Are you thinking of selling your house? Don't feel like paying the steep 6% real estate agent commission? You're not alone. Many homeowners will attempt to sell their home on their own, prior to listing it with a real estate agent. Selling a house on your own can save a lot of money, but it can also cause a lot of stress. Escape some of that stress by avoiding these 3 common mistakes.

Mistake 1 - Marketing

The first thing many people do is run to their local newspaper and place a for sale ad in the classifieds. While the idea behind this is good, the results rarely produce the desired outcome. The problem with listing a home in the newspaper is that most people don't buy a house out of the newspaper. Think about how you found the house when you bought it. Chances are you didn't look in the newspaper to find your home. If you are like most people you probably decided on an area that you were interested in and began driving around that area looking for homes for sale. In fact most people know the area they want to live in before they truly decide to start "looking”.

Probably the most important marketing tactic you should employ when selling your home is adequate signage. I don't mean just a single red "For Sale By Owner” sign stuck in the front yard. That should only be your start! You need to identify the two closest major streets and have directional signs (arrow signs) pointing the way around every turn all the way to your home. Your signs should draw people in from these major streets.

Mistake 2 - Presentation

Curb Appeal and Staging are two terms you have probably heard in relation to presenting a home for sale. Curb appeal has to do with the way the home looks when someone pulls up to the house. Many experts will tell you that the buyer has already made up their mind about your house before the

y get inside! That being the case you need to have a clean, warm comfortable approach to your house. Your front door should be attractive (paint it!) and the yard should be well groomed.

Inside your house you should stage it such that it looks livable but not lived in. The dozens of family pictures and nick-knacks need to go. Leave only the large furniture and large pictures. Don't over crowd the house with unnecessary items. Keep the kitchen clean and make sure there is a pleasant smell throughout the home. You may want to boil some cinnamon sticks or put a few drops of vanilla on a cookie sheet and place it in a warm oven.

Mistake 3 - Selling

Your house is worth more to you then it is to most other people. Too often owners trying to sell their home set the price too high and loose the "market pop” you get when you first put a property up for sale. Setting the price too high can discourage interested buyers before they give your home an honest chance as a potential new home.

Doing these things will help save you time, money and stress when selling your house! Put them to work and enjoy the results!

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