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Advertising Your Home
When You sell your home "by owner", the real estate industry calls you a F.S.B.O. which means For Sale By Owner. Some buyers think this is great because they can deal with you easier than a trained real estate professionl. They can deduct what you are saving by not having a Realtor® and they tend to make lower offers. This doesn't always happen, but you need to be aware of it.
When placing you advertising, you want to let people know you are a F.S.B.O. Put it in our ad. You may want to advertise in several places and in different ways in order to get the most exposre for your home. Some of the places and ways to consider advertising are:
♦ Your front yard ith a F.S.B.O. sign
♦ Listing flyer for home and to pass around
♦ Financing options flyer
♦ Open house signs around the neighborhood
♦ Local newspapers, home magazines & etc.
♦ Cable television real estate channel
Make sure to include the following in all of your advertsing:
1. Indicate you are a "For Sale By Owner"
2. Indicate th structure style and number of bedrooms and baths.
3. Tell about the neighborhood, eliminate the address. (Make them call)
4. Indicate the sale price.
5. Indicate any special features like pool,spa,fruit trees, RV parking, etc.
6. Indicate the best phone number and times you can be reached.
Bigger ads cost more, show inexperience and most often are just a waste of your money. Don't list the things that tell everything...just the basics. If your property has things that people are not looking for and you list them all, you are chasing them awy before they have the opportunity to see for themselves. They may settle for what they didn't want for what they do want. If all else fails, go to the library and chek out a F.S.B.O. book. They have complete marketing plans and can assist you greatly.
The Yard Sign
Don't make your own! No plywood and spray paint. Go and buy one from the local sign shop or hardware store. Have it professionally lettered or purchase the "stick on" vinyl lettering. Make it look professional or you risk looking like an inexperienced, easy mark for sophisticated F.S.B.O. buyers. There are sharks out there waiting to take avantage of your inexperience and you must beware.
Always list your phone number on the sign. You may want to also add "Shown by Appointment Only". This won't keep the from knocking unannounced every time but it will send the message that you would appreciate an advance call. Beware of local sign ordinances restricting the size and number of signs you can use and the possibility that you cannot use any at all. Check with your local building department if you have any questions.
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