For Sale By Owner

I cringe when I see a FOR SALE BY OWNER sign. I shake my head and think, they should really use an agent.

Last year my next door neighbor tried selling his home without an agent's assistance. It was a disaster! The sign out front was like a neon sign! People knocked on his door at all hours wanting to see the house. Most of the calls he received wanted him to rent them the house with the option to buy. Someone even "wanted in on the deal"---or in other words, wanted a cut if they brought him a buyer. My neighbor's home become a bargaining chip for every scam artist out there. He wouldn't take any friendly advice from me....so I kept quiet.

There were also the potential customers that were VERY interested. They basically wanted his house cheap. I mean REALLY cheap. WAY below market value cheap. They tried telling him they were doing him a favor by "taking it off his hands," or came in, and found hundreds of things wrong with the house just to get money off.  One even wanted him to do owner financing because their credit was so bad.

My advice....Don't ever consider Owner Financing! Don't let a good downpayment lull you into a false sense of security. I mean, do you really want to be a landlord? Do you want someone to get into your house and then stop paying the agreed monthly rate because of hardship? Do you know how hard it is getting squatters out? It's a long drawn out process. Then you become the villain. They stay and destroy the house beyond recognition, and then you pick up the tab. They then scamper away in the middle of the night, and you're left repairing all the damage. It's more trouble than it's worth.

Then there's the chance of being sued. Do you really know if the paint inside your home is lead free?  Before I was in the business, my ex-boss sold his home himself and didn't even consider a lead free disclosure. Didn't even know about such a document! The person he sold it to, sued him because his child got lead poisoning. Bad business! Know the legalities!

Do you have a septic system? Did you know it has to be checked before selling? Most don't. You could also be sued for that. If you sell your home and the septic tank has not been inspected and it's  faulty, you're responsible for the repair or replacement. Well water should be tested before selling, it could have bacteria. People could die. Do you want that on your conscience?

The days of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) are over folks. You can no longer sell a home "as is." You are now responsible!

These horror stories can be avoided if you hire a licensed Real Estate Agent. We can take the worry out of the experience, we make sure these items are taken care of. If you list your home with an Agent, we're negligible, not you. You are basically paying for peace of mind by letting us do the work. In Pennsylvania, there is also the matter of the seller's disclosure. This is mandatory by law. The buyer is entitled to get a seller's disclosure that lists the age of the roof, if the home has aluminum or vinyl siding, also what appliances are included in the sale. Very important!

We all want the highest amount for our homes when we sell, but if you aren't experienced with the law, you will suffer needless expense and possible litigation. Don't succumb. It looks attractive to sell your own home, but are you ready for the headache if the deal goes awry?

Think twice before posting the FOR SALE BY OWNER SIGN. Do you really want the headache of screening buyers? It also opens you up to dangerous situations. Do you really know who you're letting into your home?

Remember the old Greyhound ad? Leave the driving to us? They had a point. Do just that. Let the professionals take care of things for you. It's worth it in the long run! We will screen buyers for you, as well as take care of those legal issues that need to be done.

Don't shoulder all the responsibility of selling yourself. Hire me. I will make sure you get what your home is worth. I won't gouge. Have a worry free experience. I'm Rob....call me! (717) 698-0329, Howard Hanna Real Estate. Serving Hanover, Gettysburg, York and surrounding Pennsylvania. Free MLS search: http://robertbiancuzzo.howardhanna.com