A Comprehensive Guide for the For Sale by Owner

Compliments of:
Ed and Terri Smith
Broker/Owners
RE/MAX Hall of Fame

RE/MAX Coastal Properties
125 Main Street
Destin, Florida 32541

Telephone: 850-837-5500
FAX: 850-650-3075
Toll Free: 800-806-1880
smith@realtor.com
www.Ed-Terri.com
© Copyright 1995-2008, Ed & Terri Smith


CONTENTS

Before the Sign Goes Up Page 1
Gathering Data Page 1
Appraiser’s Office Page 1
Tax Collector’s Office Page 2
Proper Pricing Page 3
Establishing Your Terms Page 3
Home Preparation Page 5
The Professional Brochure Page 6
The Sign Page 7
Knowing Your Customer Page 8
Advertising Page 10
Open House Page 11
Handling Showings Page 11
The Sale Process Page 13
Important Contract Provisions Page 15
The Closing Page 15
20 Reasons Page 17
Resume Page 18

BEFORE THE SIGN GOES UP

Proper preparation is essential if you are to achieve maximum results. In this chapter we will be concerned with:

1. Gathering data
2. Proper pricing
3. Establishing your terms
4. Home preparation
5. The professional brochure
6. The sign

GATHERING DATA

Let’s get off on the right foot immediately. For one of many reasons you have elected to try to sell your house yourself. We certainly respect that decision and wish you every success. In fact, we’re going to give you every tool necessary to succeed.

Assembling the necessary data is the first and most important step in the home selling process. After the data is assembled properly you will have the essential facts needed to deal with prospective purchasers.

APPRAISER’S OFFICE

Your first step is to call your appraiser’s office for information on your property

Okaloosa County (850)651-7240
Santa Rosa County (850)939-1259 x 4000
Walton County (850)892-2312

Identify yourself and tell them “I wish property information on _________” and give them your address.

You will then ask for:

1. The legal description of your property. Example: Lot 5, Block 19 Emerald Heights, 3rd Addition.
2. The Parcel ID number for tax purposes. Example: 00-2S-24-0475-0019-0050.
3. The assessed value of the land and improvements.
4. The lot size and the square footage of the house by floors.
5. The year the house was built.

All of this information is provided by Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa Counties. If you have the closing documents on your home handy, you may find a survey included. This will also provide you with the lot dimensions.

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