Sell Your House on Craigslist Using You Tube
Saving some of the past in renovating
Know your Market and Own Financial Picture
As a home seller you have to know what comparable homes sell for like yours. You may think all the improvements you put in, will garner a hefty sale price. THINK AGAIN! You will only get what the market will bear. Get yourself 3 realtors to come in and do an market assessment . Then decide if selling it yourself is the right decision.
Type-up a list of everything you have fixed and things that need repair.
Know your own credit scores and any outstanding balances. Pay-off any debts if possible.
If you have any structural repairs needed you must disclose it or you can be sued by the buyer. It really is not worth the headaches.
Make The Buyer See How great Your Home Is
1.Placement of furniture: Often times people like the big table in the formal dining room because they like its function or people position their furniture all against a wall. This make work for you, but keep in mind the aesthetics.
2. At first glance for each room what impression do you get? This is what a buyer might see and feel.
3. Buyers want a spacious yet cozy feel," Does your room achieve that?"
4. Are the colors comfortable and pleasing to the eye?
5. Accessorizing does not mean clutter!
6. Don't leave a blank mantle, find a theme within your own belongs group it and display it in 2's or 3's or 5's
7. Add a splash of color in throw pillows or a throw rug
8. Hang art frames an d or borrow from friends to hang art in the spaces where it is blank.
9. Clear all counter tops in the kitchen if you can. Make sure kitchen sparkles.
Need To Do List In Order to Sell
Exterior Repairs:
1. Paint, stain and repair
2. Get rid of dead bushes and replant nice bushes. Do prep the soil before planting. You want that plant to thrive and look healthy. Don't forget to water daily
3. Clean-up those plant beds and add new, mulch
4. Garage-Get rid and organize your stuff. Yes, hang bikes, discard or donate any unused sports items, soccer shoes, balls, basketballs. Hang all tools up neatly. Sweep floor clean
5.Remove cob-webs, bird nests, bees nests
6. Check roof, clean-out gutters and or repair
Interior Repairs:
1. Fix anything and everything you can think of.
Why: Buyers calculate and guess what things cost to repair. This affects asking price
2. Paint and touch up all walls. yes, teeny nicks, poster tape from kids and gauges must all be repaired. If you have funky, loud colors, pain it off white.
Why: Buyers want to move right-in. The colors may maych your taste and decor, but will not match the buyer
3.Discard all junk or anything you have not used in 3 years. That means going through every closet and all basement items.
Why: Buyers want to know there is storage for their things. If you have clutter and junk stacked, you can't see the space.
4.Remove all family and any cute photo of family.
Why: Let Buyers envision themselves in your home, not get distracted.
5. Scrub, remove and repair any mold in shower/bath rooms. Do not leave any toothpaste dribbles in sink. Please get rid of hair in sinks or tub drains.
Why: Buyers will think it is discusting.
6. Organize all closets, hang-up clothing off floor, fold anything that needs folded
Why: Buyers want to see how they can hang their clothing especially a person who loves fashion
7. Put your nicest towels out on towel rack
Why: Buyers take notice to little things
8. Vacuum corner cob-webs in you have high ceilings
Why: Buyers will think you have bugs in the house
9. Clean or replace any carpets that look worn. neutral color like beige is a safe bet.
Why: Buyers want to imagine their furniture in your home
10. Curtains should be dust free and clean
Why: Buyers want a home that is well kept
11. If you just cooked fish or cooked a meal with garlic, please burn a Yankee candle to kill the cooked odors.
Why: Buyers can be sensitive to smells that can be offensive
12. Kitchen countertop should sparkle and clean your oven inside and out til it sparkles
Why: Buyers will definitely notice a a clean kitchen with lots of counter space
Basement
1. Check for wet walls/floors, weeping or wet walls. You will need to waterproof and dry.
Why: Buyer will think there is a major structural defect
2. Check HVAC and water tank
Why: Buyer will want to know HVAC is in working order. The age of water heater will determine if replacement will be needed
The Annoying Little Things:
Loose door knobs and handles, Any missing screws in switch plates, loose closet rods, light fixtures that wiggle,
Check-over your repair list. Then type up a list of upgrades and repairs you completed and include the year of repair
Things That You Should Do
Exterior:
1. Paint and repair
2. Get rid of dead bushes and replant nice bushes. Do prep the soil before planting. You want that plant to thrive and look healthy. Don't forget to water daily
3. Clean-up those plant beds and mulch
4. Garage: Get rid and organize your stuff. Yes, hang bikes, discard or donate any unused sports items, soccer shoes, balls, basketballs. Hang all tools up neatly.
5.Remove cob-webs, bird nests, bees nests
6. Check roof, clean-out gutters or repair
Interior: Make it picture perfect
1. Fix anything and everything you can think of.
Why: Buyers calculate and guess what things cost to repair. This affects asking price
2. Paint and touch up all walls. yes, teeny nicks, poster tape from kids and gauges must all be repaired. If you have funky, loud colors, pain it off white.
Why: Buyers want to move right-in. The colors may maych your taste and decor, but will not match the buyer
3.Discard all junk or anything you have not used in 3 years. That means going through every closet and all basement items.
Why: Buyers want to know there is storage for their things. If you have clutter and junk stacked, you can't see the space.
4.Remove all family and any cute photo of family.
Why: Let Buyers envision themselves in your home, not get distracted.
5. Scrub, remove and repair any mold in shower/bath rooms. Do not leave any toothpaste dribbles in sink. Please get rid of hair in sinks or tub drains.
Why: Buyers will think it is discusting.
6. Organize all closets, hang-up clothing off floor, fold anything that needs folded
Why: Buyers want to see how they can hang their clothing especially a person who loves fashion
7. Put your nicest towels out on towel rack
Why: Buyers take notice to little things
8. Vacuum corner cob-webs in you have high ceilings
Why: Buyers will think you have bugs in the house
9. Clean or replace any carpets that look worn. neutral color like beige is a safe bet.
Why: Buyers want to imagine their furniture in your home
10. Curtains should be dust free and clean
Why: Buyers want a home that is well kept
11. If you just cooked fish or cooked a meal with garlic, please burn a Yankee candle to kill the cooked odors.
Why: Buyers can be sensitive to smells that can be offensive
Basement
1. Check for wet walls/floors, weeping or wet walls. You will need to waterproof and dry.
Why: Buyer will think there is a major structural defect
2. Check HVAC and water tank
Why: Buyer will want to know HVAC is in working order. The age of water heater will determine if replacement will be needed
OK once you have done everything. Go over your list of things needing repair. Check it off! Then type up a list of upgrades and repairs you had done and list the year.
Print out a cover sheet with your exterior of house, 4 pics of the rooms, and your upgrade sheet.
Disclosure Details and Bank Pre-approval
Most computers have a a layout program. You will design a simple flyer and include the following: utilitiy bills, tax info., size of each room
Go to your local bank or mortgage office. Let them know what you plan to do, get their business cards. Also ask them who they use as a title agency when selling a home. You can get a copy of a real estate contract from a title agency or office Max. Also be sure to get a disclosure form from Office Max. You must list all any known defects, repairs done to your home.You will need to fill this out for any prospective buyer to see.
Every state is different. You may not need an attorney to help you with the paperwork. You may only need a bank and title agency to do the real estate paper work.
Get yourself pre-eapproved if you plan to buy another home.
Snap Photos of Your Home
Takes some pictures:
1. front exterior, back exterior, yard
2. Kitchen, family room, dining room, formal dining etc
For your flyer you can use 6 photos. You will need to lay this out on a computer and make a flyer. You will need to add a title For Sale By owner (your price)! Your Phone number or email address.
DO not take any pictures of curtains or personal objects. The buyer doesn't care about those things.
Go To Craigslist and List
You will need to write a simple description of your home and use front door picture. The family room and kitchen are optional. List your asking price. Ask that buyers to make an appointment in order to view the home. It is not advisable to be alone when showing your house. ALWAYS have a couple of friends with you if you are single and hide any valuables. Always ask if the buyer has been prequalified so that you aren't wasting your time.
Our home sold right before Thanksgiving. Serious buyers will call and make an appointment.
Tips on You Tubing Your Home for Sale with Craigslist
1. Write an introduction. Your name, why you are selling, your asking price and the great features, how you can be reached if interested. Do not tell your life story. You are selling your home.
2. Dress for success, make sure the areas you are taping look neat, with no clutter. Open curtains and make sure windows are clean.
3. Tape your kitchen, family room, basement and master bedroom and bath.
Throw-it up on You tube. Copy the link and put it on your Craigslist ad.
Anyone who is truly interested can email you through Craigslist with questions or call you.
Hooray You have a Seller
Your basic real estate contract from the title agency provided will be the sheet you will use to ask the buyer to sign. You can ask for a 10% down payment and have it held in escrow. Again know the buyer and seller rights. Put everything in writing with regard to items that stay in the house and items you are taking. Your title agency can help you with the details of the paperwork. The buyer will have to use his title agency of choice. Then basically the two title agencies work together.
It sounds hard, but really you can iron out the details and have a house literally sold in 10 days, if both buyers are sound, with great credit, if they do not have a home to sell.
