Where do I begin

Where do I begin?

If you're going to do the job right, you've got to do it the way a professional would. Ready? Let's begin.

First, prepare a budget.

How much money have you allocated for the purpose of finding a buyer? Don't skimp here. A few thousand dollars can make the difference between getting a response and simply wasting your time.Plan to appropriate funds over the course of several months. By selling it yourself, there will be a "learning curve" involved. This is the time it will take for you to get up to speed and start making an impact. Hiring a real estate professional offers you an immediate start - they are already in the business of selling houses.

Budget items.

If you're trying to sell on your own, you're going into your own business. As an entrepreneur, take into account everything you will need to market your property. Will you be printing and distributing any direct mailings? If so, you'll need to create literature to send. You want it to look professional, as well as depict your home's strongest points. Don't rush out with a poorly conceived flyer. Give it some thought, and then hire a professional printer, graphic designer, and professional photographer. That's what real estate professionals do. It will cost more, but it will also make your marketing materials much more effective.

Classified ads for daily and local newspapers are also important. Plan to place ads for at least a few months. Remember, the average time spent on the market is 8 weeks when listed with a Realtor®. With your reduced exposure and experience, you'll need to add time to that figure.

Technology is the key.

We live in the age of information. There are computers in most households, and information of any kind is readily available for those who want to pursue it. As a result, buyers are more sophisticated than ever before. You may encounter some who know a great deal more about the market's trends, conditions, and even pricing than you do. Do your homework. You'll need to be prepared to ensure that you don't undersell your home. If you don't have a professional representing you, this is a real concern.

Do your homework. You'll need to be prepared to ensure that you don't undersell your home.

Consider this an ongoing learning process. Things change all the time. If interest rates are adjusted, you'll need to know. If the housing inventory level in your area changes, you'll need to know what impact that has on your property too. If you don't already own a computer, you should buy one now.

You must be able to access the same kinds of information that your competitors have. And, if you want to compete with professionals, plan to spend a good deal of time staying informed.

Homes listed on the MLS are added onto the Internet, www.mlsli.com, at no additional charge. If your home isn't listed, you should investigate creating a web site, so you can address the global market as well. It won't be easy to publicize your individual site. Include your URL in all of your marketing materials.

More technology - Professionals are successful because they can respond quickly and effectively. To do so, you'll need to have the same kinds of tools that they do. A fax machine is a very valuable tool for selling a home. It offers you the opportunity to be able to respond instantly with detailed information. If you don't own a fax, consider purchasing one now. Do you have a second phone line?

With the time you'll need to spend on the computer and fax machine, it's essential to always have an open line available. Buyers who receive a busy signal will simply call the next ad. Ensure you get every call by saving the additional phone number for advertising purposes only.

Formulate a marketing plan.

Begin by contacting the newspapers. Include any major daily publications, like The New York Times, Newsday, Daily News, The Post, and possibly even USA Today. Then contact all of your local publications, like the Pennysaver, This Week, The Courier, The Times, The Record, The Herald, Suffolk Life, Dan's Papers, The Tribune, Post, Beacon or any other local publication. Create a chart and identify which ones offer heavy circulation in your area.

Consider trade magazines that are read by the demographic group you think would find your home the most appealing.
Realtors® often belong to national and international relocation companies. Without the help of a Realtor®, these outside contacts will be hard to make.	If it is a suitable property for a professional, think about what publications they might receive. Keep in mind that buyers frequently come from out of the area, so you should try to expand your coverage.
Realtors® often belong to national and international relocation companies. Without the help of a Realtor®, these outside contacts will be hard to make.

With all of the facts gathered, create a game plan. To be successful, you'll need to take a multi-tiered approach. Most likely, no single area will be enough to get the job done, so be sure to diversify, but not dilute, your efforts. You will need to spend money here. If this all sounds like a lot of money, you're right, it is. But, that's the way a professional does it. And, you're going to be doing the job a full-time professional does, right?

There are many other ways to attract the buyer for your home. You may want to purchase an attractive "For Sale" sign; it will help advertise the home to passersby. There is no single method for getting the home sold. Professional salespeople are very good at finding creative ways to locate buyers. Often the plan of attack is determined by the specific property itself.

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