Top Tips to FSBO r

Selling your house in a recession is tough. FSBO, or For Sale by Owner, is a way to sell your home without paying a commission. While you will be saving money by not paying a commission, expect that you may need to make a major investment of time and money. These top tips will help you sell your house in a recession by FSBO marketing.

Analyze your competition. Drive through your neighborhood and scrutinize the homes. Check the public real estate records and find homes that are comparable to yours. Ask for referrals - talk to everyone about your home. Ask anyone within three feet of you "who do you know that is in the market for a new home?" For sale by owner in a recession means getting the word out.

In today's recession market, a FSBO knows that the Internet gives access to millions of potential home buyers. Use good quality digital photos to enhance your on line marketing. The more times you show your home, the closer you are to a sale. Showing your home as many times as possible is crucial to selling your house in a recession. It should be sparkling clean inside and out. No junk in the front yard, the lawn neatly manicured and shrubbery trim. Selling your home as a FSBO agent in a recession economy is tough, but doable.

Invest in quality signage. Put signs everywhere that is legal. Make sure your phone number is clear and legible from a distance. Turn your vehicle into a mobile billboard by having magnetic signs made for both sides. Make it simple - House for sale - phone number - FSBO.

Create an eye catching flyer with quality photographs and have copies made. Give them away to retail clerks, the bank teller, the car wash attendant. Post the flyers wherever you gain permission. Bulletin boards at libraries and stores are high visibility areas. Persistence is key in trying to selling your house in a recession by FSBO.

Contact with area lenders to see who has pre-qualified before they start home shopping. Leave your flyer with them and ask for referrals. The potential buyer needs to see the ad 6 - 10 times prior to making a buying decision, advertise consistently. A small ad running regularly will generate more leads than a larger ad running infrequently.

Source: Charles Cosmato, Broker, Century 21 Real Estate, Smith Mountain Lake, Va.