We humans are capable of great things that we might misunderstand in general. Think of the time when the mobile phones were a new invention. Everyone without a phone would think, “We can never learn to operate that thing,” until they get their hands on one.
It is not critical for you to be a professional real estate agent to sell your house. You could be a doctor who spends your day treating patients; you could be a school teacher, a student, or just a housewife. The main thing is that you need to learn about the process by heart. You need to understand the process of selling your house without a realtor. This blog will give you a detailed guide about the job.
Why You Should Sell Your House Without a Realtor?
Whenever you hire a real estate agent to sell your house, it is expected that you will have to pay a percentage of the sales price in commission. Typically, that could be between 5-6%. This implies that if your house sells for $300,000 as an example, $15,000 to $18,000 should be expected to be spent on realtor commission. Wouldn’t that money be better spent paying off loans, buying what you require, or even saving for your next house? Rather than paying a realtor, who takes up to half of your sale, that money could be invested in repaying loans, and shppings, buying the next car or saving for the next house.
And since you are selling your home yourself, all the money goes to you which is very wise. You are at liberty to decide the price you want for your home, the methods you need to adopt to advertise your home, as well as who you need to sell it to, more of the character, and financial status among other things. Further, when you act as your own real estate agent, you can sell the house on a cash base and therefore do not wait for the buyer loan approval, which is a long drawn process and at times very irritating as well.
Step 1: Know the Value of Your Home
You must be aware of a few things before marketing your home. Know what is the worth of your home. You can do it by following these instructions:
- Look around your neighborhood and find houses of similar size, condition, and age.
- Go to websites like Alvi Buys Houses for more information about the worth of the home; you can get a lot of guidance from there.
- If you have recently upgraded your home, such as installing new kitchen cabinets, adding a garden, or fixing the rooftop, include the money in the sale price.
- Hire an appraiser for this job. These guys know how to calculate or estimate the value of your home. It could cost you a few hundred bucks, but in the end, your home will be at the right sale price.
- You can set a fair and realistic price for your home if you know its worth. This is an important key to attracting buyers.
Step 2: Prepare Your House for Sale
How would you feel if you went to see a house to buy it and it was in its worst possible condition? You would walk out of it straight. A home that has a clean atmosphere, well-painted walls, a small but clean and beautiful garden, and maintained floors will attract you in the first place. If you want to sell your home quickly and drive many buyers around, you must make it look its best.
Here are a few things that you can do:
- Clean every part of your home. Wash, scrub, and vacuum until it starts sparkling.
- An overloaded home seems claustrophobic. Remove extra furniture and personal items like family pictures and knickknacks. Let the buyers imagine it as their own.
- Fix any leakages in your home, and make sure that your doors are not squeaky and that the wall paint is not chipped.
- Keep in mind that first impression matters the most, so make sure to make it look best from the very first visit. Mow the lawn, clean your driveway (if any), plant beautiful flowers, and clean the front porch.
- The more welcoming your house looks, the higher the chances for people to get it.
Step 3: Take Great Photos
Everything is done online these days. Just like online shopping, most buyers start their home search online. Confirm that you are taking good, clear pictures of your home and posting them on online home-selling websites.
- Take photos in natural light, such as in the daytime.
- Clean and declutter every room before the photoshoot.
- What are the best features of your home, like a great fireplace or a garden? Highlight them.
- Record short videos for the buyers so they can experience the space more personally.
Step 4: List Your Home Online
Spread the word that you are selling your house by posting pictures online on reputable real estate websites or Facebook pages. Verify that these sites are either free or low-cost, so it might not add a financial burden on your shoulders. Also, confirm that the site you are posting on has thousands of customer reach. The more customers reach, the higher your chances of being seen, heard, and approached.
Also, make a list of these things while posting:
- The number of bedrooms and bathrooms your house contains.
- Add the unique features of your house, such as a newly furnished lounge or remodeled kitchen.
Step 5: Show Your Home
Once your post reaches substantial and potential buyers, they would like to visit your home. This step is called showing. There could be confusion in this step as you are meeting new people and hoping they will buy your house. Your homes might get high or shattered, but here is how to handle it:
- The buyers may visit on weekends or evenings, so manage your schedule at their convenience.
- Turn on all the lights, open the curtains, and make sure your house smells fresh to make it look welcoming.
- They will ask you about utility bills, the school district, or the age of your roof, so prepare yourself with the answers and be honest and transparent about everything.
Step 6: Negotiate the Sale
When someone offers you a deal, it is time to bargain a bit. This is your chance to figure out the final price and deal terms. Do not hesitate to stick to your grounds, but also be willing to consider fair offers.
If you sell your house for cash, things typically go much quicker since you do not have to wait on mortgage approvals. Just make sure you partner with a trustworthy buyer with property management.
Step 7: Handle the Paperwork
When you sell your house, you will deal with an incredible amount of paperwork. Do not panic; you can manage it. Following is the list of primary documents that you need.:
- First comes the purchase agreement in which you and the buyer sign the selling house contract.
- Then come the disclosure forms that outline any issues with the house, such as old plumbing or a leaky roof.
- Finally, the deed, which means that the ownership of your house is now transferred to
