To Successfully sell your house yourself - think about...
Why you are selling?
It is a good idea to read and answer these Questions and to keep them handy as you go through this process of selling your home.
What Motivates You to SELL Now?
How much do you still owe on your house? Complete the sellers net worksheet to approximate what you will receive as cash in hand after all expenses are paid at closing.
(Include all mortgages and equity lines of credit. Is there a pre-payment penalty, if so call and check with your mortgage company and find out your balance and the amount of the prepayment penalty and ask for a figure good through 3 months.)
Where will you be moving when your house sells?
(if you have purchased a house you will be on a much tighter time frame than if you do not yet have a committment)
Are you considering using a Realtor® to buy your new home?
Have you completed your Seller's Net Worksheet so that you know how much you will realize from the sale of this house?
Can you afford to replace the washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, that Rubbermaid storage shed, etc…
(you need to be thinking about items that the buyer might ask you to leave, that you had intended to take.)
How long do you have to sell your house?
Where do you plan to move?
If you bought a new house what date will it be ready for you to move in?
(Write a contingency in the contract for that house based on the sale of this house.)
Can you afford to stay in a hotel, in and apartment or with relatives if you can’t find or can’t close on your new home by the date agreed to in the contract for this house?
Are you willing to pay part of buyer's closing costs?
Will you be offering a Home Warranty?
(I recommend this because it takes the burden off of you if something breaks.)
What is you budget for the expenses of the sale of this house?
(you will want to make sure you calculate these expenses when you are completing your seller's net worksheet.)
You will need to think about the above questions and decide on your answers. Answering them will help you to focus on your goal of selling this house. The answers will provide you with a clear idea as to how you will advertise, market and ultimately negotiate with the Buyer when presented with a Contract.
It can get pretty hectic when that contract comes from that buyer and he wants an answer right away and having a clear idea of what you need out of this sale and what you are willing to give up will help you not make a mistake you may regret for a very long time. This is why all this preparation is so important. Deciding upfront what price you want, what you are willing to leave and what you are willing to throw into the deal will make the difference between that great I sold my house feeling and that of Oh what have I done? So please write down your answers and keep them in your HOUSE SALE MATERIALS FOLDER.
Copy and Print the following section "the Step by Step For Sale by Owner Outline" and keep it in a folder so that you can refer to it to make sure you have completed each step.
Easy to print copies are available in the E-Book which is a PDF download you can purchase if you do not like to cut and paste. Books are written in order of the steps you should take to sell or buy a house. Includes lots of great checklists and worksheets.
.jpg) 
NOW, LET’S LOOK AT THE STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETE YOUR SALE:
STEPS TO SELL HOUSE
For Sale By Owner Outline
You will want to refer to this outline often as it will keep you on track. Think of this as your
TO DO LIST!
□ CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO REVIEW THE CONTRACTS
YOU RECEIVE, PREPARE THE DEED AND IF EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, TO REPRESENT YOU AT CLOSING.
□ INTERVIEW AT LEAST FOUR (4) REALTORS® GET CMA Comparable Market Analysis suggesting fair market value of house from each agent.
□ FIND YOUR SETTLEMENT PACKAGE FROM WHEN YOU CLOSED ON YOUR HOUSE. (You are looking for your Deed, deed of Trust, survey, closing statement and plat.
□ LOOK UP YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE WEB SITE FOR YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S TAX OFFICE TO SEARCH FOR YOUR TAX ASSESSMENT.
□ CHECK YOUR CITY’S OR COUNTY’S RECENT TRANSFERS OF PROPERTY FOR INFORMATION ON RECENT SALES PRICES OF HOMES IN YOUR NEIGHBORNOOD OR COMPARABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
□ CHECK FOR ALL SCHOOLS FOR YOUR LOCATION. Pull test scores from school board site.
□ CONFIRM ALL UTILITY PROVIDERS FOR YOUR HOUSE. GAS, ELECTRIC, WATER, SEWER, TELEPHONE, INTERNET, AND CABLE. (even if you don’t use them at this time)
(SEE PROPERTY INFORMATION SHEET IN THE FORMS AND CHECKLISTS SECTION)
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
□ NAMES AS THEY APPEAR ON THE DEED
□ LEGAL DISCRIPTION AS WELL AS ADDRESS IN TAX RECORDS.
□ LISTING OF ALL ROOMS (include measurements of all rooms)
□ LIST IF HOUSE HAS GARAGE? 1, 1 ½, 2 OR 3 CAR or CARPORT or NONE
□ LIST IF HOUSE HAS A BASEMENT? WALKOUT Y/N
□ LIST ANY PERMANENT OUT BUILDINGS AND DESCRIBE.
□ LIST DECK, PATIO, GAZEBO ETC. (include interior measurement)
□ LIST SWIMMING POOL, HOT TUB ETC.
□ APPROXIMATE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF HOUSE.AVAILABLE IN TAX INFORMATION ON CITY/COUNTY/LOCAL REAL ESTATE TAX SITE.
□ APPROXIMATE SIZE OF LOT FROM PLAT OR TAX SITE.
□ TYPE OF HEAT SOURCE GAS, ELECTRIC, OIL, OR SOLAR OR
COMBINATION
□ TYPE OF HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM: HEAT PUMP, GAS/
HEATPUMP COMBO, OIL FURNACE, HOT WATER BASEBOARD,
RADIANT ETC.
□ IS WATER FROM THE CITY, COUNTY, PRIVATE PROVIDER, OR WELL
□ IS SEWER TREATMENT HANDLED BY THE CITY, COUNTY OR IS THERE A SEPTIC TANK
□ IS THERE A WASHER/ DRYER HOOK UP, INCLUDE LOCATION.
□ LIST EXTRA AMENITIES.
□ WHAT ITEMS WILL CONVEY (stay with the house) EXAMPLES
ARE REFRIGERAOR, WASHER, DRYER, FREEZER, WINE COOLER
ETC. THE STOVE AND THE DISHWASHER ARE CONSIDERED FIXTURES BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILT IN.
□ LIST ALL ITEMS YOU WANT TO TAKE WITH YOU THAT ARE
ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE LIGHT FIXTURES; A SPECIAL CHANDELIER.
□ LIST SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE THAT
SERVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
□ DECIDE HOW AND WHEN POTENTIAL BUYERS CAN SEE YOUR
HOUSE.
□ LIST PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL FOR APPOINTMENT.
□ ASSESSING THE PROPERTY
□ CREATING CURB APPEAL
□ 40 SPRUCE UP TIPS
□ DECLUTTERING INTERIOR ROOMS
□ CREATING MORE SPACIOUSNESS
□ MAKING REPAIRS AND PAINTING
□ SPRING CLEANING
□ SETTING THE PRICE
□ PUTTING UP THE SIGN
□ FLYERS FOR THE SIGN
□ LISTING THE HOUSE WITH MLS
□ FLYERS FOR MAILING TO REALTORS
□ POSTCARDS TO NEIGHBORS
□ PRINT ADS FOR NEWSPAPERS AND COMMUNITY PAPERS
□ AD FOR BULLITIN BOARD APPLICATION
□ CREATING YOUR OWN BLOG ON THE WEB
□ FOLLOW UP E-MAIL TO POTENTIAL BUYER AFTER SHOWING
□ FINAL PREPARATION TO SHOW, “STAGING”
□ SHOWING TIPS
□ QUALIFYING THE POTENTIAL BUYER WHEN THEY CALL FOR
APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE HOUSE.
□ GETTING AND PREPARING FOR THE APPOINTMENT
□ WHAT TO DO WHEN THE POTENTIAL BUYER IS AT YOUR HOUSE
□ FOLLOWUP
□ WHO WRITES THE CONTRACT AND WHAT SHOULD BE IN IT
□ HOW TO READ A CONTRACT?
□ WHAT ARE ADDENDUMS AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
□ WE HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT, CONTRACT FOR DEED WHAT’S NEXT?
□ HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY LOOK OVER THE CONTRACT
(INCLUDE A PROVISION IN CONTRACT TO ALLOW YOU TIME
FOR ATTORNEY TO REVIEW BEFORE FINALIZED.
VII. MEETING THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT
□ BUYER GETTING FINANCING SETTING UP CLOSING
□ WHOLE HOUSE INSPECTION—MAKE ANY REPAIRS AGREED TO
AND ADDED AS ADDENDUM TO CONTRACT
□ TERMITE INSPECTION - REQUEST A TERMITE INSPECTION AND MAKE ANY REPAIRS AND TREAT IF NECESSARY
□ SATISFY ADDITIONAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS
□ FROM YOUR ATTORNEY (request deed preparation, and confirm closing date.)
□ HIRING THE MOVER
□ COORDINATING MOVE OF ITEMS IN THE HOUSE AS WELL AS
ANY ITEMS IN STORAGE.
□ CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO DO PRIOR TO THE MOVE.
□ DAY OF THE MOVE.
& HOW TO PREPARE
□ SET UP WITH YOUR ATTRONEY THE PREPARTAION OF THE DEED
□ FILL OUT THE CLOSING WORK SHEET BASE ON THE CONTRACT TERMS TO CONFIRM MONIES NEEDED TO CLOSE
□ STAY IN CONTACT WITH LENDER TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GOING SMOOTHELY. MAKE SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED FROM YOU. DELAYS CAN COST YOU MONEY AND EVEN JEOPORADIZE THE CLOSING ON YOUR NEW HOME IF YOU
HAVE BOUGHT ONE.
□ FOLLOW THROUGH ON ALL INSPECTIONS, REPAIRS ETC CALLED FOR IN THE CONTRACT
□ CLOSING!
TIP: Time management is an important part of selling your house yourself. You will want to get a calendar so that you can mark the days you are unavailable to show the house because of personal committments. Also, you will need some sort of daily planner to keep track of your appointments and what needs to be done next.
Ready set Go
SELL THIS HOUSE - PREPARING FOR SALE is your next stop. This page talks about getting yourself and family members ready for the sale of your home. This is the first step we'll get to preparing the house for sale later.
PREPARE YOUR HOUSE 4 SALE Preparing a house to sell is your next stop if you have already done your ground work and you are ready to get the house preped, cleaned and staged for sale.
Copyright© 1973,1978,1981,1996,1998,1999,2003,2005, AEBlake
Copyright© Oct 1, 2009 forsalebyownerhow2 abef Blake Enterprises
Information deemed to be reliable although not guaranteed
thank you for visiting!
 | 
