Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent?

November 15, 2021

When it comes to answering the question, Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent? - the simple answer is yes. This is usually preferable to doing so when selling houses and the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

You have to also keep in mind that the answer may be a no because if you decide to sell your house alone, certain states may not allow you to close without the presence of a real estate attorney.

It's, however, more difficult to sell these days, so if you don't know how to correctly price your house, it'll work against you now more than before.

So, that's where we can help you, continue to read this guide that's filled with plenty of tips, tricks, and everything you need to know to answer the questions, Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent?

Why You Don't Need a Real Estate Agent.

The most significant advantage is that you save money. It is possible to avoid paying the listing agency or, in some situations, the buyer's agent. However, this is not always the case, as you might lose a substantial amount of money if the listing is not effectively advertised or priced, and money could be left on the table.

How Do you Know What the Best Property Price Is?

Find three to six comparable houses that sold within the previous six months within roughly half a mile of your property to determine a suitable price. They should be comparable in terms of size, facilities, and overall quality. Calculate your pricing depending on what they sell, taking the discrepancies into consideration. You can compare prices with your rivals, but you can't utilize their quoted prices in your calculation.

What Documentation Do I Need to Sell My House?  

Theres a wide range of paperwork that needs to be presented including utility bills. For article, Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent?

Although the simple response to the questions can I help sell my home without being a real estate agent is yes, there is an extensive list of documentation you need to produce before the process begins.

The documentation required to sell a home differs by state and county, so consult a real estate agent, an attorney, or local government websites to see which ones are required in your area.

Some of the items on this list are optional, but they may come in handy while dealing with paperwork or getting ready for the sale. If you decide to do it yourself, you'll need the following paperwork:

A Contract of Purchase and Sale

A purchase and sale agreement (also known as a purchase and sale contract, P&S agreement, or PSA) is a legally binding document that lays out the terms and circumstances of a real estate transaction. It specifies the buyer's specifications, as well as the purchase price, constraints, and contingencies.

Statement of Transfer Disclosure

The seller might use the Transfer Disclosure Statement to convey information about the property that a potential buyer should be aware of. You, as the property seller, must produce this paperwork within seven days of the buyer's acceptance of your contract.

Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement

A Natural Hazard Disclosure Report is a document that sellers are required to provide to buyers. It informs buyers whether the house is in a certain natural hazard zone, such as flooding is a serious threat in this area; dam break creates an inundation zone; seismic zone or earthquake fault.

Disclosure of Lead-Based Paint

The lead-based paint disclosure form is a legal document that must be given to all renters and potential buyers of homes built before 1978. As a result, anybody who lives in an older property and notices paint chipping or cracking should contact the appropriate municipal authorities at once.

Megan's legal information

It informs buyers about where they may get information about sexual predators.

Preliminary Report

A preliminary report is a document created prior to the issuance of a title insurance policy that outlines the ownership of a specific piece of property, as well as any charges or drawbacks that will not be protected by a future title insurance policy.

Statement of the Mortgage (payoff amount)

A mortgage statement, also known as a billing statement, is a document that your lender sends you. It contains information on the status of your loan. Many lenders send out monthly mortgage statements, but you may see them at any time online.

Records of homeowner's insurance

It’s "package coverage" that covers both your home and your belongings. This means that it covers both property damage and liability, or legal duty, for any injuries or property damage caused by policyholders or their families to others.

Documents pertaining to homeowners' associations (HOAs).

Typically, an HOA is formed to develop and enforce regulations governing the properties under its control. HOAs are in charge of ensuring that the building is well-maintained, selecting whether or not to undertake major remodeling projects, and creating and enforcing the rules.

HOAs charge their members monthly HOA fees to finance their operations, which generally vary from $200 to $400 per month. HOAs can also enforce the community's regulations, such as by levying penalties on residents who do not follow them.

Inspection report for pre-listing

A pre-listing inspection is exactly what it sounds like: a professional home inspector inspects your house before you formally list it for sale to discover any potential repairs that need to be addressed.

Agreement for Purchase and Sale

Seller and buyer completing purchase agreement forms

A purchase and sale agreement is a legal contract in which the buyer agrees to acquire a product or service and the seller agrees to sell it.

Affidavit of Title No. 20

An affidavit of title is a legal document supplied by a property seller that outlines the status of any potential legal difficulties affecting the property or the seller. The affidavit is a sworn declaration of truth stating that the property is owned by the seller.

In other words, it establishes that the seller is the legal owner of the property. It also certifies that certain additional facts concerning the property are true, as attested to and notarized by the seller.

A report on a home appraisal

While selling a house, you may hear some weird and faintly familiar terminology. "Real estate appraisal report" is one of these terms. This is a written report that determines the current fair market value of the property you're purchasing or selling.

Statement of Settlement

In a real estate transaction, a settlement statement is a document that details who paid what to whom. This statement is designed to list all of the funds involved in the transaction so that both the seller and the buyer are aware of it. In most cases, the statement explains how these fees affect both the buyer and the seller.

Deed

A property deed must include the buyer's and seller's names, a description of the property being transferred, and the signature of the person transferring the property. A legal document that transfers real estate ownership from the seller to the buyer. It must be lawful for a deed to be valid.

Tax Form 1099-S (Form 1099-S) 

A Form 1099-S is a tax document that ensures that the whole amount received for a real estate sale is recorded correctly. A 1099-S form can also be used to record rental or investment property income. The buyer must complete and file their own 1099-S form when selling real estate.

Capital improvement receipts

A permanent structural adjustment or repair to a property that significantly increases its overall worth is referred to as a "capital improvement." Basic maintenance and repair, on the other hand, are not considered capital upgrades.

Instruction manuals and warranties

The survival period—the length of time that a promise is kept—can affect real estate purchasers and sellers in different ways. Within the contract, representations are mutually agreed-upon assertions of fact. Warranties are assurances made by the vendor to ascertain the truth of a fact.

Previous utility bills

The general utility bills paid in a house

Utilities are the essential services that keep your house, apartment, or company comfortable and functional. Water, sewage, electricity, gas, garbage, and recycling are all common utilities. Cable TV, the internet, security, and phone service are all examples of technology subscriptions that might be called utilities.

A seller's net sheet

A "seller's net sheet" is a document used by title firms, Realtors, and other real estate professionals to estimate the net proceeds a house seller will get from the sale of their home. This is the amount the seller will get as a consequence of the transaction.

Compulsory disclosures

You must observe local "mandated disclosure" regulations if you sell real estate. This entails advising the buyer about particular dangers or issues that impact the property before the transaction is finalized.

Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent: What To Lookout For?

Realtors

Realtors who inform you that they have a buyer interested in your home and want to come view it. The majority of them are attempting to gain access to your company in order to persuade you to hire them. You might ask them to email you a copy of their purchaser’s lender's pre-approval letter.

Wholesalers and Investors

You should be conscious of some wholesalers and investors as sometimes they want to obtain the greatest bargain possible for themselves, you'll always get low-balled. Keep an eye out for requests for seller financing. These purchasers are typically not financially eligible and are unable to obtain financing from a lender.

No Deposit

Anyone who refuses or is unable to offer you a deposit should be avoided. It's possible for problems or fraudulent actives to happen at an open house, so if you are capable of doing so, find a lender or a realtor who will handle one for you.

However, before you begin, be sure that you and your client fully understand what each of you expects. If you receive an offer, have it checked by an attorney before accepting it to ensure that everything is in order.

If you want to deal with a realtor who introduces a buyer, you'll have to pay a commission of 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent to the realtor. Just keep in mind that you are representing the buyer's interests, not your own.

How can you do it?

You'll need to learn about the buyer's contingency periods and needs. Normally, this will be in the areas of loans, appraisals, and physical inspections.

Inspections:

The buyer has the ability to cancel the contract if something isn't met within the contingency time. You should consider having your property inspected by a licensed inspector before putting it on the market so that any faults can be addressed. Although inspections can cost $400 or more, leaving any faults until afterward may present a stumbling block in your negotiation.

You must take care of any problems around the house, taking time to ensure that everything is in working order. You must schedule the visits, reply to phone calls regarding them, and ensure that the house is show-ready. Curb appeal is really crucial and the tiniest of details can make a tremendous difference; if it is lacking, it will be extremely difficult to entice people inside your home to look at it.

Pricing:

Make sure you price you house accurately, check other houses for sales in your neighbourhood

Pricing is the most important factor to consider. You may acquire ideas on how to stage your property and what's now popular on the internet. A professional photographer is really necessary; you may inquire about the cost, but it will significantly improve your marketing game.

You may advertise it on a variety of sites, including Kijiji, and for sale by the owner. It all depends on whether websites are available in your nation, state, or area. You may easily discover it by running a Google search on the internet.

You may also search for help on websites like Property Guys and Comfree. You wouldn't be on the MLS system if you used Property Guys, but most people are aware of it. The property would be listed on MLS under the "ComFree option."

You choose a package from their menu and use it to list a property with them. They would handle a portion of the work for you, and you would assist with all of the showings, organize them, and interact with anyone interested in buying, whether a realtor or a single person. Once an offer is received, it is up to the owner to decide on a price that is acceptable to them, with some help from ComFree.

Round-Up: Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent?

As discussed throughout this post the simplistic answer to the question, Can I Help Sell Homes Without Being a Real Estate Agent - is yes, however, there are numerous things you should consider before going through with it.

Remember, there is a wide range of paperwork you as the seller will need to gather when considering selling your home by yourself. Create a checklist and check off the paperwork as you go along, organisation is key.

If you're attempting to sell a house on your own, you should be inclined to consider what costs you'll have to meet and then price your home accordingly, regardless of market value. You could wind up leaving money on the table, or you might overprice. This will take longer to sell on the market, thereby stigmatizing it.

When you do decide to sell, or if you choose to sell it through an agent soon after, the property will sell for fair market value. People do consider how long something has been on the market. The longer a home is on the market, the fewer buyers are interested.

Always bear these things in mind, or reach out to a realtor or real estate agent for further information.

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