As an alternative to working with an experienced Realtor, you might have considered selling your home yourself. If you follow through with this option, be prepared for a lot of work. It can and has been done, of course, but if you don't have the time and energy to commit to it (or need to sell in a hurry), this option might not be for you.

Following is a checklist to take you through the process:

Know your property.  If you aren't already, become familiar with such facts about your property as property taxes, zoning, lot size, square footage, etc. Look at the terms of your existing loan. Pull together receipts for work, warranties for work or fixtures. If you have had recent pest work, inspections, have them available.

Research the current market and property laws in your area. How much are properties similar to yours selling for? What are the terms of the sales? What property disclosure laws do you need to take into consideration?

Set the price.  Once you know the specifics about your home and have checked out what similar properties in your area are selling for, set a realistic price. Determine listing to selling price for your neighborhood. Do overpriced homes sell in the current market?

Determine financing alternatives.  Contact lenders in your area to determine what the options are for your prospective buyer. You want to be informed before the buyer asks.

Perform a "walk-through" of your property.  Look at it from the perspective of both the prospective buyer and the inspector. Take notes on all items that need to be repaired or replaced. Things to consider include:

   Outside:

• From out on the street, is the house appealing? This is called "curb appeal".
• Does it need a new coat of paint (either because the old is obviously "old", or because of an uncommon choice in color that might turn off prospective buyers)?
• If a house, is the lawn and landscaping attractive and well-kept?
• If a condo, you can't do much about the building, but is the front door (and balcony, if there is one) appealing?
• Are the windows and doors attractive and in good repair?
• Is the roof (and the gutters) in good repair?

    Inside:

• Are the interior paints and finishes in good condition (recently updated), or do they need to be freshened up? This is one area with the best ratio of least expensive to most desired. For a minimal investment, you could possibly make or break a sale by having your home look well-kept and inviting.
• Are the appliances in good working order and of recent vintage?
• Are the plumbing and electrical systems in good repair?
• Are the carpets or other floor coverings clean and in good repair. Like the paint, attractive and well-kept floor coverings are worth paying for so that your home makes a good impression.
• Are the sealants (sink, shower, tub, windows) in good condition?
• Are all light fixtures working properly, and is there good lighting in each room so that prospective buyers won't think you're hiding something in the dark?

    **Make all repairs noted in your inspection.

Know your neighborhood.  Most prospective buyers will want to know about the local schools, shopping, parks, transportation, etc. Be prepared so that you can knowledgeably answer their questions.

Establish a marketing budget.  How much are you willing to spend to sell your house?

Investigate the real estate sections of local newspapers and other publications.  Which will get you the most "bang for your buck?" Are there "throwaway" (i.e., free) real estate publications in your area that accept ads from individual sellers? In the local paper(s), is it better (in your area) to run a text-only classified, or do they have "photo boxes" where you can run both text and a photo of your property? Don't forget the Internet. See if you can get your home listed on a website that features local properties. Some newspapers automatically (or for an extra fee) offer Internet advertising tied in to their traditional print ads. Find out the rates and deadlines for each publication, then decide which one (or more) is best for you and your market.

Establish a marketing plan.  Now that you know what advertising will cost, create a plan on how to best (within your budget) reach prospective buyers, both local and out of town. Since many people do relocate from a distance, be sure to include Internet advertising in your plan.

Write the text and/or design your ad.  At the least, you will need a well written few sentences that will run as a classified ad or a photo box ad. In addition, you might decide to run a larger, custom-designed ad in the paper and/or to use as flyers to hand out at open houses (or anywhere else you might meet prospective buyers). Don't skimp on this. A professional, well-crafted ad can attract buyers while a poorly designed and executed one can turn buyers off to your property.

Clear your schedule.  Make arrangements so that you have free time to schedule appointments at the prospective buyer's convenience, as well as for any "open houses" that you hold. If you are not able to take calls throughout the day and evening, have a machine or service where callers can leave their names and numbers. If you are unavailable or do not return calls in a timely manner, you are apt to lose a prospect.

Purchase and install a "for sale" sign.  This should be well made, attractive and weatherproof, and should be placed where it can clearly be seen from the street.

Prepare a fact sheet.  Design a single sheet description of your property listing the features and benefits that will draw in prospective buyers. This should be attractive and professional looking. Have enough copies on hand to give out at open house showings.

Purchase "open house" signs.  Make sure that they include a place to write the address of your property and the date/time of the open house. In addition to one for the front yard, you'll want to place several in conspicuous locations around the neighborhood, such as main streets leading to your house. For these, directional arrows can point prospective buyers to your house even if they don't know the area. Make sure that you take these signs down as soon as the open house is over, as you don't want people showing up on your doorstep at all hours of the day and night.

Set up a schedule of open houses.  While most are held on the weekend, this is not convenient for all buyers. Make sure that you coordinate your print advertising to include information about your next open house.

Keep a list of prospective buyers.  As people come through during open houses, or as they call from reading your ads or seeing the sign out front, keep a list with their names & phone numbers. Concentrate your attention on those who seem serious about your property, as opposed to those that are just checking out the neighborhood or whiling away a Sunday afternoon. Make sure that you make follow up telephone calls to all those who seem seriously interested in your property.

Once you have an offer, it's time to negotiate.  This is usually the most difficult part of selling your own home.

Leave your emotions behind when you enter negotiations. You neither want to get angry, nor do you want to give away that you're overly eager.

Get your forms in order.  A number of forms are required for the legal sale of your property. In addition to the contract of purchase and any counteroffers, there are approximately 20 other forms and disclosures that the seller is required to provide to the buyer. It is necessary to review the contract carefully to determine when these forms/documents are due and what the buyer's rights are once they receive the document. The form and content of many of these documents are prescribed by California or federal law and must be adhered to in their entirety. The proper forms may be obtained from your local Board of Realtors.

Negotiate final terms of the sale.  With the buyer(s), come to an agreement (in writing) regarding the following:

• Price
• Inspection contingencies
• Financing terms
• Date of closing
• Date of possession
• It would be prudent for you to have an attorney review any and all contracts before the deal is finalized.
  

Final walk-through. When both the buyers and a witness can be present, schedule a final walk-through before you complete settlement in order to determine that the property being conveyed meets the expectations of all parties involved. Resolve any disputes before the transfer of title.

Find and make arrangements for the home you will be moving to. Unless you have already built or bought a new residence, you'll need to be the "buyer" for a new property while simultaneously being the "seller" for your current one. If possible, schedule both transactions to close at the same time, or else close your purchase shortly before closing your sale. You need to be moved out before the new owners take possession.

"For Sale By Owner" involves a lot of work, and is not for all sellers. Decide before starting the process whether you feel comfortable handling all aspects of it. If not, contact and interview several Realtors. This is their profession, what they do every day. Hire the person you feel most comfortable with to manage the sale of your home.