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Real Estate: For Sale by Owner

Janet21 by Janet21

Real Estate FSBO

This lens will include information, articles, websites and other resources to assist you in the sale of your property - without a Realtor. I hope you find the resources provided helpful in your efforts to sell your home.   I will work hard to find the best, most up-to-date real estate information on the web and off, to assist you in completing the sale of your home.   I will discuss what is involved in preparing your home for sale, advertising your home, showing your home to potential buyers, filing the necessary paperwork, the home inspection process, plus lots more. 

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

This Lens Is Proudly Featured On Shakadoo.com!

Advertising Your Home for Sale in your Local Newspaper

Home Sellers
For-sale-by-owner (FSBO) sellers use a variety of methods to market their home. Newspaper is the top media choice among FSBOs trying to sell their homes

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Source: http://www.naa.org/

Now, you can include free online photos of your home for sale with your newspaper classified print ad!. No registration required - photos are online in minutes.

Home for Sale photos uploaded by one of our customers.

Click Here for more information on how to obtain your free photo weblink as well as some great home selling tips.

Recommended Reading

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For Sale by Owner Articles

The Secret To Marketing Your FSBO Home For Sale
 For Sale By Owner Purchase Contracts
Top 10 FSBO Tips to Selling Your Home by Owner
 Tips On How To Sell Your Own House - Without An Agent or Realtor
 Helpful Hints To Help You Sell Your Own Home
10 Quick Tips for Home Sellers
 Home Selling Tips for Sell-It-Yourself Owners
 FSBO - You Can Save Thousands in 7 Easy Steps
 Advertise Your Home For Sale Effectively
 Marketing a For Sale By Owner Home

Small Improvements to your Home can make the Difference!

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For Sale by Owner Sites

A Site-By-Site Comparison

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Featured Site

FSBO.com

All of the prices below represent a one-time fee:
Bronze Package: $69.95
Silver Package: $79.95
Gold Package: $ 99.95
Platinum Package: $199.95
Flat Fee MLS Package: $499.95

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Other Websites:

For Sale by Owner
Packages vary depending on zip code. However, I entered my New York zip code and here is the pricing I received to give you an idea:

Per month plan: $89.95/month
Until sold plan: $199/one-time fee
Until sold with Yard Sign: $249/one-time fee
Premium until sold: $349/one-time fee
Featured home until sold: $599/one-time fee
Deluxe MLS Package: $699/one-time fee
The Platinum Package: $899/one-time fee

Owners.com
Here are the plans available. All are one-time fees and have the MLS option available at an additional cost.

Basic: $49.95
Standard: $79.95
Premier: $179.95
Flat fee MLS: $377

By Owner.com
The prices are based on area code. I entered in my New York area code and here is the pricing I received to give you an idea:

Listing with Guarantee until sold Exposure with up to 6 pics: $249
Additional Options:
Signs: $49
800# Voice Mail Sample: $35
Slide Show, Up to 24 Pics: $89
Special package price. Includes all of the above plus additional exposure for your property:
$349

Homes by Owner.com
Premium: 20 Photo Slideshow $129.99
Deluxe: 5 Photo Tour $79.99
FREE - 1 Photo Ad FREE

Sale By Owner.com
All of SaleByOwner.com's packages allow you to post six color photographs of your property, a virtual tour and a 3,000 character description. I entered in my New York zip code to receive these results, but it will give you a good idea of pricing.

Per Month Plan: $59.95/month
Until Sold Plan: $149 one-time fee
Until Sold Plan with MLS Listing: $579

'How To' Books & Kits for Home Sellers

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Home Staging

What is Home Staging?

Home Staging is preparing your home prior to putting it up for sale. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it welcoming, appealing, and attractive to the largest audience of potential homebuyers. Staging often raises the value of a property by way of small repairs, redecorating, renovations and landscaping. If done correctly, staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing any flaws.
Home Staging Resource
The Mission of Home Staging Resource is to add credibility and integrity to the home staging industry. Website includes a Directory of qualified Home Stagers by State.
The Detailed Home
At The Detailed Home our goal is to maximize the buyers' first 10 seconds within your home to create "a love affair that starts at your door".
Home Stagers
A U.K. based site recognised by the industry as THE source of home staging and property styling related information.
Staged Homes.com
The Staged Homes Program is a dynamic program that has been developed to assist property owners in presenting their homes for sale in the best possible way, by employing the unique skills of an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP).
Center Stage Home
Center Stage Home offers services which assist home-owners and real estate agents alike, in the preparation of homes for both open house and private showing.
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Best Selling Home Staging Books / DVD's

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Home Staging Articles

Make Any Room Look Bigger
Quiz: Staging Savvy
Don't Let Tiny Closets Shut Out Buyers
Staging Helps Sell Homes
Behind The Garage Door
Home Staging - Bringing The Yard Together
 Home Staging Tips to Help YOUR Home Sell in a Slower Market
 Prepare Your Home for Sale: Home Staging Your Kitchen
 Home Staging Essentials - 50 Tips To Get You Started on Your Home Staging Journey

The Flat Fee MLS Option for Home Sellers

Do I need a MLS listing to sell my property? Statistics show that an estimated 4 out of 5 homes sold were listed in the MLS. Were all of those homes sold because they were in the MLS? That is not as clear. However, it is safe to say that the MLS option can definately assist you in the sale of your property, therefore, it is something worth looking into.

What is a Flat Fee MLS? A Flat fee, or fixed fee, MLS is an option for home sellers who are selling their home without a realtor. This concept is relatively new. It enables the seller to pay a real estate agent a flat fee to have their property for sale placed in the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) without having to purchase a package of services from the agent. Before home sellers had this option, the only way they could be listed in the MLS was by listing their property with a realtor. The going rate for a "flat-fee MLS" is between $200-$500 (amount varies by state), which could add up to large savings. Sellers still have to pay a "Buyer's Agent Commission" if an agent brings a buyer, however, this is generally 2.5%-3% as opposed to paying 4%-7% for a full service realtor. However, if you sell the property on your own without an agent, you only owe the cost of the MLS listing package.

I would recommend contacting your local realtors first to see if they offer a Flat Fee MLS package and ask what is included. You could also do an Internet search by entering in 'Flat Fee MLS' and your state ('Flat Fee MLS New York', for example) and all sites offering MLS packages for your state will come up. Many of the real estate sites listed above offer the MLS option as well.

The best advice I can give you is to do your homework. There are literally hundreds of providers offering this service so you really need to be educated before you chose to purchase a package. Do your research. Compare the pricing and what is being offered. Most of the packages are for a 6-month listing. Optional items offered: Yard Signs, Lock boxes, Extra Photos, Answering Service, etc. Some providers include these items and others offer these at an additional cost. As always, check the site out with the Better Business Bureau before you go ahead with a purchase of an MLS listing.

The Home Inspection

All homes require an inspection as part of the selling process. Many professionals even recommend that sellers obtain a home inspection prior to listing their home. This will enable them to fix any minor problems before they put their home on the market. The basic checklist for a home inspection includes: Structural components, exterior components, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning & pumps, the interior and insulation/ventiliation. The following links will provide additional information regarding home inspections and help you locate a certified inspector in your area.


Home Inspection.com
American Society of Home Inspectors
National Association of Certified Home Inspectors

Real Estate Humor

A dictionary of real estate and legal terms. These are excerpts from a dictionary of more than 800 words redefined humorously.

Absentee Owner - Any property holder with I.Q. under three digits
Abandonment - Everyone present for a contract signing but the buyer.
Accord - Small car driven by agents not yet able to afford Mercedes.
Acre - Necessary space for a family of six in Utah, a family of four in Eastern Suburbia, and 500,000 people in NYC.
A.R.M. - First part of body that is twisted during real estate negotiations.
Asking Price - Amount set on property that brokers think is too high, sellers think is too low, and buyers think will be twice the final selling price.
Closing - Act of God.
Closing Statement - "Thank God".
Easement - The right of one agency to trespass on another agency's exclusive property.
Endorsement - Broker patting self on back.
Execute - To end the life of a troublesome person in a deal.
Legal Rate of Interest - Time it takes for attorney to respond to your request that he/she will represent your case.

Courtesy of SurReal Estate

Real Estate Lawn Signs

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Real Estate Resources

The Real Estate Group
This is a great group on Squidoo that provides lots of valuable information on the real estate market.

Lens of the Day

I am happy to announce that this lens was selected as 'Lens of the Day' on March 23, 2007. A special thank you to the Squidoo team for this honor. :)

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  • bearlakerealestate Jul 1, 2011 @ 10:00 am | delete
    Very nice work. Thanks for this great information.
  • Jenny18 May 30, 2011 @ 8:15 am | delete
    Nice work done and you have provided very nice info, keep writing on such a good topics, Well-Done :)
  • sandiegohomeinspector Jan 7, 2011 @ 1:19 am | delete
    Thanks for the useful lens.
  • chuckfresh Nov 19, 2010 @ 8:35 am | delete
    Awesome lens! Thank you for the tips. We sold our house ourselves and saved about $12,000!
  • restate2010 Oct 12, 2010 @ 12:04 pm | delete
    As a real estate investor, I have been selling homes by owner for over 10 years. I would never use a realtor, except for maybe a short sale.
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Janet21

Hi, my name is Janet and I a married WAHM with 3 beautiful kids. My interests include Kid's Birthday Parties, Novelty Gifts and Scrapbooking. I hope you... more »

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