Why Selling a House on Your Own Isn’t As Hard As You Think

There are countless benefits you can gain by choosing to sell your own home. This is one of the best ways to make the most of a low-equity situation, and reap the rewards of your own hard work. Not only can you sidestep agent commissions entirely, but you’ll also maintain total control over the timing of your sale. Fortunately, there are a wealth of resources that can make these efforts much easier.

Online Listing Companies

There are a number of online listing companies that advertise properties for homeowners who are willing to pay a fairly nominal membership fee. Whether or not you want to incorporate these platforms into your marketing plan, signing up is a great way to get up-to-date market information on comparable properties in your neighborhood. On sites like Homecodec, you can use recent sales data and current local listings available to set a reasonable price.

Video Hosting Sites

Video hosting sites are often free or inexpensive to use. These are great places for posting virtual tours of your home so that prospective buyers can get a comprehensive view of the property and its indoor and outdoor features. Many buyers are currently handling the majority of the shopping process online so this is a great way to reach a broader audience. It also means that sellers with detailed images and video or virtual tours in their marketing plans have the best chances of capturing the attention of qualified investors.

Social Networking

Never underestimate the power of social networks when it comes to selling your own home. While you might have a modest number of online contacts, you have to consider the fact that each of these people can pass your listing information on to their own friends and family to create a marked increase in overall exposure. A well-planned post can garner exponential attention within a matter of hours, or even minutes. You can add links to video tours of your home, images, or any of the listing platforms that you’ve opted to use.

The MLS

The Multiple Listing Service or MLS can expose countless prospects to your home and all of the relevant sales information such as price, included amenities, and upgraded property features. Not only is this an excellent platform for connecting with private investors, but it can also expose your listing to real estate agents with clients who are seeking properties like your own. It is important to note that if a buyer’s agent helps you close a deal via your listing on the MLS, you could be responsible for paying a two to three percent commission.

In addition to taking advantage of the many online resources that exist in real estate, it is also important to remain both flexible and accessible. These transactions can come to a successful end in almost no time when sellers are willing to show their homes often, and at times that are most convenient to their prospects. Remember, once you put yourself in charge of this sale, you’ll be responsible for cleaning and staging the property as well as all of the required advertising and negotiations.