Learn the steps to getting your home sold...

This page is to help those who are selling their house themselves.  The information is for promotional purposes only and is outside of any client or customer relationship with the agent or Re/Max.  Any action taken based on this information is at the sole discretion of the user and Tom Schroth and Re/Max decline all responsibility for such use outside of a client or customer relationship.

Selling Tips

Selling your home yourself is a big undertaking but with some hard work you can successfully sell your home without a Realtor.  Some items below will help you get started.

Getting your home ready to sell

• Take an unbiased look at your house from a buyer's perspective.
• Ask friends or neighbors their honest opinion on the condition.
• Have a pre-sale inspection to uncover hidden defects that could be deal killers.
• Make necessary repairs and updates.
• Look at other homes on the market and those that have sold to see how you compare

Pricing your house to sell

• Get comparable sales data on other houses from the multiple list system (MLS)
• Check out the competition by visiting a representative sample of house currently for sale.
• Realize that buyers expect to reap the commission savings
• Leave yourself 3-5% for concessions and closing costs

Advertising and Marketing

• Get a professionally made sign
• Create color flyers with details on you house
• Place adds in the newspaper
• Create a small website with 5 - 15 photos
• Offer buyer's agent commission of 3.5%

Other Items

• Block out Saturday and Sunday for showing
• Be available for showing appointments on weekdays
• Get all your ownership and purchase records
• Document repairs and maintenance items
• Know all the schools for your address

Showing Prospective Buyers

• Have a "Showing Buddy" ready to be at all showings with you so you are not alone.
• Carry a phone with you when showing in case you need 911.
• Beware of frauds using a showing to case your home or worse!
• Get name number and address when setting the appointment so you can verify they are whom they say they are
• Don't leave strangers alone in your house
• Hide valuables and cash
• Confirm buyers are Pre-Approved and contact their lender to verify before showing the house
• If they have not contacted a lender they are not very serious

Realtor, Real Estate, homes, fsbo, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Summit, Portage, Chagrin Falls, Pepper Pike, Orange, Gates Mills, Hunting Valley, Russell, Solon, Bainbridge, Auburn, Beachwood, Mayfield, Chesterland, Aurora, Streetsboro, Twinsburg, Oakwood, Macedonia, Bedford commercial, residential, new construction, lease rental, auction