Before you consider selling your house yourself, ask yourself if you are going to
    have the time needed to sell your house - even if you just cover the basics.


    Complete an extensive research of local market conditions, including:
    the listing and selling price of all houses in your area for the last six months, the
    listing price of houses currently on the market, and the listing prices of houses
    that were on the market but did not sell.


    Put together a marketing plan.

How will you market your house to real estate agents? Most buyers use a
real estate agent, so marketing to real estate agents is essential. At a
minimum, you'll want to send a letter and sales flyer to all real estate agents
within a 30 mile radius.

How much money can you afford to devote to advertising? Call the local
newspapers to determine how much it will cost for advertisements. You'll
want to run daily and Sunday ads in the newspapers.

Who will create your sales flyers? Buyers expect fact sheets to take with
them when they drive-by or tour a house for sale.

Where will you place signage? In addition to your front yard, is there areas
leading in to your neighborhood where signage would be appropriate?

How will potential buyers find information about your house on the
Internet? You'll want potential buyers who begin their house shopping on
the Internet to find your house. Be sure to build a website to help sell your
house.

Who will take inquiry calls and schedule appointments? You'll want
someone to be available to answer inquiry calls and schedule
appointments. Be sure to schedule showings as quickly as possible - even
the same day.


Tips

Ask newspapers for a discounted advertising rate for multiple placements.
Be sure to check with local officials to determine if there are any restrictions on where you place signs.


Pre-qualify buyers before showing your house.

Confirm that the potential buyer has pre-qualified for a mortgage loan.

If the buyer is buying with cash, confirm that they have the necessary resources.
If the purchase is contingent on the buyer selling their own house, confirm that the buyer's house is on
the market. (You may also want to determine how long the buyer's house has been on the market.)


Negotiations, Contracts and Closings

Are you prepared to negotiate the contract?
Do you know what the legal responsibilities of the seller are in your area?
Who will write the contract? Will you need to hire an attorney? If so, what will be the attorney's fees?

Tips: In addition to the sales contract, you'll need to complete a Seller's Disclosure and a Lead Based
Paint Disclosure.