The Riz Team Blog

Q. We are thinking about selling our house on our own, without using a Realtor, to save money. Do you have any advice?

A. If you are thinking of selling your home without a Realtor, there are many things to consider.

• Do you have a background in real estate? Do you know what your house appraises for? Do you know the value of your home compared to other homes in your area? How does your house show compared to other homes in the same price range? How well do you understand real estate contracts? What will it cost you to have your attorney view the offer and other documents?
• What have you budgeted for advertising? How do you intend for others to find out that your home is for sale? Have you checked into the cost of running ads?
• Do you have a plan for showing your home to potential buyers? Are you able to put your life on hold every time someone wants to tour your home? How frustrated will you get if they make multiple appointments to view your home but never show up? Have you considered yours and your family’s safety when letting strangers in to view your home?
• Will your feelings towards potential buyers be affected if they criticize your decorating style, cleanliness or landscaping?
• How are your negotiating skills? Just as you, the seller, want a good deal, so too does the buyer.

Do you have the time to research the answers to the above questions so that you’re well prepared to sell your home yourself?

Sellers may believe that if they sell their home themselves, they’ll get more money for their house. At the same time, the buyer often believes he or she is entitled to a lower price if a Realtor isn’t involved in the transaction. Without a Realtor, when a buyer and seller try to agree on a price, there’s no one to negotiate the deal. The sellers are on one side and the buyer is on another, so the deal falls apart.

Buying and selling a home is a complicated process. Unless you have a background in real estate, you should reconsider selling your own home on your own. Because your home is your most valuable asset, wouldn’t you want professional help so you get the best deal possible when you sell it?

Realtors have all kinds of resources and experience that you may not. They have access to multiple listing services, or the MLS. This is a site many potential homebuyers visit. Many Realtors also have their own websites. Even if you took the time to create your own website about your home, how would potential homebuyers learn about the site to visit it?

There are so many reasons to seek out a professional to help you sell your house. I’ve seen too many deals fall through because sellers try to sell their own home but lack the necessary expertise, and they won’t negotiate with the buyer.

Good luck as you make a decision about selling your home

That’s why I say……Don’t put it on HOLD….call RIZ to get it SOLD!!! ™

“I will make your house stand out,” your Realtor says as he/she sits with you at  your kitchen table going over the paperwork to put your house up for sale.

Your Realtor lets you know that she will use every possible means, both  modern and traditional, to put your home in front of as many potential buyers as  possible. The more potential buyers who see your home, the quicker it will  sell.

That is the good news. All these steps will help sell your home as quickly as  possible.

The bad news is that this aggressive marketing and advertising of your home  might bring your home and family to the attention of individuals who may wish to  do you harm. Now, don’t panic. We all know there are bad and just plain evil  people in our world who commit crimes against other members of our society.  While we all continue about our daily lives as usual, we take common sense steps  every day to keep our families and homes safe and secure.

Your Realtor will give you some common sense tips and instructions to help  ensure you and your family stay safe while your home is on the market. These  include:

Be sure you know who you let into your home: Your Realtor or her office will  contact you in advance to set up appointments for Realtors to show your home to  their clients. The Realtor showing your home will give you his business card  when you greet him at the door. This allows you to confirm that he is the  Realtor who scheduled the appointment.

If you have not received advance notice, or if a Realtor does not provide you  with identification, do not let him into your home. If anyone shows up at your  door wanting to see your home without a Realtor, do not let him enter. Simply  refer him to the phone number on your yard sign to get information and to set up  an appointment to see your house.

Your Realtor usually will suggest that you try not to be at home when your  house is shown. Generally, a potential buyer will be more comfortable and spend  more time looking at your home if you are not there. If anything seems wrong  when you return to your home, such as the door being unlocked, do not go into  your home. Contact your Realtor to see when the last showing occurred, or if he  has any answers. If you are still concerned, you will want to contact local  police and have them inspect your home for you.

In today’s world, many older children and teenagers are home alone during the  day, particularly this time of year. It is very important that you tell them to  take the same precautions if someone comes to look at your house while they are  home alone. All of us, and particularly young people, can be swayed by a good  story. Remember, con artists and others seeking to do harm or steal are often  very convincing. Be sure you and your children do not fall for their  deceptions.

Take care of your valuables and your identity: I have walked into homes I was  showing and found jewelry boxes open in the bedroom with expensive items in  plain sight. This is just asking for trouble. When your home is on the market,  be sure to, at the very least, put all your valuables away. If possible, it is a  good idea to put expensive jewelry that you don’t wear frequently, or other  valuables like coin collections, in a locked cabinet or even a safety deposit  box.

If you are like me, yesterday’s mail probably is sitting on the kitchen table  or the counter. You may have even left your bank statement or credit card bill  open on the kitchen counter after you opened it. With just a mobile phone,  someone could take a picture of your statement or bill that you left on the  counter and have your account numbers.

De-personalize your home: All of us have photos of family and loved ones in  our home. These pictures can provide too much information to someone viewing  your home, such as your child’s name, school, etc. Also, lots of photos of your  family make it harder for potential buyers to picture their family in your home.  While I am not suggesting you leave empty nails on your walls where pictures  used to be, it is a good idea to remove pictures from end tables, dressers,  etc.

If you are home when your home is shown, it is best to stay out of the way of  the Realtor and her client. If you are asked questions, keep your information to  facts about your home and the neighborhood. Information about your family and  your children is none of their business. A professional, business conversation  is always the best and safest course.

Your Realtor is your guide to a safe, trouble-free home-selling experience.  By following a few simple, common sense precautions, you can make sure your  family is safe and secure as you get ready to move to your next home.