For Sale By Owner North Georgia

Are you a home owner in North Georgia thinking of selling your home on your own?

Is selling your home on your own a good idea in this economy?

You might be the do-it-yourself type when it comes to home improvements, but do you want to consider the same when dealing with a real estate transaction? Dealing with your property by yourself will require you to consult a real estate attorney to resolve any legal issues. Lenders though can typically work with you to manage the financial paperwork.

HomesByOwner in Gainesville, Lake Lanier, Helen, Blairsville, Blue Ridge, Hiawassee, Cleveland, Young Harris

• No hidden costs
• Keep your "for sale by owner" status
• Save thousands of dollars in listing commission
• Same MLS listing service used by real estate agents in your area
• Expose your home to thousands of buyers and their agents in your area for six months
• Multiple Listing Service provided by licensed real estate broker
• Plus, your home will get additional exposure through Realtor.com

Here are five tips to help you become a for sale by owner seller in North Georgia:

1. Know your options

Even if you don't want to employ a full service agent to sell your home, you can often find either discount brokers willing to work for less of a commission or a listing service that will post your home information to a multiple listing service or MLS, the main database that Realtors use to find homes for sale in their area, for a flat fee. This could give you the benefits of an MLS without the agent attached.

2. Set a realistic price

Once you've decided on a route, do your research on sites like AOL. RealEstate, Zillow and Trulia to see what comparable homes in your area are listing and selling for. Be sure to take into account special features, such as updated kitchens and bathrooms, pools and garages when coming to a final asking price. Online appraisal services can also do the work for you.

Quick Tip: Only look at recent area home prices. Don't go any further back than six months.

3. Have someone on your side

If you choose to sell your home completely solo be sure to have at least one expert in your corner. Employing a real estate attorney can save you time and money in the long run. An independent party to review the documents can be well worth the money.

4. Be prepared to do the work

A sale by owner isn't as easy as it may look. Between marketing the home, showing the home, negotiations, contracts and closings, home sales can often become another full-time job.

Hiring both a photographer and videographer who can create a virtual tour of your home for MLS and creating flyers to be placed underneath the sign in your front yard, can be time consuming. Be prepared to handle the showings yourself. The benefit? A lot of the buyers appreciate being able to talk to the owners directly about the neighborhood, the schools, the traffic, etc.

When it comes to writing actual advertising copy, stay concise and to-the-point. Read through other ads in the paper or online and see what works, then highlight the features that set your home apart from the rest.

5. Sellers beware

Even those going the For Sale By Owner route may not escape the reach of shady buyers, so protect yourself with a few simple realty agent tricks.

Always get a phone number before a showing and always find a reason to call the number and be sure it's real. Another Realtor tip? Try to make sure buyers are pre-qualified, or have at least met with a mortgage broker prior to showing the home. A lot of buyers don't even know what they can afford and may just be wasting your time.

So after all the marketing and showing and pricing that goes along with being a For Sale By Owner seller, is it really worth it to try the home sale yourself? Maybe. Don't do it out of arrogance. Educate yourself. Make sure you know what you're doing.