Even if a simple sign in your yard did produce a buyer knocking on your door, how will you handle the following questions:
"How does your home compare to others like it in Vienna?"
"How did you determine the fair market value of this property?"
"What about financing? Can you help?"
"If I make an offer, who will draw up the paperwork?"
"Why aren't you using a REALTORŪ? Is there something wrong with the property?"
"Since you aren't using a REALTORŪ, we can take their fee right off the top, right?"
Selling your home is one of the most important financial transactions you will make in your life. Don't take risks. Selling your home is nothing like selling a car. Every home is different, and every homebuyer wants to offer you as little as possible. How do you determine the real market value?
Almost all homes sold "by owner" usually involve a buyers agent. The buyers agent will usually get 3% as a commission. Most "for sale by owners" pay the 3%. Their line of thinking: we will save the other 3%! Well, if you are trying to sell "by owner" my fee is negotiable. It could be as low as: 4.5-5.5%!
What are you really saving by selling by yourself? You will probably have to pay the 3% to the buyers agent. For 1.5-2.5% more, I will do everything. Including making sure you don't get RUN OVER BY THE BUYERS AGENT!!
As a top real estate professional, it is my job to help you negotiate with all those buyers and agents who want something for nothing. I KNOW I WILL PUT MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET AS YOUR AGENT THAN YOU WILL WITHOUT ME.
Not to mention preparing your home for sale, marketing it locally and even nationally, and guiding you through the complex paperwork and pitfalls of escrow and closing.
Make sure you are really ready to handle all of that before pounding that sign into your front yard. Errors can be extremely costly.
Remember: Buyers want to offer you as close to nothing as possible! While that "For Sale By Owner" sign might sound like a good idea, it usually means a different thing to buyers: "Try to steal this one."
If you must sell your own home, at least let me give you a sense of its true market value. Tell me a bit about your home, and I'll do a quick Comparative Market Analysis and let you know what I feel it is worth. I'll also describe, as an experienced, top REALTORŪ, how I would market your property. This is free, with no strings attached.