101 Tips For Selling Your Home Yourself

Table of Contents:

Introduction...7

Category 1: Knowledge is Power...9
Tip 1: Before anything else, grab a powerhouse of knowledge...9
Tip 2: Be a listener, and be a GOOD one...10
Tip 3: Basic rule: don’t get locked out of the market because you’ve overpriced your house!...11
Tip 4: What are the ads saying?...11
Tip 5: Play detective...12
Tip 6: Read and devour all that you can!...12
Tip 7: Realistically speaking, my house is really worth...13
Tip 8: Play the real estate game seriously...13
Tip 9: Get only enough to get you started...14

Category 2: Know thy Area/Community...14
Tip 10: Good schools? But of course!...14
Tip 11: It’s the fitness thing, you know...15
Tip 12: And what about concerts and that kind of thing?...15
Tip 13: Will I fit in the area?...16
Tip 14: Is there a doctor in the house?...16
Tip 15: How is the transportation system?...17
Tip 16: No gossiping allowed!...17
Tip 17: Help, my car’s been snowed in!...18
Tip 18: Cavities?...18

Category 3: Know thy Abode...19
Tip 19: Getting to know your house…for the last time...19
Tip 20: Did you say an in-ground pool?...20
Tip 21: Put romance back in their lives...20
Tip 22: See, this garage door is really simple to operate!...21
Tip 23: I never promised you a rose garden...21
Tip 24: You’ll have a roof over your head for the next 25 years...22
Tip 25: Wow, a home spa!...23
Tip 26: A house that’s safe and sound...24
Tip 27: What? No hot water again?...24
Tip 28: Someone forgot to look up the ceiling...25

Category 4: Your Motives for Selling: Watch out for the Psychological Effect...26
Tip 29: Why am I selling?...26
Tip 30:Not the time to be fickle...27
Tip 31: Nostalgia is a strong feeling...27
Tip 32: I’m in a bind...28
Tip 33: My home isn’t a hotel!...28
T34: Listen up, but stay with your convictions!...29
Tip 35: I’m selling, no matter what...29
Tip 36: Even well-meaning friends can derail you!...30

Category 5: Getting Serious and Getting Ready...30
Tip 37: Time to go “pro”...30
Tip 38: The radon test?...31
Tip 39: This isn’t a multiple choice test...31
Tip 40: The well’s run dry...32
Tip 41: What’s that smell?...32
Tip 42: Actually, now that you ask...32
Tip 43: Show that you mean business!...33
Tip 44: If I were buying this house...34
Tip 45: Is there an expert around?...34
Tip 46: It’s the law, sir...34
Tip 47: You and I are different...35
Tip 48: Did you inherit these doorknobs from your grandmother?...35
Tip 49: That noise is driving me nuts!...36
Tip 50: Is this door going to fall on me?...36
Tip 51: So, how many insects do you have here?...37
Tip 52: For you or the buyer?...37
Tip 53: Hold your horses!...38
Tip 54: I wish you hadn’t done that...38
Tip 55: Bring in a contractor...39

Category 6: Letting the Word Out: “I’m Selling my House!”...40
Tip 56: Get the word out!...40
Tip 57: Reach out far and wide!...40
Tip 58: Word of mouth is just as powerful as advertising...41
Tip 59: Can the company help me?...42
Tip 60: Ah, the old reliable…the bulletin board!...42
Tip 61: Am I missing the sugar?...43
Tip 62: Have you been negligent?...43
Tip 63: How much do I want?...44
Tip 64: Will the buyer ask for flexibility?...44
Tip 65: Is this a good time to sell?...45
Tip 66: The truth will come out...45
Tip 67: Umm, how will I word this ad?...47
Tip 68: Can you just state the bottom line please?...47
Tip 69: Do your thinking before picking up that phone...48
Tip 70: Wait and see...48
Tip 71: Where should I publish?...49
Tip 72: One is enough...49
Tip 73: Cyberspace? Do I really want Martians buying my house?...51
Tip 74: Do you want to write a house story? Try the home section, not the classified ads...51
Tip 75: What should I say?...52
Tip 76: This is EXACTLY how I want it...53
Tip 77: Screen calls...54
Tip 78: Add “Or best reasonable offer”...55
Tip 79: It’s my favorite day of the week!...55
Tip 80: Would you repeat that please?...56
Tip 81: How do I sound?...58
Tip 82: Take it down...58
Tip 83: Are you a (phone) grouch?...59
Tip 84: Let’s get serious here...59

Category 7: Showing Your Home...60
Tip 85: It bothers me...60
Tip 86: Dust collectors...61
Tip 87: Surround yourself with beauty...61
Tip 88: I knew you’d ask that!...62
Tip 89: Children OK, animals NO!...62
Tip 90: Who’s that standing by the door?...63

Category 8: Negotiations, Settlement and Contract...63
Tip 91: Can we talk about your price?...63
Tip 92: It doesn