Your home is appraised, inspected, painted, repaired, and ready for sale! You have a set price and a list of criteria for the perfect buyer. You have a sign on the front lawn and an e-mail to all your friends and family letting them know there is a perfect home waiting to be bought. Now all you have to do is tell everybody else.



In a seller's market, it may appear that minimal work is needed to advertise your property. You might find several messages on your machine from potential buyers, and maybe the occasional drop-in who saw your sign while driving past. Consequently, in a buyer's market you may find it more challenging to attract buyers. With the many homes for sale in your area, each with its own attractive qualities, how can you make yours stand out from the rest?

If you want to go the For Sale By Owner route, you have to know what to do to sell your home. Without a real estate agent to guide you, the onus is on you to make sure every base is covered and every necessary step is taken to attract the buyer and complete the transaction with minimal fuss.

If you find yourself in a buyer's market, or just need an extra push to get people to look at your house, consider taking the following steps to ensure maximum visibility.

Print Advertising - Consider running ads in your local newspaper, shopper, and real estate trade magazines. If you go to the grocery store, you might see kiosks displaying various real estate digests for the area. Usually there will be one especially for homeowners who sell. Evaluate the ad best for your budget, using a picture or two if possible. Highlight the best features of the house (great starter for family, beach access, great schools) along with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and include a working phone and e-mail address where you can collect messages. Depending upon the publication, you may be limited to the amount of words you can use. Be judicious in your ads, and at the very least offer the basics - price, location, size.

Online Advertising - As more people turn to the Internet for finding information on where to live and move, it only makes sense to look into using the medium to your advantage. Research possible real estate directories for ad placement, or create your own website of information on your house with photos. Include the URL in print ads and on your For Sale signs so people know where to look.

Television Advertising - No, we're not suggesting you delve into a big-budget commercial, but if you know where to look you may find inexpensive advertising opportunities for television. If your area has a local access channel with a community bulletin board program, you may be able to post an ad for your home. Consult with your local cable company for more information.

Flyers - Flyers work much like a website, only they are immediate when a person is unable to access a computer. When you plant your For Sale sign, include an information tube so bypassers may obtain your information. Include photos of the house and all the pertinent information on your flyer, with a working phone number and e-mail address. Also consider posting flyers at your nearby supermarket or anywhere there is a community bulletin board.

With enough diligence and creativity, you can attract the attention of prospective home buyers with eye-catching advertisements. With the help of a real estate professional, however, there are many more opportunities available to you to bring people to your home.