If you’re planning to sell a house online instead of using a real estate agent, there are several things to consider before selling your house on the internet. While selling a home without an agent may seem like a great idea at first, it can end up costing you time and money if not done correctly. Sellers who list their homes themselves should educate themselves about what they’re getting into and set clear expectations before getting started. Here are some things you should consider before taking that big step toward online home selling:
Things To Do Before Listing Your House For Sale Online
1. Personal items – Go through all your rooms, closets, cabinets, garages, attics. Remove all personal items that are visible or accessible to buyers. This includes keepsakes, pictures, clothing in drawers, filing cabinets etc…
2. Clean – Make sure that your house is immaculate.
3. Organize – If you have a room filled with junk, it will be obvious to prospective buyers (you don’t want them thinking they need to buy new storage). Organize everything neatly and get rid of what you don’t need (donate clothes/furniture/gadgets).
4. Hide evidence of pets (if possible).
5. Repair – Repair any minor issues like broken doorknobs, dripping faucets and cracked windows or walls. Replace burnt-out light bulbs; clean sinks and bathtubs; check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for working batteries; make sure toilets flush correctly; replace burned-out light bulbs. Fix anything that will prevent your home from selling quickly at top dollar.
6. Staging – Staging is arranging furniture and accessories inside your house so that it shows well to potential buyers. An empty living room looks sad; however, an organized room looks welcoming.
7. Determine your price – Be reasonable with pricing! The more competitively priced homes sell faster than those priced too high — but don’t price yourself out of consideration either by setting prices too low (which might attract tire kickers).
8. Study Comparable Homes – Study recent sales records for similar homes in your area. Evaluate features of each property, including number of bedrooms and baths, floor plan type, age of construction materials used, size of lot, location relative to work places etc., before deciding on asking price.
9. Take Good Pictures – Take as many good quality photographs of your home as possible. Have multiple views, and show detailed features such as landscaping, hardwood floors, stairways, and architectural details.
10. Landscaping – Update your lawn and landscape before listing your house for sale.
11. Marketing – Select a marketing strategy that offers maximum exposure for your home. You may choose social media, or local advertising websites in addition to For Sale By Owner listing websites.
Things Not To Do When Listing Your Home For Sale Online
Listing your home for sale online seems like a great idea—no broker fees, no commissions—and it is. But if you’re planning to sell your house online, here are some things not to do:
1. Don’t place too much emphasis on price: There’s only one thing worse than making a bad deal: making a bad deal that doesn’t get closed. Price should be considered when selling your home online, but other factors (location, condition, appeal) should also be taken into account; don’t put all your eggs in one basket by focusing solely on price.
2. Don’t assume everything will go according to plan: A real estate agent will watch out for potential issues with buyers, schedule showings at optimal times, etc. If you sell your home yourself online, you will need to assume the responsibility to make adjustments if things aren’t going according to plans.
3. Don’t leave anything unsaid: Make sure you document any issue associated with your property before listing it online. For example, if there was ever something wrong with your roof, you will need to disclose that information at the appropriate time.
4. Don’t underpay for marketing: Real estate agents market their properties via local newspapers, TV/radio ads, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter…the list goes on. If you want similar exposure without hiring an agent, you’ll have to pay for it yourself.
5. Don’t rush negotiations: Negotiating online can be different than face-to-face. Unless done over video like using ZOOM, you may miss out on non-verbal cues. Take time to carefully consider your response to offers, counteroffers, counter-counteroffers…you get the picture. If you feel rushed, chances are high you might misspeak or agree to something that isn’t beneficial for your situation.
6. Don’t give up easily: It takes time and effort—there are no shortcuts. You know what they say about Rome? You can’t build a successful business overnight, and you probably won’t sell your house overnight either. Be patient, keep trying, learn from mistakes, and most importantly: never give up!
7. Don’t let your emotions affect your decisions: Making a profit on your home online requires you to keep your cool. Remember that most people purchasing homes are doing so with emotion—what’s best for them will be what’s best for you, too. Try to separate your own emotions from those of potential buyers, and you’ll be able to successfully sell your home online.
8. Refresh your listing: If you don’t get any nibbles after two months, it might be time to change your price, photos, or your listing details to make your listing more attractive.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: On top of being a challenge in general, online real estate transactions can take time—lots of time. If you become confused or uncomfortable with any aspect of your home-selling journey, reach out to a professional for help. While selling your home online may seem like a daunting task, it can be easier if you have an experienced professional by your side.
5 Websites For Selling Your House On The Internet
Online home selling sites have become a popular alternative to listing your house with a traditional real estate agent. They allow you to sell your house on your own terms while reducing some of expenses associated with hiring an agent. With a few exceptions, most of these sites are free for sellers, but there are typically fees associated with closing a sale online. Here are five options worth considering if you’re thinking about selling your house online. Please take these suggestions with that proverbial grain of salt. We are sharing them for information purposes only. For additional considerations, we recommend you visit each website to review their particular methodology before deciding what best fits your needs.
1) Zillow – One of the largest real estate-related companies online today with a web site that attracts over 200 million unique users per month. Zillow allows both buyers and sellers to create free listings and gives buyers the ability to connect with agents.
2) Redfin – Similar to Zillow, although much smaller (only about 42 million average monthly users). A 1% listing fee is collected for buyers and sellers.
3) Craigslist – Still a commonly used site to list homes For Sale By Owner (FSBO). Craigslist may be a great way to attract buyers looking for owner financing.
4) ForSaleByOwner.com – Online since 1999 exclusively for the purposes of proving a platform for buyers and sellers to work together directly. They also offer services including a team of experts to help you from listing to close. Packages are offered from free up to 3% agent commission. Listings can be sent to MLS.
5) FSBO.com – Online since 1997. Offers a $99.99 listing package without MLS and $399.95 with MLS.
In Conclusion
Selling your house on the internet can be a viable alternative to enlisting a real estate agent. However, it’s important to do your research, as well as take into account both positive and negative aspects that could arise from selling your home online. In general, there are a number of advantages and some disadvantages to listing your home for sale on an online site rather than with an agent. We discuss some of them here.
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