For Sale By Owner internationally is easier than you might think…

Why pay 6%-10% to a broker when you can list the property just as they do and where they do? The Internet is quickly becoming the medium of choice by property owners and real estate professionals alike to market and sell large and small property transactions. There are multiple sites out there that cater to professional and for sale by owners.

As the world moves to a global economy so do the opportunities to market and find buyers from all 4 corners of the globe. From the boom in Asia to North American and European markets savvy investors are coming to grips that more and more investors are showing up from everywhere. Agricultural land in Argentina is being purchased from investors in Europe and the Middle East. Hotels in Thailand and Indonesia are being purchased from investors in the USA. Big money is going where the returns are high and the markets are stable.

Yard signs and flyer's are helpful but highly ineffective in selling your property in today’s global market. What you need to understand is how qualified buyers are looking for your property. They begin their search by doing a market analysis of the types of properties that they are looking for in the areas they would like to invest in. Then they gather information on several comparable properties to choose the best one available that meets their investing criteria. Then they will enter into negotiations with one to four potential candidates to find the one that they are looking for. Once they find the right property then they will close on the property.

It is easy to see why the Internet has become the tool of choice for buyers. They can do all of those steps without ever leaving their office. They don’t even have see or inspect the property before they enter into negotiations. Once they narrow down their search to 1-2 properties then they can inspect those properties saving them time and effort. So the question needs to be how do I position myself so that investors can #1 find the property #2 see it in a light where they will like to enter into negotiations and then #3 take as much cash from the closing table as possible.

There are many options for listing your property to get maximum exposure. Real Estate websites that start from local and then can reach national and international markets. Then you need to take a look at cost versus benefit. Do they reach the target investors that will be interested in my property? Are these websites easy to navigate so that potential investors will be able to easily find my property? One of the things to keep in mind when making sure that investors can find your property is that listing on one website will probably limit your ability to get the exposure that you are looking for. Choose 4-5 different websites to list with and then focus on presenting the property in the right light.

Presenting your property in the right light is essential to finding the right investor. If the property is in poor condition and the investor will need to do significant repairs to the property make sure that you mention that but then focus on the potential, the great location, etc. Take photos of the property that will show the property in the best light. Take lots of photos and then choose the best 5-10 photos to include with the listing that shows your property in the way you would like the investors to see.

Taking Cash from the closing table is all a matter of negotiations. If you have done your job in presenting the property in the best light possible then negotiations will generally run smoother and you should net more from the closing table. Make sure that you always have competent legal counsel even if you are working with a real estate broker. We can’t stress the importance of legal counsel that focuses on real estate enough, as they will make sure that you are protected. They are inexpensive in comparison to brokers and doing the deal wrong. Your legal counsel should be involved from the beginning of negotiations all the way through and a word of caution; do not try to save money by using the buyer’s lawyer to represent you.

In conclusion the process is becoming ever more complex and working with a qualified real estate brokers seems like the only option. It is easier than most people think and can be done if educated properly. Take time to do a little research and you will quickly find that doing it yourself is a viable alternative to high priced real estate professionals.