Three Mistakes People Make When Selling Their Own House.
And what not to do, to be a better FSBO!
And what not to do, to be a better FSBO!
A lot of people are beginning to try to sell their own houses these days. It is a very good way to save money on your cost of sale, but not everybody is suited to the task.
I have spent most of my life helping people do just that, and I find that it seems pretty intuitive in the beginning. Trouble is, you don’t know what you don't know until you find out what you don't know.
Here are just three mistakes that can be fairly easily avoided, if known in advance.
Never conduct a tour of your house!
People pretty much know what the kitchen is, and are fairly sure about the bathroom. People are going to see what people are going to see.
They are going to look at the things that interest them. You can only irritate potential buyers by telling them the obvious.
What they want to hear and know are about the items you can’t see, like what the heating bill is, or the fact you put extra insulation in this outside wall for that reason.
They may be interested that you have gas central heat.
Small notes in the appropriate places pointing the lookers’ attention to the proper item make for a non-invasive way to let them know. Index cards attached to the wall or folded in half and standing up can impart a world of knowledge without making the prospect feel as though the seller is breathing down their neck.
I have had agents (buyers’ agents) tell me in the past that these little notes seemed to take over their showing to the point that the buyer was busy looking for the next note and truly learning about the house.
Never leave and drive around the block!
Firstly, it’s stupid. It looks awkward for the seller and the buyer.
You have already put away your jewelry and your Rolexes. They are not sitting on the nightstand. There should be NOTHING temptingly valuable sitting around anyway.
Instead, what you ARE going to do is to sit down on the couch in the living room and say, “you folks know what you’re looking for — make yourself at home and look around. If you have any questions, we’ll be right here. Just holler up!” Use those words. You may have to practice them in the beginning.
If you are by yourself at the time of showing, and for some reason, you feel a little apprehensive, then have your car parked out front, in view of the neighbors. Instead of sitting on the couch, you are going to go to your car and return a couple of phone calls or use your I-pad. That way, you can see if they are carrying out the TV, and the neighbors will see if you need some help.
Never even set up an appointment with someone who won’t give you their name, address, and phone number to check out in advance!
“Safety first” and “be prepared.” They never get old or go out of style.
When someone calls to set up an appointment to see your house, first be sure if they are an agent showing the house or, if they are not an agent, be sure their conversation seems to be about the house and not something else off the wall.
Agent, or John Doe, take the time (and be exaggerated about it) to get their name, company, and phone number. Thank them, and explain that you do hope they will understand if you call them right back for security reasons.
Sometimes sellers can be intimidated a bit by a pushy agent or buyer. Just remember, it’s your house and your safety. Be in charge of the situation.
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Originally published at https://thereasonablerealtor.com on April 10, 2018.