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Homeowners today are more informed about their options when selling their homes. Yet they still make some major mistakes when it comes to their property. I am going to discuss in this article 5 important steps when it comes to selling your home yourself.

The first step is to contact a mortgage specialist. There are thousands of mortgage professionals. Selecting the right professional should be like searching for a doctor. Ask questions that will are important to you. The professional should be able to work with you and easily accessible. Mortgage professionals should not charge you for getting a potential homebuyer pre-approved. Not pre-qualified. Ask the professional what steps it takes to getting the client pre-approved verses pre-qualified. You should be comfortable with your choice. This person should give back to you a list of potential homebuyers for your home after they go through the approval process. You never want total strangers walking through your home and wasting your valuable time. This brings me to the next step.

The second step is to set up with the mortgage professional a phone number that you can use in your ads and on 'For Sale' signs. You don't want to have a 'blind' open house. After you receive the list call the potential buyers and make appointments to show the home. Also, call an appraiser to give you an idea of what the fair selling price is in your neighborhood. If you don't know an appraiser ask your mortgage professional.

The third step is to go through your home. Clean it and refresh it. You want your home to be immaculate. Make it look picture perfect as if it was in Good Housekeeping' magazine. Repaint the house. Obtain a storage unit to hide the junk or making your home look cramped. Mow the lawn, plant new flowers, and/or shrubs. Remember your marketing your home. Make it look appealing. Purchase candles that have a scent like baked pies. There is a lot of competition vying for the same buyer you want.

The fourth step is to take pictures of the property. Take as many pictures from every possible angle. Set up a blog on the Internet. There are many free blog web sites such as blogger.com. Describe the property as if you were the visitor and saw it for the very first time. Upload your pictures to the blog. Put your mortgage professionals name, phone number, and his web site on the blog. In advertisements and on the 'For Sale' signs put the web site address people can view your blog. Obtain the necessary paperwork needed to close the deal such as the Agreement of Sale, informational flyers that list all the pertinent information about your property, a brochure illustrating the mortgage payments that the mortgage professional can offer the buyer. When a 'For Sale by Owner' calls me on the phone I discuss all my services with them. These services range from informational brochures, Payment option Flyers, and getting the buyer to the table. I offer other services from third party vendors that I use on a consistent basis.

The fifth and final step is to advertise in your local newspaper, on 'For Sale by Owner' web sites, free classified advertising web sites, etc. Be careful of 'For Sale by Owner' web sites that will charge a fee unless they are going to list it the property in the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Realtors use the MLS. Discuss the possibility of having to pay a realtor some commission if he/she brings a client to the home. Also, think about giving a seller concession to the buyer. A seller concession allows up to 6% of the sale amount for non-recurring fees at closing. A buyer who doesn't have a lot of money for closing but has a down payment might be ideal for the subject property. The seller concession would help them afford the home.

Finally have fun. Don't get stressed out if someone doesn't offer you the price you are looking for. You may have to throw in a warranty or lower the price. This doesn't mean your home isn't worth the initial price. Many people are looking for bargains when it comes to For Sale By Owners.