Anyone ever sold there own house - FOR SALE BY OWNER successfully? Is it do-able? :)?

Just wondering if anyone out there has ever done it. We need to relocate to another state and have only owned our house for just under 2 years and don't have much equity to play with. We are concerned about listing it w/an Agent and having to come up with thousands of $$$ out of pocket just to get out of the house! Any advice? :) Thanks - NEED TO MOVE!Anyone ever sold there own house - FOR SALE BY OWNER successfully? Is it do-able? :)?
There are statistics that show 1 out of 5 home sellers try FSBO, about 10% are successful. There are also statistics that say a Realtor will receive 17% more money for your home than a FSBO will get. And it is a generally held consensus that FSBO homes are over priced.





I see quite a few weathered FSBO signs in my area, telling me they are not selling.





In these markets, you need to give your house every advantage, meaning you need a Realtor.





If you do decide to go FSBO, don't spend a whole bunch of money trying to do it. Market the property on free websites such as craigslist. Don't buy into one of those FSBO sites or limited service agency that take your money, give you a sales kit and some put your house in the MLS. There are so many free sites, you don't need to pay some website, people will find you on the free sites.





Also remember safety first. Have a ';by appointment only'; policy and stick to it. People will drive by, see your sign, stop and want to view the house. Never ever show the house if you are home alone. Make sure valuables are packed up and put away, today's ';shopper'; could be tomorrow's thief.





Know the disclosure laws in your area.





It would be a good idea to have an attorney review any contracts for you.Anyone ever sold there own house - FOR SALE BY OWNER successfully? Is it do-able? :)?
I have sold several homes in various market conditions myself. The key is to market it well, stage it properly, and be able to close the sell. Its not hard to do, but you have to be prepared to do it and learn tricks of the trade. Most agents don't really give you much for the money. There are services that will list your home on the MLS for quite cheap and you won't get much more from most ';full service'; agents. Agents don't/won't spend alot of time on staging (and they sure won't do the dirty work/heavy lifting) and most don't market your home (they market themselves, ever wonder why so much marketing doesn't have the properties full info, they want people to call and if your property isn't right they want to sell them something else). Another advantage to trying to sell it yourself, you are always available. But you have to be prepared to be professional and do your homework, many homeowners want their home to be worth a certain amount and aren't prepared to realize (especially in the current falling market) what it is really worth.





Good luck!
S.A. I sold two homes myself before becoming a Realtor(R). Yes, it is do-able to sell your home without reprisentation. It may not be advisable in the current market.





Just to clarify, you NEED to relocate? Will either of your employers be offering a relocation package? That may help and they may have a company that you must use.





If you WANT to move, not NEED to move then I suggest you start by speaking with your current lender to clarify your options. They should be able to inform you if you will be able to purchase a home after the move (with or without selling) or whether you will have to rent. (better to know before you take the leap)





I also suggest verifying what would happen if you sell before being in the home two years, there may be tax ';complications';. Will you be taking money from your retirement if it's needed to close? You should investigate what the tax consequences may be or if there are ways to not pay a penalty.





Real estate companies have several business models that may not require paying what you think.





Real estate laws vary by State. The above are only some suggestions, not advice. If you need advice in a real estate transaction I suggest contacting a real estate attorney in your State.
What you need to be most concerned about is selling your house at all in this market, and your best bet is an experienced agent. In a sellers' market some people do manage a successful FSBO, but in this market, no way. Bite the bullet and hire an agent. Be aware that agent's commissions are negotiable, too.
well I have never sold a house for sale by owner but I did buy my house that way and it seemed to work out really well for all concerned but In this housing market weather you sell it your self or list it you might be waiting a while to sell it especially if you don't have any equity because you don't have much room to haggle the price with a potential buyer