If you have a home to sell and you’re trying to save some money, it is common for people to try and sell their own properties without commissioning a real estate agent. In this blog, we talk about some of the steps involved throughout the process from start to finish. As you know, selling your own property without an agent could potentially save you thousands of dollars but do you have the time and resources to sell your own property let alone sell your home quickly?
Disclaimer: This blog is to help provide some general information and does not take into consideration the personal circumstances or goals of the reader. We do not have any bias or opinion towards whether using a licensed real estate agent or selling your own home privately is a better method.
Listing Your Property Privately
If you have decided to go down the path of selling your home privately, the process is still similar to having an agent except you take the role of the agent into your own hands which means there will be some extra time and effort which you will need to commit.
Pricing Your Own Home
You will need to price your own home and while you may have already spoken to an agent, their value is only a guide. You may want to take the conservative approach and employ a property valuer to assess your property (for a fee) and provide a value or in the modern world, we also have the internet.
There are many resources now available with a Google search to help you find more details about your property and properties in the surrounding area to help you make an educated decision as to what value to place on your property. However, the biggest property tip here, is remember that what is valuable to you may not be valuable to another buyer so if you have over capitalised on home improvements, the end buyer may not see the same value in what you have either created or spent in value.
Preparing The Property For Sale
Whether you sell your own home or commission an agent to sell on your behalf, you will need to prepare your home for sale. You may already have nice furniture but you still need to tidy up and de-clutter if you live at the property to make it more appealing. There are occasions when an agent would recommend staging your property to appeal to the right market. At times it’s valuable feedback like this which you may miss out on but also with risk, comes rewards.
Take Great Photos
You will need to take some good photos of your property. How many times have you seen a photo that does not do a place justice? Whether it’s food at a restaurant, a hotel, a holiday destination or in this case your home for sale, you need to present the property at it’s best. Your photos will play a big part in how many potential buyers you attract.
These days the camera on your phone will usually capture good quality photos but if you’re stuck for ideas on how to take a good photo, jump onto a real estate website and have a look at which properties and photos stand out to you and see if there is a way to replicate what you like with the property you are trying to sell.
Where to list your property
These days there are popular known websites where you can list your property. It is a good idea to go in with a plan to work out how much and where you want to spend your money for advertising.
News & Print Media
You might find it hard to get started on mainstream real estate websites because they are tailored towards agents and buyers and if you are an independent seller, it can get tricky. But did you know that you can create a classified ad?
If you’re in Adelaide, you can start by visiting the Adelaide Now website (https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/) or if you’re interstate, your local paper. If you look carefully, you’ll find a link to advertise in their classifieds section which depending where in Australia you are located, will most likely lead you to the News Concierge (https://www.newsconcierge.com.au/public/offer/) as it’s owned by News Corp. After you subscribe, you can start the process to advertise and you can even elect whether you want to advertise on the printed newspaper or just online.
Social Media
Platforms like Facebook have a marketplace where you can advertise items including real estate. If you’re trying to get started on a budget, you can always start with simply sharing a post and asking your friends to like and share as well. This is a great start and it’s free. While you will not get as much exposure as paid advertising, it’s a good place to start and you know what it’s like in a local community, a friend sharing your post might reach someone that is in the market.
Apps and Platforms
There are also platforms to consider where you could pay a subscription fee to list on their apps or websites but also include a listing on other mainstream property sites like realestate.com.au or domain.com.au as a part of an overall package which could be worth considering.
Your Solicitor/Conveyancer & Arranging Legal Documents
If you’re not a conveyancer or a solicitor in the industry, chances are you will need to employ the services of one. There are legal documents required from the initial Sale Contract (Form 1 – Vendor’s Statement) to the paperwork required to complete and attend settlement.
In the absence of a property agent, your solicitor or conveyancer can give guidance around what to include in your documentation. For example, you need to list details of chattels not included in the sale as well as details about the property including the property title and any mortgages outstanding, easements and other matters related to the property.
What if you want to sell your home fast?
Whether you choose to use a real estate agent or sell your home privately, you will need to invest some time and money into the process. In both scenarios, you need to prepare, tidy up and stage your property for sale. It all takes time, energy and money to sellyour property.
If you want to sell your home fast or sell your home for cash with quick settlement times, get in touch with the team here at Sell Your Home Today.
Why….?
……because we specialise in properties. This means we don’t need you to make your place look pretty.We don’t even need you to rake the lawn or paint the walls. We know properties and their potential so we make cash offers on homes fast. If you are happy with the no obligation offer, we can push forward with the formalities and settle in cash. This saves time and money helping to avoid unnecessary interest payments or agents fees and other unnecessary expenses.
Call us now!