Planning to sell your home alone? Read this first

Selling a home alone has many pitfalls for the unprepared Homeowner with good intentions, and there's nothing funny about them.

That's why most of us use a professional real estate agent from the start. Yet experts say about 15 percent of potential seller’s first try to save the agent's commission by doing a For Sale By Owner, commonly called a FSBO (pronounced fizzbow).

Could your FSBO be successful? Perhaps, but keep in mind that many of the 15 percent of would-be FSBO sellers invest time and money in the process, then turn to an agent when sales prospects dwindle. Moreover, agent-assisted sales typically put more money into a seller's pocket than a FSBO, according to studies cited by real estate specialists.

How much more? On average you net 2-3 percent more--after paying the commission--by using an agent, Your REALTOR® earns that commission--and you do come out ahead.

One big reason is the way shoppers approach FSBOs. Buyers are looking for a steal when they're going to a FSBO; They automatically deduct a sales commission before they start negotiating. The old saying is true: both sides cannot save the same fee.

There are other major financial and even emotional factors to consider before selling your own home. For example, an agent can give you competitive pricing and marketing edges that would require time, money or both to achieve on your own.

You could just talk to the neighbors for real estate pricing information, They may say that the Smiths got a price they liked, but that doesn't mean they got their asking price. REALTORS® have updated, comprehensive data on actual sale prices of homes in your area. They'll also give your house a broader exposure to the entire market than you can, especially if they're part of the multiple listing service available only to those displaying the REALTOR® symbol.

Consider the statistic that Less than 5 percent of houses actually sell from an ad in the newspaper, most callers do not buy the home they inquired about.

In addition, never forget you're competing against savvy pros, so you should offer at least some of the many services provided by agents:

- Be informed about the wide range of financing options buyers have.

- Be knowledgeable about details of your home (dimensions, building materials, average utility bills) and your neighborhood (schools, zoning, planning).

- Be sure your home is staged properly to showcase its benefits from curb to closets.

- Be available for showings day and night, seven days a week to reach the widest possible range of buyers.

- And, be very aware of your disclosure requirements so you don't have to pay unnecessary damages.

- Yet even all that isn't the hardest part, say agents. The toughest thing for most sellers on their own is not being able to screen prospective buyers.

It usually starts as an annoyance over time-consuming tours by curious neighbors or financially unqualified visitors. It may include concerns about strangers parading through your home. It often escalates into anger as you hear unflattering comments about your house. And, ultimately, it can get downright ugly as negotiations become heated.

"I've been in the business for years and I wouldn't sell my own home just for reason of emotion," say most Realtor’s, or “I feel you need an in-between person to do your negotiating. We all have sentimental values connected with our home that cloud our judgment."

That's an opinion shared by most veteran real estate salespeople. They believe their expertise and efforts in pricing, marketing and negotiating are well worth their commission. Which brings up a simple question: if most pros won't sell their own homes alone, are you sure you really want to?

Welcome to CENTURY 21 Central Falls Realty. Conveniently located in historic Dover, New Hampshire. CENTURY 21 is your #1 real estate connection for residential, commercial and rental properties in Seacoast New Hampshire and beyond. Settled in 1623 in southeastern New Hampshire, Dover is one of New Hampshire's first permanent settlements and today is easily accessible via numerous highways and the Amtrak Downeaster. Just 20 minutes from Portsmouth and the Pease International Tradeport (where Pan Am offers flights along the East Coast), 30 minutes to beautiful beaches, mountains and lakes and less than an hour to Boston, Concord, Manchester, or Portland, Dover still enjoys a small town flavor nestled amid the beautiful Bellamy and Cocheco Rivers. CENTURY 21 Central Falls Realty, located at 242 Central Avenue, is right in the center of Dover's commercial and social hub and has plenty of free parking. We're proud of our new office, the Jacob Kittridge house, a recently renovated brick end colonial filled with history and an atmosphere that represents what we stand for - quality, old fashioned values, hard work and excellent service. Our expert agents are respected by their colleagues for their experience in the field and our clients appreciate their knowledge of the area and of the real estate industry in New Hampshire and Maine. Kevin, Paula, Jennifer, Gary, Donna, Karen, Josh, Stephanie, Suzie, Faith, Ellen, Gini, Becky and Bill are committed to spending the time and energy necessary to make sure that each and every transaction at CENTURY 21 Central Falls Realty is a pleasant experience - thoughtfully handled with care and as efficiently as possible. So, put the Power of #1 to work for you and let us demonstrate our knowledge, experience, innovation and small town commitment to your real estate needs. For more information, or to talk to an agent, please call (603) 742-2121

Wentworth By The Sea

Poised high atop a bluff overlooking the ocean and river below, the historic Wentworth by the sea hotel once again offers its guests a bygone lifestyle of grandeur and elegance. Located on New Castle Island, NH, just an hour north of Boston, the Wentworth opened in 1874 with much fanfare. It instantly became a favorite destination for socialites, film stars, and presidents, including delegates to the historic 1905 peace talks that ended the Russo-Japanese war. The island resort blends the best of the past with the finest of the future. Today's spectacular restoration and new construction brings back the

Golf Club of New England

Golf club of New England is designed to appeal to individuals who would enjoy playing a tournament-caliber course where there are no tee times, and partaking of the amenities of a distinctive but unpretentious clubhouse catering only to golfers. The palmer course design company, which has developed or redesigned more than 250 fine courses worldwide, designed golf club of New England’s stellar course, which is nearly 7,200 yards long. Situated on rolling woodlands near scenic great bay, the course is an imaginative blend of ample fairways and greens and natural waterways.

Kittery Point Yacht Club

Kittery point yacht club is located in new castle NH, on the southern shore of the Piscataqua river. Its clubhouse stands opposite Seavey Island, home of the historic Portsmouth naval shipyard. Ships from all over the world pass before it, vying with local lobster and fishing boats during the week and hundreds of pleasure boats on holidays and weekends. A member of the US sailing association, KPYC is well represented in local, regional and occasionally national events, with members racing and cruising a variety of boats. KPYC sponsors the seacoast sailing school and is dedicated to the improvement of boating in the seacoast region.

Strawbery Banke Museum

The gardens and grounds at Strawbery Banke Museum represent a living history of the New England Landscape. They range from the story of a tidal salt marsh, which served as a lively habitat for native plant, animal and cultural communities, to the development of that tidal inlet as a place of dense urban settlement. David Thompson, his family and entourage arrived in the Piscataqua region 1623. Their migration followed in the wake of a generation of European fishermen and profiteers, who came to know this coast for its "merchantable commodities" or the potential profits they saw in the wilderness. Thompson's group was followed by Walter Neal and a small band of Englishmen that settled in this area in 1630. They called it "Strawbery Banke" for the wild strawberries that grew on the hillsides and banks of the river.

The Nubble

The Cape Neddick Nubble is a small, rocky island a short distance off the eastern point of Cape Neddick near the entrance to the York River. In 1602 explorer Bartholomew Gosnold met with local Indians on the island and dubbed it "Savage Rock." Placing a lighthouse on the Nubble had been recommended by many local mariners since 1807. An 1837 proposal was rejected on the grounds that there were already three lights in the vicinity: Boon Island, Whaleback, and Portsmouth Harbor Light. Even after the wreck of the bark Isidore in 1842 near Bald Head Cliff, north of the Nubble, it still took close to four more decades before the lighthouse was established. The Isidore, according to legend, still reappears as a ghost ship with a phantom crew.

NH Department of Education

To provide educational leadership and services which promote equal educational opportunities and quality practices and programs that enable New Hampshire residents to become fully productive members of society. The NH Department of Education, in partnership with nine other states, is involved with a five-year “Ready to Teach” grant from the US Department of Education called “eLearning for Educators.” The NH version will be called: OPEN-NH. The mission of OPEN-NH is to build capacity to design and deliver high quality professional development to meet the needs of NH educators and students in a cost effective manner

NH.com

NH.com is the Web site for New Hampshire residents, visitors and newcomers. Our audience enjoys a site deep in New Hampshire knowledge >> whether it be the definition of property taxes, the latest on the weather, or the names of the shops along the Antique Trail, NH.com has it all New Hampshire Magazine Online is the online version of our magazine featuring the people, issues, business, and technology of the Granite State. Features include information on the topics of lifestyle, business, communities, dining, education, environment, events, facts, health, and history. Our new departments include New Hampshire Style featuring extrordinary artists, craftspeople and places of the state.

NH ELMIB

Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau: Each month, the Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau publishes a set of core economic statistics that are gathered in cooperation with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. These statistics, combined with data from other states, are used to develop national labor market information series, and ensure comparability of labor market information data from state to state. New Hampshire Community Profiles provides information on the 234 incorporated cities and towns in the State of New Hampshire*. Data presented here comes from a variety of sources, including community response, published reports, and maps. All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

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