How to Sell Your Own House: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

How to Sell Your Own House

Selling your own house instead of using a realtor can be an overwhelming process, but you can do it with a little planning and work. Learn about the techniques and strategies that will help you to increase the chances of selling your home.

In a Hurry? Edit

If you’re trying to sell your own house, start looking at it from a buyer’s perspective. Clean your house from top to bottom, or hire professional cleaners to make sure you don’t miss anything. Next, stage your home by removing any clutter and arranging your furniture to look its best. Get a professional assessment and a home inspection so you know how much you can expect to get for your house and whether you need to make any repairs. Continue reading for tips on showing the house and finding a buyer!

Steps Edit

Part One of Four:

Find the best real estate agents. Free service. Personal recommendations.

Taking the First Steps Edit

Part Two of Four:

The best real estate agents. Find them at Referz.com.

Showing the House and Attracting Buyers Edit

Part Three of Four:

Getting a Bid Quickly Edit

Part Four of Four:

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Community Q&A

• If a person wants to purchase your home for cash, ask to see proof of cash by having the buyer produce a bank statement or asking their banker to supply a letter that this buyer has the cash to pay at the purchase price. Once you have that information, work with a Realtor or an attorney to put the deal in a real estate contract and proceed to close the deal.

• If your house is located in an area that does not have many recent local comparable sales, it can be prudent to obtain an appraisal before listing your home to help you market it faster. However, if there are recent local comparable sales, a real estate agent can likely complete a market evaluation to price your home competitively without paying for an appraisal.

• This depends on your listing agreement. The contract likely has an amount of days that the realtor has the right to work to sell your property. If you sell privately within that time frame, you will still owe the agent a commission.

• Let them know the situation and have them submit their best offer by a set date.

• The realtor can be paid in a couple of ways. Oftentimes, the seller will compensate the agent for bringing a buyer. The agent will present a compensation agreement prior to showing the home to a client. It is also possible for the agent to have a buyer agency agreement signed, in which case the buyer would pay the agent.

• Go to a Real Estate Attorney who will draw up a contract/agreement for you.

• Yes, all offers need to be presented to the seller until the property has closed, regardless of circumstances.

• Yes, the buyer should have a cashiers/certified check at closing.

• Both the buyer and the seller are responsible. They both have their own costs charged by the title company or closing agent.

• In most cases no. In contract law, an offer is the asking price for an item. He would not be making an offer but rather accepting your offer. When accepted this is a binding contract unless the item is no longer available (good reason needed). This is a frustration in the contract. You cannot refuse a sale because you don't like the person or because you were later offered a higher price.

Warnings Edit

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Expert Review By:

This version of How to Sell Your Own House was reviewed by Carla Toebe on September 29, 2017.

Work less. Earn more. Real estate agents earn referral fees at Referz.com.