Don’t let the prospect of a tough housing market sway you from opting to sell-by-owner. In fact, putting your house up for sale by owner may actually improve your chances of selling quickly – and at a higher price to boot. Read on for selling tips you can’t miss and see just how easy it can be to sell your home.

Selling Tip #1:  Write a great For Sale by Owner Ad

Landing a sale for your home starts with a great advertisement. Begin by coming up with a short, catchy title that mentions the best feature of your home.

For instance, if your home has ample yard space, try:  “For Sale by Owner:  Home with 2,000 square feet of yard.”  If your home offers a great view of your city, try something like:  “Home with 20-mile view of city lights.”

When you can, include numbers in your title to convey specifics like size or distance. Use numbers in digit form rather than written out as text.

Selling Tip #2:  Highlight your home’s top features upfront

Early into your ad, mention the three best selling features of your home. To determine your three best features, it’s a good idea to ask for insight from family and friends. Somebody who lives outside of your home may recognize a key selling feature that you overlook simply because you’re accustomed to it.

As with your title line, keep your text succinct and to the point. An ideal way to present your home’s top three features is in bullet format. That way, it’s easier for prospects to read over the features at a glance.

Selling Tip #3:  Diversify the postings of your home sale

Thanks to the array of publication options available these days, you can post your For Sale by Owner ad in multiple places. It’s especially wise to diversify your postings so you reach different target audiences.

The Internet offers an array of options for sales postings, starting with websites like Craigslist, found at www.craigslist.org. You can also find several real estate-specific sites that will allow you to post your ad. Some sites will allow for free postings while others will require a small fee.

Along with posting on the Internet, try to cover all paper sources you can find. Put your For Sale by Owner ad in your local newspaper and in local magazines. Consider getting listed in the real estate books available for free pickup outside of grocery stores.

Remember – the more places you post your ad, the more you increase your chances of landing a buyer.

Selling Tip #4:  Close with a clear call to action

In the world of printed advertisements, you should always tell your prospect what action you want them to take. In other words, at the close of your ad you need to post a call to action. A call to action tells your prospect what to do next.

In the case of home selling, your call to action should be something along the lines of “Contact me at—.”  You would then supply your phone number or email address. Similarly, if you’ve set up a website with further detail on the home you’re selling, tell the prospect to “Visit this website for more information—” and fill in the web address.

Use the Golden Rule when formulating your call to action and treat your prospect like you would want to be treated. If you were in your prospect’s shoes and you found a house you were interested in, what would you do next?  Write the information in your call to action in a polite but direct manner.

Selling Tip #5:  Be clear about your pricing and conditions

Above all, do not be misleading in your home sale ad. The surest way to lose a prospect is to provide inaccurate information. Avoid the temptation to overestimate your home’s square footage or age. Don’t list an unusually high selling price in the hopes that somebody will bite – more often, you won’t get any calls at all.

Instead, list fair and accurate information in your For Sale by Owner ad. Go ahead and list the price as well, so prospects will be aware of the range you’re looking for in your sales price. This will save you from having to deal with buyers who can’t afford your asking price.

Be thorough and clear in your ad

Above all, make sure your ad is clear and to the point. Ask a few people to proofread the ad and have them point out any areas that are confusing or unnecessary. The more upfront and focused your ad, the more likely you are to connect with a buyer. So take your time and don’t rush through the process. Remember, if you get it right the first time, you can successfully sell your home quicker than you ever imagined.