Here are four things to consider if you plan to tackle a home sale without enlisting a sales agent:
Consider if you’re up for the task. Selling a home on your own means handling a lot of tasks that an experienced real estate agent would normally take on, including listing the home, reaching out to a network of buyers’ agents, preparing the home for viewing and dealing directly with prospective buyers.
Get help determining your asking price.Experts suggest hiring a property appraiser to gauge the value of your home relative to comparable properties that have sold in your area. That typically runs a few hundred dollars, but it will help provide reassurance that you’re pricing your property realistically.
Attract buyers. There are many websites that allow homeowners to post photos and descriptions of their home. Some cater specifically to for-sale-by-owner listings, including ForSale , and . Other options include popular real estate portals and . All allow homeowners to put up listings for free.
Get help with paperwork. Unless you’re comfortable drawing up agreements on payment and closing terms, consider bringing in an attorney to help put the finishing touches on the deal. Another option is offering a smaller percentage of the sale, say 1 percent, or a flat fee to a real estate agent for their help in nailing down the last details of an agreement.
