For Sale by Owner

In today's economy, we all want to save money any way we can.  We understand your motivation to get the most money you can for your house and also to watch your costs.  Every Seller we work with has our shared goal to net the highest possible price in the shortest possible time frame.  Be sure to check out the FREE reports link and look under both the Seller & For Sale by Owner section where you'll find helpful lists like this: Top 10 Marketing Tips.  

If you currently have your home for sale by owner in Austin or surrounding area, we would be happy to send you a report of all homes similar to your home that are currently on the market. That way you can see how your home compares with the competition (the report includes pictures, sq ft, year built, and all details). To get this free report, just email us at tammy@familypair.com and include your home's address. We will respect your position as a For Sale by Owner Seller and only send you the information you have requested. If you elect, we can send you regular updates of market activity in your area, i.e. properties for sale, pending sale, and recently sold.  We're here to help if you need us and best of luck in getting an offer!

Been on the market for several weeks and no offers? If you are feeling frustrated because your house has not sold, you may want to check out this list of reasons why your home hasn't sold.  This is another report available on our FREE reports page packed full of helpful and informative reports such as guidelines on showing your property, steps of the closing process, and more.

FOR SALE BY OWNER STATISTICS

Survey results of Texas homebuyers and sellers showed that the median home sales price for sellers who used an agent was $160,000, while the median sales price for a home sold directly by an owner was only $132,800. There were no significant differences between the types of homes sold. Only 29% of the homeowners in that survey say they would definitely sell their home on their own again next time.  There is no harm in giving it a shot on your own, however recent statistics show 88% of For Sale by Owner Sellers eventually utilize the professional services of an Agent. We are here to help if you ever need us.

TIPS TO GET YOUR HOME IN SHOW-READY CONDITION:

1. De-clutter & completely clean. One of the most important and time-consuming items on the list, it is critical to get your home looking its very best. Have you ever toured a builder's model home?  This would be the ideal for how you want your home to look.  Kitchens and bathrooms should be sparkling clean and all clutter completely removed. This is an inexpensive way to make your home show its best potential.

2. Neutralize, take care of necessary maintenance & upgrade.  One of the easiest and most affordable things you can do is paint and freshen curb appeal.  Other great bangs for your buck include upgrading light fixtures, flooring, and kitchen appliances.  But be careful to stay within the neighborhood norm. If none of your neighbors have a sprinkler system, then you don't need to install one to compete.   

3. Stage your home to sell. Now that you know you're ready to sell, it's important to know that a home you sell is much different from a home to live in.  Most people like to live in comfortable homes with magazines and books on the tables, dogs and cats nearby for companionship, and favorite artwork and paint colors in our rooms.  However a home put on the market needs to appeal to the widest number of Buyers. Your choice of a purple bedroom color may turn off some Buyers. Pet odors may decrease the perceived value of your home.  Listing with us means we take a comprehensive tour of your home & make staging suggestions and offer professional help if necessary.

4. Disappear during showings & respond to feedback. When your home is on the market, you need to keep it in show-ready condition.  It's important to be gone whenever your home is shown so Buyers don't feel rushed and may take their time seeing all the great features. Sellers who sell their homes the quickest are the ones who respond to Buyer & Agent feedback.  One drawback to For Sale by Owner is the difficulty in getting feedback after showings.  We take the time to follow up on 100% of showings to our Seller's homes. Then we email all feedback directly to you, so you know what people are saying after they view your home.  For example, if we are getting consistent feedback that Buyers really dislike the wallpaper in your bathroom, then this issue needs to be addressed.  Try your best to follow up whenever possible or ask for feedback during the visit.

WHY SHOULD I PAY COMMISSION TO SELL MY HOUSE?

There are many benefits to working with a professional to get your home sold. Although we do not put ourselves in the same category of being a doctor or lawyer, this analogy makes sense to many people.  Would you try to perform surgery on yourself or represent yourself in a court of law?  Usually the answer is no, since most people are not experts in those fields.  Similarly, most people are not experts in selling houses and it makes the most sense to hire someone who is.  There are complex contracts, current and ever-changing local ordinances, inspections, appraisals, lender requirements, title policies, and many other

1. Expert knowledge: we have the most up-to-date information on pricing your home and know about competing properties in your area.  We also are aware of anything happening in the current local market that may impact your home value. For example, the Austin city council recently passed a new ordinance requiring certain homes in the city of Austin to get an energy audit. We will know if your home needs it and all up to date information affecting you. Not being aware of important issues like this could delay and complicate your home sale.

2. Effective marketing: the typical For Sale By Owner Seller simply is not a home marketing expert. Pictures may not highlight the home's best features or be taken from the correct angles.  The marketing flyer may leave out important selling features that today's Buyers want to know. Not being listed on 30+ home-searching sites means your home is essentially out of the game when Buyers do their online searches.  We'll give you a proven & effective marketing plan from start to finish and make sure you home is sold for top dollar.

3. Top notch negotiation: there are many complex stages of negotiation in a real estate transaction from the sales price to the closing date to the repairs.  We have all the expertise and training you need to objectively evaluate offers received and give you the best advice. In addition, we know how to effectively work with Buyer's Agents to get the deal done while still serving your ultimate best interests.

4. Time savings: In today's busy world, who has any extra time?  It is extremely time-consuming to try and sell your house on your own. You must be available to show the property whenever potential Buyers want to see it. You must educate yourself on real estate law, home inspections & appraisals, complex real estate contracts, and much more.  Is it possible to piece together the information necessary to get a home sold?  Yes, but for most people, it makes more sense to hire an expert.

5. Pre-qualified Buyers: one of the biggest benefits to listing with us is that you won't waste your time showing your home to curious neighbors, people who cannot afford it, people with bad credit, or people who may have to sell their home first.  When the home is listed, it will be shown only through a lockbox by Buyer's Agents (a much safer way as well) and most require their clients are pre-qualified before they start showing them homes.

We wish you the best of luck in selling your home and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to get a ballpark instant home value or a no-obligation Home Value Request, please browse the Seller section of our website.