Get Your For Sale by Owner House Ready to Sell

A ready to sell home attracts more potential homebuyers, and you can accomplish that with just a little effort. These tips do not cost a lot, but they can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of your house. Just a little attention to a few small details and you will be amazed at how much more appealing your for sale by owner house is to those buyers! You will see the reward of getting your fsbo house ready to sell.

Before You List Your House for Sale by Owner, Inspect It

It is a good idea to have your home professionally inspected by a licensed home inspector before you list it. This is an important first step.

The reason for this is that your buyers are eventually going to conduct an inspection of the home fsbo. So you may as well know ahead of time what they are going to find by getting there first. An inspection performed ahead of time also helps in other ways:

  • You will see your home through the eyes of a critical third party.
  • It gives you the information to price your home more realistically.
  • You can make repairs ahead of time.
  • This way, defects of your fsbo home will not become stumbling blocks to negotiation later.
  • It gives you time to get make the repairs yourself or find and hire a reasonably priced contractor. Doing this could encourage the buyer to waive the inspection clause.
  • It could alert you to potentially dangerous items such as radon gas or of immediate problems like an active termite infestation, however, not all inspectors offer these services, so you should find out before hiring one.
  • It shows the buyers good faith and they may have less concerns and suspicions.
  • You reduce your liability immensely by adding professional documentation to your disclosure statement.
  • It alerts you to any safety issues before agents and potential buyers take a tour of your for sale by owner home.

Potential buyers should have access to copies of the inspection report and any receipts for any repairs. Make sure the inspector you use to inspect your fsbo home is insured, licensed and/or certified if your state requires it. It is also good if the inspector belongs to at least one professional organization such as NACHI, ASHI, and NIBI.

Create Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is basically the first impression that buyers of your fsbo house get from looking at the outside. By keeping the grass cut and the yard tidy, it will help make a great first impression to potential buyers.

  • Paint or wash the entire outside of the house, including shutters, window casings, and doors.
  • Wash windows to make them sparkle inside and out.
  • Clean the gutters and have the chimney swept.
  • Do any needed touch ups on the interior.
  • A fresh coat of paint on the most used areas of the house will make a big difference. This cleans and brightens up the rooms.
  • Wash any walls where paint is not appropriate such as on paneling or wallpaper.
  • Scrub the floors and bathroom tiles, and shampoo dirty carpets.
  • Get rid of all the clutter. Clean out your basement, closets, garage and attic. Use a temporary self-storage if needed.
  • Replace air filters to help keep the dust down.
  • Replace any bathroom and kitchen fixtures that look worn or are leaking. This is something that people really notice.
  • Clean under every sink. Fix any leaks, and then fix up any damage with contact paper or paint.
  • Remove any bad smells in your home, especially pet or cigarette odors. Place bowls of scented potpourri around the house.
  • When you are expecting potential buyers, put a batch of frozen cinnamon rolls or bread dough into the oven for a wonderful aroma.

    • It is always smart to use a title company to handle the closing. A title company will handle the title search and the necessary paperwork for a small fee, which is well worth the cost. For more information on selling your home by owner, go to OwnersAndHouses.com.