10 Tips for Selling Your Home 'By Owner' (FSBO) - For Sale By Owner Advice

First, let me say that I believe a good real estate broker can net upi more money from the sale of your home. In other words, your marketing fee is an investment, not a cost. But if you're still willing to do your own marketing activities and are up to the job of selling your home without a real estate broker, follow these 10 tips for a quick sale:

1. Get your home in the MLS! Approximately 95% of serious home buyers have already engaged the services of an agent to help them with their purchase. You MUST reach those buyers via their agents. You should also expect to pay the buyer agent's fee. The MLS is the right tool for reaching serious buyers. But why pay $300-$500 for the MLS when you can get it FREE! In the greater Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill area, you can now list your home in the Triangle Multiple Listing Service at no charge.

2. Price your home correctly. The most common FSBO mistake is overpricing. Pay to have your home appraised or ask a real estate broker to determine your home's value.

3. Make necessary repairs now. Remove wallpaper and paint your home- warm, neutral colors are best. Remember, your home is soon to become 'inventory' and you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible. Offer your buyer a home warranty.

4. De-clutter and remove your junk. Sort your possessions into three groups (throw away, give away, keep). LESS is MORE when it's time to sell your home!

5. Stage your home for success! A professional, objective evaluation of your home goes a long way.

6. Hold an OPEN HOUSE every other weekend until your home sells. Don't forget to invite your neighbors! Follow up with all attendees.

7. Make your home available to agents and prospective buyers on short notice- keep it 'show ready' at all times.

8. Prepare quality marketing materials and photos that make your home 'sizzle'. 'Homemade' signs and marketing materials ruin your efforts.

9. Remove small valuables (jewelry, money, etc) from your home and take to your safe deposit box. Enough said.

10. Uncomfortable negotiating the offer to purchase or preparing the sales contract? Consider hiring a real estate broker to do only this part of the job for you. Mistakes here can cause headaches and cost you a fortune.

Durham Opens New $58M Performing Arts Center

Durham opens new Performing Arts Center with B.B. King concert. It is the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas. WRAL TV's full report.

List of 10 Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill Real Estate Blogs

Many Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham real estate consumers prefer to gather information from the area's bloggers. Here are 10 blogs to get you started!


1. Triangle NC Real Estate Scoop

2. Endangered Durham

3. Bull City Real Estate

4. Peter Winkler's Briar Chapel Homes

5. Jay Zenner's Durham Luxury Real Estate

6. Team Jodi

7. Linda Craft

8. Tiffany Elder

9. Bull City Rising

10. Jim Allen

Interested in Woodcroft Real Estate? Check these links

Prospective buyers of Woodcroft real estate should appreciate these useful links to more information about the Woodcroft neighborhood:

Woodcroft Swim and Tennis Club

Woodcroft Community Association

Search MLS for available Woodcroft homes