Here are 7 tips that you can use when selling your home on your own.
1. Value your property You need to know just how much your property is worth on the open market. You can easily get this information about real estate prices in your area by entering your zip code information in an online database, or you can choose to hire a property appraiser. I personally would not recommend a real estate agent, as he/she is likely to try to change your mind. A research can go a long ways.
2. Timing Location is not the only key to successful real estate dealings. Obviously, some home sales are forced forward due to circumstances that need immediate action; for example, a change of job or a divorce. However, if you have the ability to choose when you will put your house up for sale on the market, then you are going to want to start the selling process when the demand for homes in your area is high. This will assure you a better selling price on your home. You also want to strike when the economy is booming, since people will pay more for your home than in a bad economy.
3. Preparing your home Presentation is everything in real estate sales. Home buyers are attracted to clean, spacious, and attractive houses. You are going to want to brighten-up the house and remove all of the clutter from counter tops, tables and rooms. Scrub your house from top to bottom before you even consider letting someone inside for a tour. Would you buy a dirty house? No matter what emotional attachments you have for your home, you must always be looking at it from the buyers standpoint, not your own.
4. Get a real estate lawyer Of course, this will cost some money, but it is worth it. An experienced real estate lawyer can help you evaluate your offers, and they will act as an escrow agent to hold the down payment. In addition, a good real estate attorney will evaluate complex mortgages and/or leases with options to buy, review contracts, and handle your home's closing process. They will also help you to draw up your contracts, etc.
5. Marketing your home You can use a website like For Sale by Owner.com to help you gain mass exposure for your home. Let's face it; selling your home would be almost impossible if no one knew that it was on the market. You should also place some ads in classifieds and penny savers in your areas as well. Advertise with pictures as much as possible. You want your potential buyers to be excited about your home!
6. Home inspections All standard real estate contracts are going to give the home buyer the right to inspect your property, so you are going to need to be prepared for this. Have your home inspected before you advertise. Under a general inspection, you are obligated to make major repairs to appliances, plumbing, septic, electrical and heating systems, etc. You can expect your home's roof and foundation. to be inspected too. Any recommendations that are made: do them all!
7. Closing When it is time to close on an offer that a buyer has made, take the offer to your lawyer and have a deal made.
Ok, so you've decided to sell your yacht. Whether it is to make room for a new yacht, or you've decided to rest your sea legs for the immediate future, the process of selling your yacht should not be rushed into. Once you've decided you would like to sell your yacht, there are a few things to consider?
When to Sell
Certain times of year are better for selling than others, and will have a direct impact on both the price you can get for it, and how long it takes to sell. More people tend to be searching for a yacht at the beginning of boating season, and will frequently pay a bit more. That's not to say that you won't be able to sell your yacht outside of boating season, it may just take more time and effort and you may end up with a lower price than you'd hoped for.
Setting the Price
Many sellers going through the selling process unaided make the mistake of setting an unrealistic price that doesn't reflect its true value, and then wonder why they yacht isn't selling. Setting the right price initially will ensure a quick sale, and not leave you disappointed. To select the right price to sell at requires some market research. A yacht broker will do this for you, or if you have time can be done yourself. The age of the yacht, condition, and accessories all need to be taken into account, when comparing to other similar yachts for sale.
Good as New
If she's starting to show her age after many happy years sailing, its time to treat her to a lick of paint, and have her looking like new with a wax and a polish.
It's no good having your yacht looking good on the outside, but a mess on the inside - prospective buyers will want to look inside as well. Start by de-cluttering, and make sure everything is clean and in good working order. Selling a yacht is a bit like selling a home. That doesn't mean to say you need to have the smell of bread baking or freshly made coffee wafting around, but you do need to keep it smelling fresh and odour free.
Systems and Engine
Prospective buyers will want to test everything onboard. Make sure the lights, radio, autopilot etc are all in good working order. Keep the engine room clean and get the engine serviced if it hasn't been for a while.
Keep the Receipts
If work has been done to your yacht over the years, dig out those receipts. Keep all the receipts together and close to hand when showing a prospective buyer round. If you choose to go through a broker, keep these onboard so they have the information available if a prospective buyer has any questions.
Advertising your Yacht
If you are selling your yacht online, take lots of photos inside and out. Without good photos, you will struggle to sell it online. Pick the best ones for each area of the yacht. If photography's not your thing, consider hiring a professional. A broker would be more than happy to arrange this for you.
When you are writing a description for either your online or offline ad, make sure you include all the vital stats: Make, Model, Year, Length, Price. Any accessories purchased for your yacht are worth mentioning, to make it stand out from other similar yachts.
If you're not a confident salesman, or simply don't have the time, you might consider using a broker to help sell your yacht. With expert knowledge, a broker can help you sell your yacht quickly and in a hassle free manner.
Both Tabitha Naylor & Ian Morris are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tabitha Naylor has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vitamins, Mortgage and Home loans. Tabitha Naylor is an experienced mortgage broker/consultant with Apex Financial Mortgage. For more information, or additional resources on home loans, visit