F or Sale By Owner is a challenging endeavor that you shouldn't have to manage alone.

ADVERTISE YOUR FSBO PROPERTY FOR FREE ON THIS WEBSITE!!

Tips for Pricing Your Home

• Consider comparables. What have other homes in your neighborhood sold for recently? How do they compare to yours in terms of size, upkeep, and amenities?
• Consider competition. How many other houses are for sale in your area? Are you competing against new homes?
• Consider your contingencies. Do you have special concerns that would affect the price you'll receive? For example, do you want to be able to move in four months?
• Get an appraisal. For a few hundred dollars, a qualified appraiser can give you an estimate of your home's value. Be sure to ask for a market-value appraisal. To locate appraisers in your area, contact The Appraisal Institute ( www.appraisalinstitute.org ) or ask me for a recommendation.
• Ask a lender. Since most buyers will need a mortgage, it's important that a home's sale price be in line with a lender's estimate of its value.
• Be accurate. Studies show that homes priced more than 3 percent over the correct price take longer to sell.
• Know what you'll take. It's critical to know what price you'll accept before beginning a negotiation with a buyer.                                                                                                                                                 
• Ask me for your FREE comparative market analysis.  

10 Ways to Make Your House More Saleable

• Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
  
• Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
  
• Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
  
• Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
  
• Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
  
• Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well maintained.
  
• Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
  
• Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
  
• Clean your gutters.
  
• Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
  
  

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  Is Your Buyer Qualified?
  
  Unless the buyer who makes an offer on your home has the resources to qualify for a mortgage, you may not really have a sale. If possible, try to determine a buyer's financial status before signing the contract. Ask:
• If the buyer has been pre-qualified or pre-approved (better) for a mortgage. Such buyers will be in a much better position to obtain a mortgage promptly.
  
• Does the buyer have enough money to make a down payment and cover closing costs? Ideally, a buyer should have 20 percent of the home's price as a down payment and between 2 and 7 percent of the price to cover closing costs.
  
• Is the buyer's income sufficient to afford your home? Ideally, buyers should spend no more than 28 percent of total income to cover PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance).
  
• Does your buyer have good credit? Ask if he or she has reviewed and corrected a credit report.
  
  
• Does the buyer have too much debt? If a buyer owes a great deal on car payments, credit cards, etc., he or she may not qualify for a mortgage.
  
  

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  All reports reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

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Attention: For Sale By Owners!

Why People Are Afraid To Buy From You!
Many homeowners believe that to maximize their profit on a home sale they should sell it themselves. At first glance, they feel selling a home is simple and why should they pay a broker fees for something they could do themselves? In fact, close to 25% of all the homes sold last year were sold for sale by owner (FSBO).

However, close to half of the FSBO’s said that they would hire a professional next time they sold. Thirty percent said they were unhappy with the results they achieved by choosing FSBO. Why?

Many FSBO’s told us that the time, paperwork and everyday responsibilities involved were not worth the amount of money they saved in commissions. For others, the financial savings were even more disappointing. By the time they figured the amount of fees paid to outside consultants, inspectors, appraisers, title lawyers, escrow and loan officers, marketing, advertising... they would have been better off having paid the broker’s fee which would have included many of these charges up front.

Selling a home requires an intimate understanding of the real estate market. If the property is priced too high, it will sit and develop a reputation for being a problem property. If the property is priced too low, you will cost yourself serious money. Some FSBO’s discovered that the lost money as a result of poor decisions outweighed the commission.

Before you decide to sell FSBO, consider these questions and weigh the answers of assuming the responsibility versus employing a professional. A little time spent investigating up front will pay off tenfold in the end.

Do I have the time, energy, know-how, and ability to devote a full forced effort to sell my home?

One of the keys to selling your home efficiently and profitably is complete accessibility. Many homes have sat on the market much longer than necessary because the owner was unwilling or unavailable to show the property. Realize that a certain amount of hours each day is necessary to sell your home.

Am I prepared to deal with an onslaught of buyers who perceive FSBO’s as targets for low balling?

One of the challenges of selling a home is screening unqualified prospects and dealing with lowballers. It often goes unnoticed... how much time, effort and expertise it requires to spot these people quickly. Settling for a lowball bid is usually worse than paying broker commissions.

Am I offering financing options to the buyer? Am I prepared to answer questions about financing?

One of the keys to selling, whether it’s a home, a car... anything, is to have all the necessary information the prospective buyer needs and to offer them options. Think about the last time you purchased something of value, did you make a decision before you had all your ducks in a row? By offering financing options you give the home buyer the ability to work on their terms and open up the possibilities of selling your home quickly and more profitably. A professional real estate agent will have a complete team, from lenders to title reps for you to utilize...they’ll be at your disposal.

Do I fully understand the legal ramifications and necessary steps required in selling a home?

Many home sales have been lost due to incomplete paperwork, lack of inspections or not meeting your states disclosure laws. Are you completely informed of all the steps necessary to sell real estate? If not, a professional would be a wise choice.

Do I have the capability of handling the legal contracts, agreements and any disputes with buyers before or after the offer is presented?

Ask yourself if you are well versed in legalese and if you are prepared to handle disputes with buyers. To avoid any disputes it is wise to put all negotiations and agreements in writing. Many home sales have been lost due to misinterpretation of what was negotiated.

Have I contacted the necessary professionals....title, inspector (home and pest), attorney, and escrow company?

Are you familiar with top inspectors and escrow companies? Don’t randomly select inspectors, attorneys, and title reps. Like any profession there are inadequate individuals who will slow, delay and possibly even cost you the transaction.

FSBO Coldwell Banker United Realtors and it's agents provide Fort Walton Beach, Eglin AFB, Baker, Defuniak Springs, Duke Field, Destin, Bluewater Bay, Crestview, Holt, Mary Esther, Milton, Niceville, Navarre, Santa Rosa Beach, Shalimar, & Valparaiso, Florida real estate and relocation information and resources to guide home sellers and home buyers through the process of selling and buying a house, condo, townhome or other real estate property. Coldwell Banker United Realtors has agents to help you find Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Bluewater Bay, Destin, Mary Esther, Milton, Niceville, Navarre, Shalimar, or Valparaiso realty, get the value of your northwest Florida Emerald Coast home or real estate with a comparative market analysis (CMA), view northwest Florida Emerald Coast real estate and Emerald Coast MLS listings, prepare your home for sale, and more.  If you plan to do for sale by owner (FSBO), Coldwell Banker United Realtors can advertise your Fort Walton Beach property for free on this website. We can help you sell or buy a home in the Fort Walton Beach & Eglin Air Force Base area including Camp Rudder Ranger Training Camp, Crestview, Baker, Bluewater Bay, Destin, Eglin AFB, Freeport, Defuniak Springs, Duke Field, Hurlburt Field, Mary Esther, Milton, Holt, Niceville, Navarre, Santa Rosa Beach, San Destin, Shalimar, and Valparaiso, FL.  We service the northwest Florida panhandle including Okaloosa county, Escambia county, Walton county, Santa Rosa county and Holmes county.  If you are looking for a new home or property near Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Baker, Bluewater Bay, Crestview, Defuniak Springs, Duke Field, Freeport, Mary Esther, Navarre, Niceville, San Destin, Shalimar, Milton, Valparaiso, Eglin Air Force Base or Hurlburt Air Force Base then our real estate service for homes in Northwest Florida can help you find it. Search Emerald Coast homes in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Camp Rudder, Bluewater Bay, Crestview ,Destin, Defuniak Springs, Duke Field, Freeport, Mary Esther, Navarre, Niceville, Eglin AFB, San Destin, Shalimar, Valparaiso, FL and all around northwest Florida.  Fort Walton Beach for sale by owner (fsbo) list your property and get it on the Emerald Coast MLS today!