FSBO and How to Advertise Your Open House

Are you trying to selling your home without using a real estate professional? In the real estate industry, this do-it-yourself marketing is referred to as "For Sale by Owner," or FSBO for short. Selling a home FSBO means that the responsibility of marketing the home falls squarely on the shoulders of the property owner.

There are all sorts of marketing tools a homeowner can use to promote his home. These may include advertising, yard signs, promotional flyers, and conducting an "open house."

Preparing for an open house through advanced advertising

Real estate professionals depend on advertising and directional signs to attract would-be buyers to an open house. For your open house to be a success, these same marketing tools can be used to drive traffic to your home.

If the home is being marketed through a FSBO franchise, the franchise will need between 4-6 weeks notice to place an "open house" ad in their monthly publications. If you are handling your own advertising, check with local newspapers for real estate advertising deadlines. In most cases, newspapers only require 24 hours notice to place a real estate ad.

The ad should start with the title "Open House" and include the home's address, brief directions, and the hours of the open house. Include a few lines that describe the home's most outstanding features.

Sending out mailers

Another effective marketing tool is mailing postcards to people who might be interested in your home. Interested parties may include neighbors, relatives, or business associates. Printing and mailing 60 postcards costs less than $25 and is a terrific way to drive more traffic to your home. Chances are that someone you know may know of someone else who has expressed an interest in moving into the neighborhood.

Preparing a sales flyer