subject: 2 Important Factors To Consider When Selling Your Property [print this page] Because I buy and sell houses and I've been doing it for years I can tell you that the situation in the residential real estate marketplace today is not without historical precedence. There are, once again, too many houses on the market. If you find yourself considering selling your house now then this is a good time to seriously look at proven, effective ways to find a buyer, because a sale begins with a buyer. That may sound simplistic, but it's the first step in the process of closing a sale transaction and that is your real goal.
Remember, you own your house and you are 100% in charge of how it is marketed and sold. When you list with an agent in the process of selling your house you will still need to participate in marketing your house as well. Regardless of how your agent reacts when you tell him or her that you intend to place ads online and to hold an open house yourself, you have a right to do so. Everybody has to get into the act to get houses sold today.
Basically what you as the seller can accomplish more efficiently than your agent are the following two things: You can write attractive classified ads to post online and in the newspaper and you can also hold open houses yourself. These are the two most important things that you can do, and that must be done in order to promote your house to the great number of potential buyers online.
I have found that posting free classified ads on craigslist.com and ebayclassifieds.com is absolutely the most effective thing you can do when you're selling your house, and real estate brokers often do neither. Real estate licensees use the Multiple Listing Service and believe your house will get enough exposure through the MLS. Most buyers are searching for houses online now, and most would rather deal with the seller than with an agent, so that's why it's necessary that you post the classified ads yourself. Posting online is more important than local newspaper and shopper ads, although they can be helpful when you're advertising your open houses.
Be sure your online classified postings contain plenty of details, such as, "built-in garage storage shelving." Your careful attention to detail in your ads will attract attention, get phone calls and get people to show up at your open houses. During your open house you may want to serve some refreshments, too, just something simple like coffee and cookies. It makes for a nice, festive atmosphere when people visit your house. It may not be the people who come to your open house who buy it, but they may tell their friends and family that you are trying to sell your house.
