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How to Write a House For Sale Ad

Tips for Writing a For Sale by Owner Ad


Learning how to write a house for sale ad using the newspaper classifieds section, can still be while worth it when selling for sale by owner.


Having said that, if you don't have a quick sale, local newspaper classifieds can be your biggest expense marketing your home.



Note: Don't forget to check out the other advertising pages on this site which cover other topics in more detail, including examples.



How to Write a House for Sale Ad

Use Your Dollars Wisely



Check with your local newspaper before you write your ads and compare costs. Ask about any specials that are currently running.


Ask about price for different size ads. Ask about 2 or 3 day run costs. Ask how much for a photo ad.

When you have all the ad prices, take them home and devise a plan. Plan for at least a 90 day selling time.


Your property may sell in 2 days or it could take 6 months. There are too many factors to even attempt a discussion on this subject.


The time frames mentioned above should be the same whether you are for sale by owner or listed with a real estate agent.


Your particular selling time may depend on whether you follow the guidelines on this site. :)


For other forms of advertising and marketing ideas, click on one of the photo links below, or just continue with this newspaper classifieds page.
Open laptop with a white post for sale sign and sold rider

How to Sell Your House Online

Beautiful oak kitchen with stainless steel appliances

Taking Great Real Estate Photos

Man dropping mail in mail box

Using Direct Mail Marketing Ideas

Flyers sticking out of front door mail slot

Target More Buyers with Flyers

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Go to the Real Estate Advertising main Page

family arriving at a for sale by owner house

Return to Sell My House FSBO Home Page




House for Sale ad Ideas



I would start my newspaper advertising plan by deciding how often and when I was going to have open houses. For information go to Open House Weekend


If you run the newspaper ads, put out proper signage and take advantage of the real estate agents having their open houses, this can work very well for you.


Your whole local newspaper classifieds can be run on open house ads only if you have them almost every week-end.



Worth Repeating


  • Plan for at least a 90 day ad campaign


  • Look for advertising specials


  • Stay within a budget (set a dollar amount you are willing to spend on newspaper classifieds and build your advertising plan from there)


  • A picture may be worth a thousand words, but look at the costs before blindly running to your local newspaper classifieds with your brilliant creation!


Once you have a plan of what size ads you want and how often you run those classifieds, you are ready to start writing.


How to Write a Newspaper Classified Ad

(for sale by owner style)



The first thing to remember, is don't follow what the real estate agents do. Why? Different agenda. Real Estate Agents want to sell A House.


Your agenda is sell My House. Think about that one for a minute.......OK? Do you understand the difference? Great!


How to Write a For Sale by Owner Ad

What to ALWAYS Include



The Address or at least a named area. examples: Birchgrove Sub-Division or 2 miles (kms) south of town. Of course if it's an open house ad, you MUST have the address.


The Price


Your Phone Number (Don't laugh, I've seen it happen)


How to Write a Home For Sale Ad

Highly Recommended to Include


  • Number of Bedrooms (optional what level). example: 2+1 or 3+2 etc.)



  • Square Footage - You can use the footprint, or if the house is completely finished, you could for example use, 2400 sq. ft of finished area.


  • Number of Bathrooms (if more than one)


  • Garage (attached, detached, single, double, insulated, heated)


How to Write a House for Sale Description

Some More Ideas to Think About


  • Age (if new or newer)


  • Upgrades (especially furnace, flooring, roof etc.)


  • Extras such as: Air conditioning, underground sprinklers, central vac, swimming pool, hot tub (if included) etc.


  • Kitchens If you have a super nice kitchen, let the buyers know.


These are just a few ideas for your newspaper classifieds when it comes to how to write a house for sale by owner ad. Take your best selling features and include those keeping yourself mindful of your advertising budget.


How to Write a House for Sale Ad

Not Recommended to Include These


  • Lots of kids in neighborhood (Your buyer may be in their 70's and want peace and quiet)


  • Close to schools (Same reason as above)


  • Quick commute to the Industrial Park


  • Bus stop at door



The Following Invite Low-Ball Offers and Serve No Useful Purpose


  • Make me an offer: Translation - "I'm desperate"


  • OBO (Or best offer): Translation - "I'm really flexible on price"


  • Must sell: Translation - "I'm desperate"


  • Owner anxious or motivated: Translation - "I'm desperate"


  • Have bought another property: Translation - "I'm desperate"


  • Moving out of state, province, country etc: - Translation - "I'm desperate"


  • Will look at all offers: Translation - "I'm REALLY desperate"



Think



Just think before you write your newspaper classifieds. Ask yourself this questions. Is this a feature or benefit that will appeal to many buyers? If the answer is no, don't put it in your ad.


You have to catch the buyers attention! Make them want to view your home. Make your place a must see! Just writing hard facts may be enough but why take a chance?


The problem with printed advertising in your local newspaper classifieds, is you usually have to pay for each character or for space used.


This is why in local newspaper classifieds you see lots of short forms such as:


A/C, b/r, bths, h/w, f/p and u/g sprinkler. Of course when you advertise on a for sale by owner website, you usually can write as large of ad as you wish.

How to Write a House for Sale Ad

and


Why You Should Always Include Address and Price


(when for sale by owner)


Why do you always put the address and price in ALL advertising? Because you are selling YOUR house not A house.


When a real estate agent advertises, they just want the phone to ring.


If the area or the price is not suited to the person that calls in on the ad, they try to switch them to another property.


You on the other hand most likely have one property for sale and one only. It is in a certain area and a certain price range.


You DO NOT want calls from people who don't want to live there or who can't afford to buy in your price range.


Unwanted calls will just discourage you and annoy you. Quality of calls is what you want, not quantity. Real estate agents want quantity not necessarily quality on a given property.


Make sense? The reason I cover this in such detail is I've seen this mistake made far to often by for sale by owners.


For sale by owners will run an ad in the local newspaper classifieds and not include the address or the price. Why?


Because they look at the real estate agent newspaper classifieds and figure the Realtors are the professionals so that must be the right way to advertise.



Side Note: When I was in real estate, newspaper classifieds actually had a low return on the investment. Today, I'm sure it is even less. Why? The internet.



For More Information about Advertising


Want to explore more marketing ideas? Click on the thumbnail photos near the top of this page.


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