 2001 and it was smooth. I hired an atty through them though for $500. FSBO provided sign, sell sheets for sign, market eval, some training on how to deal with buyers, and advertising on their site. I would also try them again. Housing market was VERY good then though.
I wouldn't even consider trying it entirely on my own w/o an attorney.
I wouldn't even consider trying it entirely on my own w/o an attorney.
http://www.ameri-star.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=39&entryid=46
I think she would work for.
If you want, tell her Bill Naessig referred you.
I think she would work for.
If you want, tell her Bill Naessig referred you.
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