When you sell your home by owner, the real estate industry calls you a FSBO which means For Sale By Owner. Some buyers think this is great because they can deal with you easier than a trained real estate professional. They can deduct what you are saving by not having a Realtor and they tend to make lower offers. This doesn’t always happen, but you need to be aware of it.
When placing your advertising, you want to let people know you are a FSBO. Put it in your ad. You may want to advertise in several places in order to get the most exposure for your home. Some of the places to consider advertising are:
• Your front yard with a fsbo sign ( free from us )
• Listing flyer for home and to pass around
• Financing options flyer (i can help with that)
• Open house signs around the neighborhood
• Local newspapers, home magazines
• Cable television real estate channel
Make sure to include the following in ALL of your advertising.
1. Indicate you are selling by owner. (This really attracts excitement.)
2. Indicate the structure style and number of bedrooms and baths.
3. Tell about the neighborhood, eliminate the address. (make them call)
4. Indicate the sales price.
5. Indicate any special features like pool, spa, fruit trees, R.V. parking etc.
6. Indicate the best phone numbers and times you can be reached.
The following is a typical ad that includes the necessary ingredients.
FOR SALE BY OWNER: Beautiful, 4BD, 2.5BA home. Sparkling pool and spa. Excellent schools, walk to shopping and parks. Just remodeled, plus new paint. Owner anxious. $255,000. Betty Homebuyer (800) 882-8885 Day, (714) 453-1185 Eve’s.
Bigger ads cost more and show inexperience and most often are just a waste of your money. Don’t attempt to” tell everything” in one ad, just the basics. If your property has qualities that people are NOT looking for and you list them at all, you are chasing them away before they have the opportunity to see for themselves. They may settle for what they didn’t want for what they do want. If all else fails, go to library and check out a FSBO book. They have complete marketing plans and can assist you greatly.
The Yard Sign
Don’t make your own! Supply you with a complimentary sign and financing sign-rider for your front yard. The sign needs to look professional, or you risk looking like an inexperienced, easy mark for sophisticated FSBO buyers. There are sharks out there waiting to take advantage of your inexperience and you must beware.
Always list your phone number on the sign. You may want to also add “Shown by appointment only.” This won’t keep them from knocking unannounced but it will send the message that you would appreciate an advanced call. Beware of the local sign ordinances restricting the size and number of signs you can use and the possibility that you cannot use any at all. Check with your local building department if you have any questions.
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