As I was driving to my appointment this morning I heard a radio ad from the Atlanta Journal, Metro Atlanta's most read newspaper, about their home classified section. I had just attended a presentation that told me that AJC's numbers were dropping in terms of readership and that their website was picking up, but was still not a destination.
I'm sure this new ad campaign is designed to generate more traffic, and more advertisers.
What I thought was so great about the ad (wish I could get the ad for you) is that it perfectly describes what is my number one reason for NOT selling For Sale By Owner. In the ad, a couple gets their home listed on the AJC Homefinder and has something very immediate happen. The door bell rings... and rings .... and rings. What caught me by surprise is that this couple is depicted as being unprepared for the throng of buyers ready to see the home. In one instance a stranger asks to use the bathroom. They have people peeking in through the back door and through helping themselves, while the husband has a "Gee Golly" response, the wife is frantic because the home is not clean.
This is the reason most For Sale By Owners don't do well, is that they are not accessible. Furthermore, by not having a professional Realtor track and monitor who goes into and out of the home, you could easily just let someone in that needs nothing more than a bathroom break.
So what happens if you place an ad with the AJC and you get THIS kind of response? Here's some tips to keep you safe if you DON'T have professional help.
- Ask if the person has a Realtor. This is first, so we can get it out of the way. If the person has a Realtor that usually means the person has some qualification to be able to purchase your home. Afterall, who would want to drive around an unqualified person with gas prices this high. You might consider asking them to come back with their Realtor if they say yes. If they do say, yes, make sure you get their Realtor's name as a pre-caution.
- Ask for their Name, Contact number, and ID. - In this day we have people posing as police officers and meter readers. It's best to be safe. Do you really want someone in your home that can't provide an ID?
- Ask how they are going to finance it. Lack of a solid answer here should cause you to think about if it is worth your time. It might be worthwhile to team up with a mortgage professional to pre-screen those that say they haven't gotten pre-approved yet.
- Qualify them, like a Realtor does. Ask them where they are looking, what's their price range, what are they looking for? These questions will help you evaluate what you are competing with. Be sure to get a number, so you can follow up for feedback. Ask them to be honest, especially if they aren't bringing you an offer.
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