Selling By Owner in Preble County Ohio

Hello! I am blogging today to give some FREE advice to people that are selling their homes by owner. I have seen several here in Preble County Ohio lately. I know that times are tough, what with gas prices, job layoffs, increasing expenses and so forth. So many people wanting or needing to sell, and feeling a pinch, decide to try it themselves to save money avoiding the commission.

I am a full time Realtor with Country Mile Realtors, the BEST real estate brokerage around. (Hey, its my blog and I reserve the right to make generalized comments!) So here are some tips from me, Kelley Weimer, to you, the FSBO (For Sale By Owner) in Preble County:

1. If you aren't on the net, you don't exist: Sad but true. If I had one choice as a real estate professional; to list my homes in the paper or on-line, there is no question. I'd pick on-line every time. Here are some interesting statistics from The 2006 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:

"Buyers used a wide array of resources in searching for a home: 85 percent used a real estate agent, 80 percent the Internet (up from 77 percent in 2005), 63 percent yard signs, 55 percent print or newspaper ads and 47 percent attended open houses. Smaller categories include a home book or magazine, home builders, television, billboards and relocation companies."

I think the number of buyers looking via internet will increase even more. With gas hovering at $4.00 a gallon, it's a lot easier and CHEAPER to do a home search online than driving neighborhoods. So get on Craigslist, Zillow, a tailor made site, whatever you need to do.

And here's where you DON'T want your home advertized on the web: a Realtors' personal web site. Lots of agents will offer to advertise your home for free on their site. And when the buyers call, do you think the agent will show your home, at the most likely discounted pay, or one of that Realtors' own listings? It's the classic bait and swtich. So think hard before you take them up on an offer like this. Cause whats the bait? YOUR House!

2. Cooperate with Realtors: You will get a lot of us knocking on your door. We're a pesky bunch! Lets face it; buyers go where the inventory is. And who has the inventory? Real estate agents. So, I cant promise I wont ask you to list your house. I probably will. There's no harm in asking. But I'll also show your home, and probably give you free home staging advice, materials, maybe even a mini-appraisal.

According to The 2006 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:

"When asked where they first learned about the home purchased, 36 percent of buyers identified a real estate agent; 24 percent the Internet; 15 percent from yard signs; 8 percent from a friend, neighbor or relative; 8 percent home builders; 5 percent a print or newspaper ad; 3 percent directly from the seller; and 1 percent a home book or magazine."

So please be nice to me. Its sort of scratch my back and I'll scratch yours deal. I need you as much as you need me. And I promise we'll work out something fair to everyone.

3. PRE-APPROVE: It's a pain. And yes, you'll make some people mad who want to come see your home and can't. But honestly, do you really want to open up your home, your valuables, your kids rooms, to perfect strangers? Pre-approval means no looky-Lou's. Pre-approval means fewer tire kickers and more committed buyers. Pre-approval means less problems down the road with financing. Enough said.

4. SAFETY FISRT: Yes, even here in good ole' Preble County Ohio, safety should still be at the forefront of your mind. It always is mine. Get names, get pre-approval letters, get as much info as you can. After all, these people will be in your home, and getting all kinds of dirt on you.

If you have a bad feeling, trust your gut. It's usually right.

5. Use Realtor recommended Attorneys, Title companies, Inspectors, etc: The 2006 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers says "The most difficult tasks reported by FSBOs are preparing the home for sale, understanding and performing the paperwork, and selling within the desired time frame." The reason Realtors use the people we do is that these professionals have proven over time to be the best, most capable, most educated at what they do.

Sometimes using Joe Blow up the street to do your inspection, just to save a few bucks, doesn't quite erase the headache you have when you're sitting in a courtroom later facing a lawsuit over a simple misunderstanding.

6. OKAY, USE A REALTOR: You didn't think I wouldn't at least MENTION this did you? :) I could give you a myriad of reasons, but I think this statistic, from The 2006 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, says it best...

"The median home price for sellers who use an agent is 31.9 percent higher than a home sold directly by an owner; $247,000 vs. $187,200...."

WOW!!

Feel free to call me for more FREE info, or professional help for selling your Preble County home, anytime!

Kelley Weimer, a house "SOLD" name!

www.preblecountyhouses.com or www.buypreblecounty.com

937-336-2865

Country Mile Realtors