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Successful Seller's Guide - Selling Your Own Home
Selling your own home is much easier when you have covered the basics by getting yourself and the home ready for the sale.
Please take the time to read through this information. It will make a big difference to your overall experience and it will arm you with the knowledge needed to greatly increase your chances of selling your property on your own.We have provided this information in an easy-to-follow format on this page.
1 Preparing Yourself for the Sale
Presale preparations - take on a business-like attitude.

Your second role is that of the Salesperson. As the salesperson you must know everything about the property. In fact, there is probably no one better to show your property to prospective buyers than you, so have a bit of fun while you do it! This is one of the main reasons our past clients have enjoyed the process of selling their own home. If you think about it, who do you trust the most to show off your most valuable asset to prospective buyers?
If you hire a real estate agent, you have to put your trust in them to properly show your home to buyers, and the reality is, that they actually know a LOT less about your home than you do. When you've hired a "full service" agent to sell your home, they don't even want you around while they show your property, opting to stumble through the questions that arise from buyers during the showing, that you're not allowed to attend.
Using our Flat Fee REALTOR.ca posting service puts YOU in direct contact with the buyers as they tour your home, and completely removes the typical barriers that agents have been putting between buyers and sellers for years.
Conducting an initial evaluation of the property will help you prepare for the sales role. Being honest about the property will solicit respect from the buyers, and will set the tone for a more open dialogue with the buyers you interact with during the sales process. Many buyers inform themselves, and they may spot problems anyway. Avoiding direct questions will only lead to mistrust and a possible missed sale. Do your best to answer the buyer's questions, and always offer to cooperate with any needed professional opinion(s) regarding your home that a buyer has asked for. This builds trust.
Be prepared for inquiries. With an internet listing you essentially have an "open house" 24 hours a day, and you need and want to be accessible to those who wish to have a closer look. Ensure that you check your voice mail whenever you miss a call, and that there is always the ability to leave messages on whichever phone you have the calls going to. There is a saying that goes "you need to make the hay while the sun is shining". This is something you should keep in mind while selling your own home. When a potential buyer contacts you to ask questions, or book a viewing, you need to jump on it right away. Make yourself easily available, and on their schedule, whenever possible.
2 Preparing the Property for Sale
Make sure the house and yard are clean.

- Assess each room and put any unnecessary items into storage.
- A cluttered room can look smaller than it actually is. Keep your property tidy and professional looking.
More information about preparing your home for sale can be found under the headings "Property Evaluation" and "Property Inspection" below.
3 Property Evaluation - This is a Critical Step in the Process
If you are going to obtain an appraisal of your property, make sure it is from an accredited company that mainstream banks and mortgage institutions will accept.
Many buyers will be asked to produce an appraisal of the property by their financial institution prior to giving a commitment for funding.Obtaining an appraisal yourself will not only ensure that the asking price is reasonable for your property, it's worth its weight in gold when you can show it to potential buyers. Not only will it show your buyer that you are asking a fair price, it can reduce the time it takes to close the deal if you provide them with a copy once you have accepted their offer.
INCORRECT PRICING IS THE #1 REASON THAT SOME PROPERTIES LISTED FOR SALE EVENTUALLY FAIL.
Even if you plan on having an appraisal done on your property, the next paragraphs cover some important things to think about prior to obtaining one.

You can conduct a complete evaluation of each part of the property by using the "Property Evaluation Checklist" provided by For Sale By Owner Inc. to make sure that a thorough examination occurs. You may not need to fill out everything in the list, but try to be as thorough and objective as possible. Write down a simple phrase that describes the feature of the home.
Here are some of the phrases you should use when filling out the Property Evaluation Checklist:
- Needs minor repair
- Needs major repair
- Good condition
- Excellent condition
- Needs cleaning
- Replace
- Chipped, in need of repairs
4 Property Inspection
Don't be afraid to order an inspection of your property.
Obtaining an inspection of your property from an accredited (CAHPI) company will provide you with an itemized list of any issues that need your attention. If any problems are found, they can be addressed prior to offering your home to buyers. If there isn't enough time to fix the problem(s), or if you are faced with a seasonal timing challenge, you can always adjust your price based on the estimated cost to repair them. It's better to be up front with your buyer about everything the inspector found, and it will help you sleep better knowing that you're acting in good faith throughout the entire process.
Note: If you wish to employ the services of a professional property inspector, be careful which company you choose. Ensure that the firm is fully certified (CAHPI) and has experience in the industry, complete with verifiable references.
If you decide to examine your property yourself to identify any repairs it may need, try to objectively view your property first as an inspector, then as a prospective buyer. It might not hurt to invite friends and family to come over and objectively criticize your property. They will find things that you may have overlooked due to your over-familiarity with the property.
Once the inspection is complete, you can determine the time and cost of repairing any damaged or worn areas on the property that have been identified in the report. Many of the repairs will likely cost little or nothing and will require minimal time to tidy up. For those items that have been identified as "major repairs", you must decide whether or not it will be worth it to spend the money to have a professional come in and fix it, or embark on a DIY mission to your local home improvement store.
A couple of hundred dollars spent on fixing cracked sidewalks, mending a broken fence, a fresh coat of paint here and there, could be the difference between selling and not selling your home within whatever reasonable time frame you have determined. If you have identified damage that is serious (i.e. worn and weathered shingles, rotting window sills) you should investigate fixing it whether you are selling your house or not.
Ignoring major repairs can lead to heavy costs in the future. You may have to make some phone calls to determine how much some of the repairs will cost. Do so and create a budget. Staple the budget to the completed Property Evaluation Checklist. This way, if you don't have the time to fix any of these items, having a proper list completed with the estimate to repair them can help you explain the issues to a prospective buyer, and it shows that you are organized and knowledgeble about your home.
5 Setting a Reasonable Timeline in which to Sell
It is important to determine the timeline you wish to follow during the selling process.

- When is the earliest you can leave your home? Buyers will want to move into the new property on the move out date of the place they are currently living. Sometimes possession dates can become a big stress factor during negotiations. Set the earliest time you are able to find another home and move out. If you get offers right away, you don't want to get caught off guard. An industry rule of thumb that agents use is three to four months. Use it as a bench mark and adjust it to your unique situation.
- Some properties that are in more remote locations, are in an area that has less sales activity, or that are "buyer specific", often need more time to sell. Saturdays and Sundays should also be avoided as possession dates, as lawyers do not usually work weekends. NOTE: possession and move in dates are not necessarily the same.
- When will you begin promoting your home through word of mouth and the local newspapers, if it's in the budget? You have already decided on the Internet as a powerful marketing tool, so you have probably thought about the more conventional methods as well. Determine if they fit into your budget and if so, plan the time you wish to begin the campaign.
6 Social Media - Share your Listing & Spread the Word
Use Social Media! Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are all great ways to promote the fact that your home is for sale to friends and family, and to their friends and family as well. Social media is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for marketing and getting the word out to relevant audiences.

As a consumer, getting personal recommendations is significantly more effective than seeing a regular ad. There is much more trust and familiarity when you see a post from someone you know, which is why social media works so well!
Let your neighbors help choose their new neighbors. If you belong to any neighborhood online message boards or email lists, send in a hyperlink to your home's online listing to your neighbors, and let them know that your home is for sale. Also, think about inviting your neighbors to your open house if you have one. And if you've got great neighbors, you might even consider turning your open house into a block party. This creates additional opportunities for your neighbors to sell the neighborhood to prospective buyers, and for those same neighbors to invite friends they may know, who might also like to live in the area.
7 Showing your Home to Buyers
A) The Welcome
Although the buyer is a guest in your home, you want the buyer to put themselves in the position of owning the home. You don't want to make the buyer(s) feel like an intruder, or UNwelcome in any way.
Don't leave the house. Instead, offer to answer any questions they may have, and tell them that you will hang back - then give them plenty of room as they move throughout your home. Many buyers won't talk openly about your house right in front of you, or with you standing too close by, so give them plenty of space.
Make sure you have put away any valuables that are easy to grab quickly, particularly in the bedrooms. Remove any prescription medication from the bathroom if that is where it is stored, and put it away somewhere safe until the showing is over.
Don't pressure or hurry the buyer. Encourage them to take all the time they need.
Leave a bowl of wrapped candy or other treats on the kitchen table with a small note inviting the buyer to help themselves to it. You can also leave some refreshments on the table. Chilled water bottles are a good choice to leave out, and coffee and tea are also great refreshments to offer after the viewing.
B) Check the Temperature

C) Create a Neutral but Pleasant Mood Throughout the House
Light a fire in the fireplace if you have one. You can make it more romantic by placing a couple of champagne glasses and some chocolates on a nearby table. Turn on some soft music at low volume. If you have a water fountain, turn it on. Leave windows open if there are birds chirping in the yard, or other nice sounds from outside. If there is a lot of outside noise, do the opposite and keep the windows closed during the showing.D) Careful on the use of Scents
Many people are allergic to certain scents and deodorizers, so don't spray the air or plug in air fresheners. Don't burn candles or spray perfume in the bedroom for the same reason. If weather permits, open the windows. If there is too much noise outside, close them. If your house smells like freshly bake cookies, put them out so buyers aren't disappointed. Some people use simmering spices such as cinnamon in water on the stove, as a nice way to make the home smell nice.E) Use Visuals

Open all the window coverings to let in the light. Keep blinds partially closed that otherwise show undesirable outdoor scenery such as a dilapidated fence or a nearby structure that obstructs views.
F) Light up the House
Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights. Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spot lights on the floor behind furniture. Turn off the TV(s) and any other things that may be distracting during the showing.G) Encourage Interaction
You can drape nice fabrics such as velvet or silk throws over chair arms. Leave doors slightly ajar so buyers feel welcome to go on in. If you have carpeting, vacuum it just before the buyers arrive.H) Provide Informative Cards & Property Brochures
Attach printed cards to items and in rooms that provide further information the buyer might miss or might not know. You have very little time to make an impression, and the use of info cards can lead to questions that can help you sell the home. You can also easily print out Property Fact Sheets for your home - right from your account management tools on our website.
If your basement stairs are unusually steep, attach a sign to your railings cautioning buyers to watch their step. If you are going to be placing a card that says: "Not included in the sale" on any items in your home - this may actually make a buyer want it, but you can always play that card to your advantage later in the price negotiations with the buyer.
I) Finish the Showing Off with Food
A great way to entice buyers to linger and notice even more details about your home, is to offer them food. Especially if it is delicious. You don't need to cater a lunch, but finger sandwiches, sweets or cookies, soft drinks, water, and desserts are things you may want to consider offering at the conclusion of the showing. Set out serving utensils, if needed. Provide plates, glasses, and napkins. Nothing too fancy. All in plain sight, and don't forget to provide a waste basket.J) Encourage Buyers to Give you Feedback
Along with the snacks, leave pens and a stack of pre-printed questionnaire cards or a guest book to sign. Buyers will feel obligated to respond to your request, especially after being fed. The showing feedback you will receive will be valuable to you for the next showing if there is one.8 Documentation Needed for Listing & Selling a Property
Getting Organized to Sell
Create an Information File. Once the Property Evaluation Checklist is completed, locate all of the documents you have relating to your property (deeds, transfer papers, any legal documents, mortgage papers, etc.). This will help you better organize yourself. Remember, selling your home is similar to running a business, and the more organized you are, the better your chances are of being successful.
Completing the Sale
In order to complete the sale of your property, you may need to provide your buyer with a sales contract that is acceptable for your province. We have supplied the sales contracts in select provinces, namely AB, BC, MB, NL, NS, ON, & SK. Some buyers will come prepared with their own paperwork and sales contract, and some buyers will come with a buyer's agent.Whether or not there is a buyer's agent involved in the sale, once you have worked out the sales agreement with the buyer directly, or the buyer's agent, your next move is to get it to your lawyer without delay so your lawyer and the buyer's lawyer can work out the details, and move the sale forward in a timely and professional manner.
In the case where there is a buyer's agent involved in the sale, once you and the buyer's agent have come to an acceptable agreement, the buyer will make an offer through the buyer's agent, which he/she will present to you. At this point, you can counter or accept the offer.
Regardless of whether you accept the offer or counter it, make sure that you have included a clause that stipulates that your lawyer must approve the offer, as a condition of accepting it fully. Typical wording for this can be as follows: "This offer is subject to the seller's lawyer's approval within 48-72 hours of the time of the offer".
If you need any assistance during the sale cycle, or if you would like clarification on anything that has been provided on this page, or on any page in our website, please feel free to contact us on our toll-free number anytime at 1-800-831-3726 extension 101 and ask for Rob.
Thank you for taking the time to read this important information, and good luck with the sale of your property!

CLICK FOR TOPICS LIST

READY TO LIST? Click Here!

CLICK FOR TOPICS LIST

READY TO LIST? Click Here!


Our Flat Fee REALTOR.ca Listing Services
Lawn Signs & Flat Fee Pricing
