Selling Your Home On Your Own? FSBO Tips You Need To Know

First of all determine what the selling price will be. Have one or two realtors do a comparative market analysis to determine a fair market value of your home. Fair market value is defined as "the price in terms of dollars that a willing and able buyer will pay to a willing seller, both acting prudently. Know what the competition in your area is as well as the recent comparative sales.

Now, get ready to show your home. The goal is to make your home look less like a home and more like what a prospective buyer wants to see. Buyers need to see the home at its Impersonal Best-- so that they can visualize THEIR things in it!

Create curb appeal because first impressions of your home are critical.

-Touch up the exterior paint
-Keep the lawn mowed and the walkway shoveled in the winter months
-Rake the leaves in the fall
-Clean the eaves trough and the downspouts
-Replace burnt out light bulbs, inside and out
-Keep the flower beds weed free
-Trim overgrown shrubs. You can't sell a house if you can't see it
-Clean all windows, inside and out
-The front door greets your buyer. Make sure it is fresh and clean. The tiny handprint that adorns the front door is cute only to you
-Clean all hardware and the mailbox. If you need to spray paint the mail box
-Place a nice mat on the front step to greet your potential buyer
-Plant pots filled with colorful flowers
-Clear patios or decks of all small items that are not being used: such as toys, charcoal and empty flower pots. Put them in the garage or a storage unit
-Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage
-Be ruthless. If you haven't used something in a year, give it to charity or recycle it

Some FSBO Tips for inside your home:

-The kitchen must be immaculate
-Larger appliances should operate properly and should sparkle? Yes, they will look in the oven
-Remove the clutter. Pack anything that you're not using
-Avoid cooking foods that leave ghost odors behind
-Remove all art, notes and magnets from the fridge
-If the faucet leaks, fix it. Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty plumbing
-Clean the floors. If need be, replace some flooring
-A clean bathroom is as critical as a clean kitchen
-Set out a group of decorative soaps and lotions
-Remove all newspaper and periodicals from the bathroom
-Keep the personal element to a minimum
-Place vases filled with seasonal flowers around the house
-Consider painting your walls neutral colors if you're become accustomed to bright colors
-Pull the furniture away from the walls giving the feeling of more space
-Remove the leaf from your dining room table to make the room appear larger
-Create a beautiful table setting with china and crystal, or stone and earthenware
-Have some fun with a few accessories here and there. Make it interesting and welcoming
-The sense of smell is the most powerful of all the five senses. Start by airing out the home. Most people are turned off by even the smallest odor

Remember that you'll never get another chance to make a first impression, so these FSBO tips are critical to your success. Selling your house is all about first impressions.

Rules of thumb: -Less is more
-Remove the personal element

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Lynn MacKenzie is a former realtor and owner of MyCalgaryListing.com, one of Canada's most impressive FSBO resources. Lynn is an active consultant and author about the growing For Sale By Owner industry. This article has been distributed by: Article-Distribution.com