Sell It by Owner and Save (Paperback)

~ Michael M. Kloian (Author) "In this section I discuss the pros and cons, advantages and pitfalls, for those attempting to sell their own home..." (more)
Key Phrases: home warranty protection plan, selling your own home, offering your home, Bill of Sale (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superbly presented 'how to' primer for anyone who is considering selling, with or without the aid of a broker!" -- Jim Cox - The Midwest Book Review, March, 2002

"An outstanding guide to the know-how than can, step-by-step, lead to a successful sale." -- Book Reader Review - Fall, 2001

Essentials are discussed in layman's terms, explains the process step-by-step and should be read by anyone contemplating selling their home. -- Heartland Reviews - Bob Spear - January 2003

Product Description

Sell It By Owner and Save is an absolute gold mine filled with practical tips, tools, and techniques that will help the owner prepare for and sell their property, without a real estate agent, saving thousands of dollars in commission fees (this book has proven itself). This book clearly explains how to price and market a home anywhere, deal with aggressive agents, work with prospects, handle the paperwork and good faith deposit plus much more. You’ll find true-to-life examples that make the entire selling process easy to understand. SELL IT BY OWNER and SAVE will give homeowners the confidence they deserve, the know-how to succeed and the courage to see the sale through to completion.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: How to Llc; 2 edition (May 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097073462X
• ISBN-13: 978-0970734624
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #235,127 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding resource for anyone considering selling by owner, April 3, 2004

By A Customer

This book was an extremely valuable resource and answered all of our FSBO questions. This was our first home sale, so we were a bit apprehensive about how the entire process would work. As it turned out, it was much easier than we could have imagined.

We live in a relatively active area, so we decided not to spend any money on advertising and instead feed off of the other listed properties within our neighborhood. We did put a nicer-than-usual FSBO sign in the yard with an attractive flyer box crafted from a small apartment-style mailbox. We received two strong offers the second week and had a signed contract for 98% of our sale price 19 days after we put the sign out. Since we negotiated a 2.5% commission with the buyer's agent, we saved almost exactly $10,000 over the 7% requested by each full-service agent we interviewed.

Speaking of agents, one of the best parts of this book is the section detailing the tactics that agents will use to try to encourage you to list your home with them. The first four calls/visits we received after putting our home on the market were from agents, and Michael's book did a great job of preparing me in advance to handle those conversations.

Michael's point that 'presentation is everything' will be key to your success. We had our house recarpeted and repainted prior to showing the home. We even rented a storage unit to move some of the 'clutter' out of the house prior to showing. It paid off for us, and if you follow the author's guidance, it will pay off for you too!

PS - Two other homes in our neighborhood are the exact same floor plan as ours, and both were listed by agents with 7 days of our own home going on the market. Our home has been under contract for 30 days, both of those homes are still on the market. Don't let agents discourage you - FSBO really works!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Marks for an Excellent, well Researched book., August 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sell It By Owner & Save (Paperback)

Seldom does one find in self-help books the kind of frank, insightful advice that one does in Michael Kloian's book.

Not only did I find the information accurate and reliable but also totally consistent with my experiences in real estate for over 20 years. But it is also an entertaining book, one written with a sense of humor and compassion by someone who has a genuine concern for the average homeowner with little experience.

It is written without pretense and in a style that is eminently readable. I found particularly insightful and revealing many of the inside tips that only someone with the author's long experience in working with both buyers and sellers could possibly know, and yet be willing to share.

A cursory glance at the table of contents alone will illustrate to anyone the depth and breath of the author's sweep of all the salient issues attendant to the task of selling or in fact even buying a home.

I found nothing overlooked and must even say that the frank discussion of unforeseen problems was both important and necessary for the unwary homeowner to read.

His advice on when and how to engage professionals in the process will save homeowners a great deal of money while at the same time provide them with the requisite tools to act responsibly and professionally in all their transactions.

It is a pungent and strikingly honest book and one that deserves high praise.

I heartily recommend the book to anyone interested in either buying or selling their own home. It was a pleasure to read and confirmed all that I myself have learned in my many years in the business.

- A reader in San Francisco.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for first time FSBO, September 12, 2005

By	S. Stephenson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thought the book was very useful. The only down side is there was no informatioon on using the flat fee service for listing a home. Definitely by a real estate agent as they don't want you to use that method. Did it anyway and it worked fine. The book was good for making sure everything else was in order. Helped reduce the stress of selling for the first time and by doing it without an agent.