Welcome to the OwnMAX Home Selling Guide that was designed specifically for home owners looking to sell their home For Sale by Owner (FSBO). With these step-by-step instructions you can easily get your home sold successfully; without the need for a realtor. Although for sale by owner selling is not for everyone, those willing to devote some time and energy have the opportunity to SAVE all the equity you've built up in your home.

1.  Get your home ready for visitors

Take the time to make your house presentable by cleaning, getting rid of clutter, painting, fixing anything that needs repair and yard work. Now is when you should take photo's of your home which you can later upload to our website.

Now the real marketing begins.  It’s time to set the price that you would like for your home and list your property online. With OwnMAX, independent sellers can effectively market their own properties at a fraction of the cost of full commission real estate transactions. Sellers can save on traditional commissions and save that equity in their home for something else.

• When you first signup to sell your home online with OwnMAX , you will be presented with the opportunity to upgrade your property listing with our Yard Sign package. This inexpensive upgrade consists of (3) full color yard signs which includes a traditional yard sign for your front lawn and (2) directional signs that can be placed on the neighboring street corners leading up to your property.

• After you pay to become a member, the next step is to add your property details and upload any current photo's of your home. It's at this time that we electronically pull a property valuation and neighborhood comparables report with map to help you price your home. This report will let you know exactly what (3) similar homes sold for in your neighborhood during the last 6 months, what those homes were purchased for, what was paid in taxes, and more. Using this report you can determine if your selling price is accurate or not while having the ability to adjust it. Members also have access to additional features like sales brochures and more.

• In certain real estate markets, OwnMAX members can also list their property on the Multiple Listing Service [MLS] for a flat fee. The MLS is the nations largest and most comprehensive database of properties for sale. If this service is offered in your area you can enjoy unparalleled exposure at unparalleled savings. Please contact us to find out if our flat fee MLS program is available in your area.

3.  Interested home buyers contact you directly

Now that your home is listed on the OwnMAX website, we begin sending your home's property listing to all the major real estate websites like Google, Oodle, Trulia and more. Shortly after your listing is placed you should start receiving potential leads via telephone and email.  This will require you to answer these inquiries and set appointments to show your home. Once your appointments are set, you’re ready to meet prospective buyers and show your property!

Keys to showing your property effectively

• When making appointments, ask if buyers are pre-approved. Pre-approvals are provided for a specific amount, so you will know if buyers can afford your property. Write down names, addresses and contact numbers when making appointments. If we have a FSBO partner in your area, we can help pre-approve potential home buyers for you. Contact us to see if we have these services in your area.
• Make sure your property is clean and inviting when you greet buyers. If possible, move children and pets outside when showing your home to avoid distractions.
• Consider offering a Home Warranty with your property to make it more attractive to buyers. Buyers like the fact that appliances and systems are covered for a year, and some sellers find the cost of coverage more than pays for itself at the sale.
• Print several copies of the property sales flyers which can be printed right here on our website. This will help remind buyers of your homes details and enable them to easily share information. Some sellers even include sheets of blank paper and encourage buyers to make notes.
• Greet buyers cordially and offer to answer any questions. Then, stand back and let them explore a little. You can point out some of the home’s attractive features, but you can probably tell where their interests lie just by watching.
• Follow reasonable safety precautions. Avoid showing your property when you are alone, or after dark. Remove all valuables such as jewelry to a safe deposit box or leave them with a friend or relative.

4.  Review potential sales offers

Buyers and sellers can come to negotiations with any figures they dream up, but some objective documentation will bolster your credibility and bargaining power. For example, an informed seller who has

• acquired the OwnMAX virtual appraisal or traditional appraisal,
• documented recent comparable sales,
• researched current asking prices,
• kept receipts for recent improvements

will always have more leverage than sellers who have not done their homework. Ideally, both buyer and seller have access to the same knowledge, tools and information, enabling them to at least begin negotiations in the same ballpark.

Set realistic priorities.

When selling, be sure to outline realistic goals before negotiations begin. If you’ve decided that you need to sell your home at a specific price, expect to have very different negotiations than if your goal is to sell within a specific time. If money is your primary concern, be prepared to turn down some offers as you wait for the right buyer. If time is more important to you than money, be sure to include some flexibility in your asking price and tell prospective buyers why you’ve chosen to price your property aggressively.

Ultimately, the market sets the price.

Set your price too high and your house may sit on the market, becoming less attractive to buyers (some sources estimate a monthly decline of 1.5 percent). Price too low, and you’ve got less room to negotiate and may be leaving money on the table. OwnMAX Members can quickly obtain an objective estimate of property values using the Virtual Appraisal that we provide you when you first list your home on our website. Another option is to hire a professional property appraiser prior to listing. You may find the cost of either option to be modest compared to making an expensive mistake in your selling price. Also be aware of current trends, and note whether your local market is trending up or down. Strong markets favor sellers, while weaker markets give buyers more opportunity to bargain for a lower price.

Take inventory and take advantage.

If negotiations become stuck on price, it’s time to get creative in other areas. Typically, property sales include anything that’s installed or built in to the home. If you have appliances, furniture or fixtures not included in the sale that you are willing to part with, you may be able to sway prospective buyers by sweetening the deal. Would buyers be interested in your barbecue grill or pool equipment? It can’t hurt to ask.

5.  Understand the paperwork

In the vast sea of real estate transaction paperwork, the sales contract is most important because it’s the main document on which offers are based. In most cases, sellers receive the offer in the form of a purchase contract from the buyer.

• First, review the contract carefully to make sure the terms of your agreement are accurate. Then, make sure that the contract is properly signed by the buyer, and verify that the deposit was received by a reputable escrow agent. Standard sales contracts are not too complex, but if you have any questions or concerns, consult an experienced real estate attorney.
• OwnMAX Members can also download contracts from our site. As always, Members are encouraged to consult an experienced real estate attorney if there is anything in the contract that is not fully understood.  Visit our Real Estate Partners Directory to find an attorney near you.
• If you would like more guidance during this part of the selling process, consider having us handle your forms. For only $69.95 you won't have to worry about the real estate sales forms as we'll have them prepared for you. Read more about our FSBO sales document preparation now.

Once you are satisfied that the contract is accurate and complete and you have verified the escrow deposit, sign the contract and return it to the buyer. Be sure to keep a signed copy for yourself.

Congratulations – you have accepted an offer to buy your property. A small celebration is in order, but save some energy for the home stretch – the closing.

6.  Prepare for your closing

Negotiations have successfully concluded and now it's time to collaborate on a successful closing. It’s important for buyers and sellers to work together at this stage because some issues may arise that can delay closing if not carefully managed.

Be patient and work through the details with the buyer, because the end of a successful sale is now in sight.

Some helpful tips to remember

Remember that attorneys, lenders and title agents are there to help you close. Although pre-closing issues may be new to buyers and sellers, the professionals are experienced troubleshooters who have successfully managed such issues before.

• Keep your property in the condition it was in when the buyer agreed to the purchase. Make sure any agreed upon repairs or maintenance is complete. If you're not sure whether property damage is covered by insurance, consider contacting a public insurance adjuster .
• Be sure to abide by all contract provisions and to provide the buyer any applicable information or notices.
• Make sure all inspections are completed according to contract terms, along with any clearances or re-inspections.
• Two weeks before closing on your old home, contact the phone, post office, water, trash, cable and electric companies to establish service in your new home. Consider using a utilities connection service to organize all your accounts.

If you are moving to a new home, confirm arrangements, addresses, dates and estimates with your moving company. To compare services and pricing for several moving companies, visit our For Sale by Owner Directory.

Signup to sell your home For Sale by Owner today!