Secrets for Writing a Successful For Sale By Owner Classified Ad
For sale by owner classified ads are not as easy to write as they seem. But while the best classified ads for selling homes and property look easy, there are some secrets to writing a killer classified ad that will immediately have homebuyers very interested. The most important factor to writing the best classified ad is to tell the homebuyer what they want to hear. You want them to be curious enough to want to find out more about your home. You want to pique their interest. For most homebuyers, they want to know three things right away. Always include the following three things in a for sale by owner classified ad:
- Price
- Location
- Number of Bedrooms
Do Not Give Out All the Information
While you do want to provide them with this all-important information, you don't want to give them so much information about your house that the buyer eliminates it from consideration. For instance, you should never mention that your home "needs repairs" because most buyers will cross it off their list without even looking at it. It is often a fact that homebuyers end up purchasing a home that is much different from what they had in mind to begin with. This means that your classified ad needs to grab their attention so that they will take a look at your house!
A Good Classified Ad Will Also Be:
- Direct and to the point
- Include the location in the first line
- Be descriptive and interesting
A classified ad that sells will be direct and to-the-point. Some people think you shouldn't include the selling price in your ad, but by putting it first, you are immediately attracting serious buyers to your ad.
Mention Help with Financing
Your ad should also mention if the home selling price is negotiable and if financing is available. It is appealing for potential homebuyers to see the words "Financing Available." This is because financing is often a difficult or confusing step for many homebuyers. It's reassuring for buyers to know that the seller is already taking steps towards pre-qualifying them. Many lenders are willing to pre-qualify potential buyers and may even get them a good rate, so be sure to include this information in your ad if you are working with this type of lender. One lender who is willing to provide this service for free is FinancingAndMortgage.com, where you can obtain a free mortgage quote. This is such a good selling point that you should definitely highlight it in your ad with words like "Excellent Financing" or "Affordable Financing" is available. Since everyone is interested in a good deal, they will certainly be more interested in a house or property that has good financing options!
Work With A Lender
It may also be helpful to work with a lender so that if you receive phone calls from homebuyers interested in low down payment or other options, you can send them directly to your lender. Explain that you will be happy to show them your home after they have met with your lender. Some potential buyers may not be willing to do this, but it enables you to work with real estate buyers who are serious about purchasing a home and have been pre- qualified. If a property buyer claims to already be pre-qualified, get the name and number of their lender and verify it before going any further. This is only a suggestion. You do not have to include financing options if you don't want to. Your ad will still be effective without it.
