House Rent

Renting a House RENTING A HOUSE If you rent a house, rather than an apartment, you'll have some additionalconcerns: Lawn care and snow removal will probably be your responsibility. City codes require that lawns be mowed. If you think the landlord is providing either of these services, make sure your lease says so. Garbage hauling is not a municipal service in Champaign-Urbana. Unless your lease says that the landlord provides and pays for hauling, you'll have to call a private hauler and arrange service. Look in the yellow pages under "garbage." (Note: references in your lease to sanitary fees are for the sewer system, not for garbage hauling). Don't assume the garage comes with the house; make sure the lease says you are renting the "house and garage." If the house has no garage but you plan to park in the driveway, make sure the lease says Lessee may park in the driveway at no extra cost. Be sure the lease states the number of bedrooms in the house, especially if any bedrooms are in the basement or attic. If any area containing bedrooms becomes unfit for habitation while the rest of the house is still habitable, you'll be in a better bargaining position with your landlord if you can prove that the uninhabitable space was leased to you for living and sleeping purposes. Zoning laws prohibit more than four unrelated adults from living together in a single family home. The tenants, as well as the landlords, can be held liable by the city for violating the law. Enforcement is complaint-driven. If you live in Urbana near the U of I campus, or if you live anywhere and annoy your neighbors with noise or illegally parking cars on the lawn, you are a likely target for enforcement. See section of this handbook on " Zoning ." Be especially careful about including in your lease a list of all appliances that the landlord will "provide and maintain." Don't assume the washer and dryer in the basement will be repaired by the landlord if one breaks down. They may have just been left in the house by previous tenants. Protecting your deposit is a bigger job with a house. Many tenants report being charged at the end of the lease for leaving trash in the yard, damage to a porch, lawn care, cleaning out the basement, etc. Both when you move in and when you move out, you should take photographs of the basement, attic, front and back yards and the porch , in addition to photographs of walls, floors, insides of oven, fridge and cabinets and all fixtures. Damage deposit refund law does not cover houses (except in the City of Urbana). If the house is in Champaign, Savoy or anyplace other than Urbana, be sure your lease states the time period for refund of the deposit and requires the landlord to provide you with an itemized statement of damages within a certain time period. A sample clause appears in the section of this handbook on signing a lease. Return to Home Page Return to Table of Contents

Buy House

Amazon.com: House of Sand and Fog: DVD Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! Ten best movies of 2003 : A list by Kalle Frm Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 157 used & new from $3.85 Available for in-store pickup now from: $14.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? House of Sand and Fog (2003) Starring: Jennifer Connelly , Ben Kingsley Director: Vadim Perelman Rating: First Line: Officer at End: Are you Kathy Nicolo? Kathy: Yeah. Officer at End: Is this your house? See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $14.99 Price: $10.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $4.00 (27%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Tuesday, January 3? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 157 used & new available from $3.85 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (DVD) List Price Price Other Offers: DVD House of Sand and Fog Other Versions (VHS Tape) VHS Tape House of Sand and Fog $9.98 $9.98 19 used & new from $1.45 Other Versions (Audio CD) Audio CD House of Sand and Fog $17.98 $17.98 62 used & new from $10.89 Better Together Buy this DVD with 21 Grams DVD ~ Sean Penn today! Total List Price: $29.97 Buy Together Today: $21.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought 21 Grams DVD ~ Sean Penn Hotel Rwanda DVD ~ Xolani Mali Mystic River (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Sean Penn Collateral DVD ~ Tom Cruise Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Books , and in Video Storyline Genres: Drama Tagline: Some dreams can't be shared. Plot Outline: An abandoned wife is evicted from her house and starts a tragic conflict with her home's new owners. Plot Synopsis: Massoud Amir Behrani, an Iranian immigrant, has spent most of his savings trying to enhance his daughter's chances of a good marriage. Once she is married, he spends the remaining funds on a house at an auction, unwittingly putting himself and his family in the middle of a legal tussle with the house's former owner. What begins as a legal struggle turns into a personal confrontation, with tragic results. Plot Keywords: Based On Novel | Bathtub Scene | Beach | Cigarette Smoking | Classified Ad | Compassion | Courier | Deputy Sheriff | Directorial Debut | Eviction | Father Daughter Dance | (Show all 90 plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Jennifer Connelly , Ben Kingsley , Ron Eldard , Frances Fisher , Kim Dickens , See more Directors: Vadim Perelman Format: Ac- , Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc, Widescreen Anamorphic Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: (Not for sale to persons under age 18.) Studio: Dreamworks Video DVD Release Date: March 30, 2004 Run Time: 126 minutes Average Customer Review: Based on 252 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Unknown Format) Commentary by: director Vadim Perelman, actor Ben Kingsley, novelist Andre Dubus III, costume designer Hala Bahmet, and production designer Maia Javan (Unknown Format) Deleted Scenes with commentary Behind the Scenes featurette Shohreh Aghdashloo Audition Archives Production Notes From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B0001DMVBC Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,512 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: December 26, 2003 MPAA: for some violence/disturbing images, language and a scene of sexuality. Production Company: DreamWorks SKG, Bisgrove Entertainment, Cobalt Media Group USA Box Office: $13 Million Budget Estimate: $16 Million Filming Locations: San Francisco, California, USA| Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Ave., Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA| Carpinteria, California, USA| Golden Valley Ranch, Santa Clarita, California, USA| Los Angeles, California, USA| Malibu, California, USA| San Mateo County, California, USA| Santa Clarita, California, USA Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Jennifer Connelly followed up her Academy Award for A Beautiful Mind with this dark but moving story of small mistakes that escalate, with tragic necessity, to disaster. In House of Sand and Fog , Kathy (Connelly) gets evicted from her house for failing to pay a tax she never should have been charged in the first place. The house is swiftly put up for auction and bought by a former military officer from Iran named Behrani (Ben Kingsley, Sexy Beast ). When legal efforts fail her, Kathy turns to a sympathetic cop (Ron Eldard, Bastard Out of Carolina ), who wants out of a loveless marriage and who's willing to step over legal boundaries if it might give him a fresh start. Topnotch performances by the entire cast make House of Sand and Fog a compelling psychological drama; your sympathies will be pulled in all directions. --Bret Fetzer Product Description: Academy Award winners Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) deliver stunning performances as two strangers whose conflicting pursuits of the American Dream lead to a fight for their hopes at any cost. What begins as a struggle over a rundown bungalow spirals into a clash that propels everyone involved toward a shocking resolution. "The surprise ending will leave you breathless!" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood) Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Monster DVD ~ Charlize Theron Sideways (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Paul Giamatti Million Dollar Baby (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Jay Baruchel Closer (Superbit Edition) DVD ~ Natalie Portman Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Books Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 149 of 160 people found the following review helpful: A Heartbreaking and Stunning "House" of Emotions! , March 6, 2004 Reviewer: Mark D. Cunningham (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews With the exception of Niki Caro's sublime "Whale Rider," no movie moved me more this past year than Vadim Perelman's "House of Sand and Fog." This story of a broken and desperate young woman who loses her house because her depression won't allow her to simply open her mail and the determined and steadfast Iranian colonel who strives to secure a better life and future for his family is a cacophony of raw emotion and heartbreak. Further, it is a meditation on what is important in life and how easy it is--no matter the intentions--to forget that very thing. This is a movie that is well photographed, beautifully adapted from Andre Dubus III's Oprah-approved novel of the same name and stunningly helmed by first time feature director Perelman. But "House" is a film that is anchored by its performances. There is hardly a false note in the acting (Ron Eldard occasionally seems overwhelmed by the powerhouse actors who surround him, however his work is still convincing). Jennifer Connelly conveys Kathy Niccoli's despair wonderfully. You can feel the depression wholly consuming her. Ben Kingsley is superb! The scene in the hospital near the end of the film is a master class in acting. Kingsley's work is brave throughout the film--he allows the audience to see Colonel Behrani's flaws and hold him accountable for them while also helping us to understand that his ambition, his dreams and desires are to serve the needs of his family. It is among the most dynamic work by an actor in any year. As fine as Kingsley is, however, my favorite performance of last year and now one of my favorites of all time has to be the stunning work by the invaluable and flawless Shohreh Aghdashloo. In her role as Behrani's patient and loving wife Nadi, Aghdashloo is grace under pressure. I dare you to catch this marvelous actress acting. She is the heart and soul of this film. It is through her expressive eyes that we understand what is at stake and what a home and family truly means. In dialogue that blends Farsi and broken English, Aghdashloo's Nadi is heard loud and clear, there is no mistaking anything she is thinking or saying. Let's face it: the Academy screwed up royally by awarding Renee Zellweger the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her Granny Clampett-ish Ruby in "Cold Mountain" (I say this completely realizing that Zellweger singlehandedly saved "Cold Mountain" from its own pretention). The devastatingly beautiful Aghdashloo far and away claimed the prize with the superlative work she delivers in each and every scene she steals. Here is hoping that Hollywood keeps this major, major talent working for years and years to come. Buy/rent "House of Sand and Fog," which also boasts a very fine performance by young actor Jonathan Adbout as Kingsley and Aghdashloo's son, Esmail. Despite its heavy subject matter, it is a dynamic piece of filmmaking complete with some of the best performances of last year. This film haunted me for weeks after I saw it, and it has yet to release my thoughts completely. A job well done! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 65 of 82 people found the following review helpful: American dream or American nightmare? , February 28, 2004 Reviewer: Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews "House of Sand and Fog," directed by Vadim Perelman, is based on a novel by Andre Dubus III. The film stars Ben Kingsley as Col. Behrani, a former Iranian military officer under the Shah who now lives with his family in the United States. He buys a house from a government source, not knowing that the property was improperly seized from its prior owner (Jennifer Connelly). This bureaucratic nightmare sets up a personal conflict that drives the film. "House" is a beautifully crafted film, rich in detail and visual impact. But what really makes it shine are the excellent performances. Connelly makes her wounded character's pain palpable. As the colonel's wife, Shohreh Aghdashloo brings out both the inner lamb and lioness of the character. Frances Fisher brings a steely authority to her small but memorable role as an attorney. But it's Ben Kingsley who most impressed me. He gives a rich, multifaceted, full-bodied performance; he explores his character's aspects as husband, father, warrior, businessman, and immigrant in a way that creates a memorable and believable person. I found some plot points to seem a bit forced and hard to believe, but overall the superb craftsmanship of the film and its amazing performances really carry "House." This is a drama with moments of shocking intensity, as well as scenes of fierce anger and searing pain. But there are also scenes of real compassion and tenderness. It's a powerful story and a compelling use of the motif of the immigrant experience in America. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Good Ben Kingsly movie , December 16, 2005 Reviewer: nopsman (east coast, USA) - See all my reviews Not a real fan of Jennifer Connelly but liked Ben Kingsly very much in the movie. A good film to settle in on the couch with the spouse and share some popcorn. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Beautifully photographed and well acted drama! , November 26, 2005 Reviewer: smoothjazzandmore (Clay, NY USA) - See all my reviews Oscar winners Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley give solid performances as rivals who both want the same house to call their own. I enjoyed the way this film was photographed. This movie was based on the book by Andre Dubus III. Faithful readers will notice the difference as the film takes on a different perspective, concentrating on both rivals, rather than the family as a whole. Take a star away for that reason. Overall, its still a powerful movie to watch. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 4 of 7 people found the following review helpful: A brilliant masterpiece , October 18, 2005 Reviewer: JP - See all my reviews After this movie, all I thought was wow. WOW. That describes how unbelievably good this movie is. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King over this gem? Is that a joke? How didn't this even get nominated? Sean Penn over Ben Kingsley? Now that is pathetic! Sean Penn's accent is so thick you can barely even understand what he's saying! Ben Kingsley here has given one of those unforgettable performances you'll never see again. His performance is to me the 2nd best ever behind Billy Bob Thorton in the unforgettable Sling Blade. This gem is one of the most tragic ever and in the end, well, I was crying. I felt demolished and I was so sucked in by this masterpiece that I wanted to kill certain characters. This is the first movie that I've seen with Ben Kingsley and I can't belieeve how remarquable he is! Gene Hackman is nothing compared to this man. He put all of his emotions into this movie and made me feel for him. Hands done, this is the saddest and most tragic movie that I have EVER seen. Now for the plot. Kathy (Jennifer Collony) is a young lady living in California. She's got a nice house and a good life (or so we're led to believe). That soon changes though when her house gets reposessed because of not payed taxes. She is furious at these "false?" accusations. While she's trying to get it back, enter an Iraqui man, ex colonel and his wife and son. He buys the house at a very low price to make a huge profit. His family is living a wonderful and sweet life, and their tradtions are adorable. But, lil' Kathy here is still mad. And her wonderful body has attracted a police officer. And he's following here complete orders. What follows is a gem of a movie carried by Ben Kingsley's masterful perfomance. This is one of those rare movies that come along once in a decade. So, please tell your friends and everyone you know to watch this wonderful gem. Its box office is lousy, much like every masterpiece, besides Titanic of course. (I'm just joking, I hope you realized that, Titanic is horrid) Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 6 people found the following review helpful: Gandhi Does LA , October 13, 2005 Reviewer: R. A Rubin (Eastern, PA United States) - See all my reviews I'm beginning to believe that Ben Kingsley is from a desert kingdom. There's sand between my teeth from his recreations of Gandhi, or in this case, one of the Shah's men. He's very good, and so is Jennifer Connelly who I last saw in an overwrought film that the elitist scum of Hollywood liked, Requiem for a Dream. Don't bother with that one unless you enjoy dizzy spells and adult toys, but in HOSAF, based on a most un-Hollywood premise, Connelly's sad face is perfect. HOSAF is not a comedy and is not aimed at fifteen-year-olds. Kingsley is a proud ex-colonel from Iran used to wealth and prestige, but now he is in exile in California. He wears a suit to work, but changes in a restroom into workers garb, because he is reduced to working as a road-gang, ditch digger and a part-time gas station jockey. He's saving every penny he makes and wins a house in an auction. Unfortunately, the County made a mistake and they took the house away from Connelly, a depressed twenty-something, ex-drug abuser. She should have opened her mail and after eviction, her lawyer and new boyfriend start a campaign to evict the Iranian family. Neither Connelly nor Kingsley is portrayed unsympathetically. They are fleshed out with pathos. This is a parable about ethical business and the consequences of our actions. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 252 customer reviews... Listmania! I name 25 films from 2003 you ... : by A. Fuller Ten best movies of 2003 : by Kalle Frm Independent Spirit Awards: Bes... : by mijacogeo22 "mijacogeo22" So You'd Like to... See Some Bleak/Poignant/Depressing/Paranoid/Thrilling : by Rukshan , Published Poet Of Sri Lanka watch some cult films : by superstarm2 , Movie critic/ obsessive but talented watcher Watch some hot actresses : by ZombieMan 5000 , Admirer of talented actresses Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Awards Click here to see more Awards Independent Spirit Awards: Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards: KCFCC Award for Best Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: LAFCA Award for Best Supporting Actress National Board of Review, USA: NBR Award for Best Debut Director New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award for Best Supporting Actress Online Film Critics Society Awards: OFCS Award for Best Supporting Actress Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards: PFCS Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominations Click here to see more Nominations Academy Awards, USA: Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Music, Original Score, Best Actor in a Leading Role Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: BFCA Award for Best Actress, Best Actor Casting Society of America, USA: Artios for Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama Golden Globes, USA: Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama Independent Spirit Awards: Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, Best First Feature Online Film Critics Society Awards: OFCS Award for Best Actor Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards: PFCS Award for Breakout Performance - Behind the Camera Satellite Awards: Golden Satellite Award for Best Film Editing, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama Screen Actors Guild Awards: Actor for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Trivia Click here to see more Trivia Author Andre Dubus III received more than 100 offers from film studios who wanted to make his book into a feature. In the scene near the end of the movie where Kathy pulls into her driveway and tries to shoot herself, Jennifer Connelly accidentally put the car in "reverse" instead of "park", and almost severely damaged the camera positioned in the car door. After Connelly apologized profusely, she was urged by the director to continue the scene, and it ended up being one of the best takes. This is the take shown in the final print. Goofs Click here to see more Goofs When Behrani is shown working in the convenience store, the Snickers bar he is holding is alternately opened/unopened between shots. It seems clear from his entry in the ledger he keeps that he has only eaten one. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections References: The Searchers Referenced in: The Ring Two Featured in: Quotes Click here to see more Quotes Esmail : Why did that man say we would be deported? Behrani : I do not know. But we are American citizens. We own this house. They can do nothing to us now. Esmail : I feel bad for that lady, bawbaw-jahn. Behrani : The woman's house was taken from her because she did not pay her taxes. That happens when one is not responsible. [interjects in Persian] Esmail : Behrani : Do you understand? Do not feel bad. Americans they do not deserve what they have. They have the eyes of small children who are forever looking for the next source of distraction, entertainment, sweet taste in the mouth. We are not like them. We know rich opportunities when we see them and do not throw away God's blessing. [talking with Nadi] Kathy : I grew up in this house. It's the house that my father left to me and my brother when he died. The county evicted me from this house by mistake and your husband bought it and now, he won't sell it back for less than four times what he paid. Now, I don't want to argue with him. You know, I really don't. It's just that if this goes to court, it could take... [interrupting] Nadi : They want to deport us? Kathy : I don't know. Nadi : You must see... they will kill us. They will shoot my childen. [breaks down and crys] [comforting her] Kathy : Hey, hey. You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you? Nadi : Please, you are a very nice girl. [grabs a notepad and pen] Nadi : Please, you write for me everything. I want for to understand for discussing with my husband. OK? Kathy : OK. For more information about "House of Sand and Fog" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( A ) > Aleong, Aki DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Connelly, Jennifer DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Dickens, Kim DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( E ) > Eldard, Ron DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( F ) > Fisher, Frances DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( K ) > Kingsley, Ben DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( R ) > Rodriguez, Marco DVD > Genres > Drama > By Theme > Down on Their Luck DVD > Genres > Drama > By Theme > Psychological Drama DVD > Genres > Drama > General DVD > Genres > Drama > Love & Romance > Crumbling Marriages Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. 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Real Estate Loan

Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Resources & Tools > Home Values and Prices Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Search • Find Homes for Sale • Find Properties for Rent REALTORS • Find & Compare REALTORS Mortgages & Financing • Find a Lender • Today's Mortgage Rates • Loan Calculators • Credit Reports • Refinance Loans Resources • Moving Services • Foreclosure Center Neighborhood Research • What's My Home Worth? • School Profiles • Neighborhood Profiles Specialty Property • Foreclosures • New Homes • Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Real Estate Home Improvement & Services • Home Services • Home Improvement Library • House Facts Get Home Values and Prices Sponsored by Get Home Values and Prices Access millions of public real estate records instantly! This comparable sales data helps you analyze the value of your home or other homes in seconds. Results include price, square footage, bedrooms, and year built (where available). You can also get a custom home valuation from a top-performing local REALTOR! Street Address: City & State or Zip: Sponsored Links Refinance Your Mortgage and Save! Refinance your current mortgage at today's extremely low rates. Get quotes from lenders offering the lowest refinancing rates available. Links. networklender.com Refinance Calculator Omni One Mortgage is committed to building one relationship at a time. We can service any type of loan, stated income, no doc, fixed, interest only, less than perfect credit no problem. www.omnionemortgage.com Refinance Calculator Considering refinancing? Get free quotes from multiple lenders. Takes only 2 minutes. Refinance with or without a perfect Credit. Find great low rates today. c.azjmp.com Refinance Calculator at Homestore.com Calculate home loan payments and check out our free mortgage lender directory. We've got all the information you need to find the loan that's right for you. homestore.com (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

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Sell House

Selling Your Home, Sell home, selling a house, selling house, sell your home - Home Services Mortgages Research Moving Zero Down Appraisals -- -- A Simple Guide for Selling a Home on Your Own Preface: Why sell yourself? Selling a home yourself, without an expensive real estate broker is easier than most people think. However, it will take some work on your part. You will be doing a lot of things that a real estate agent might normally do. Just follow the For Sale By Owner.com step-by-step selling guide below, and you'll not only save lots of money, but we'll make the house selling process as effortless as possible It's the money! Sellers save thousands of dollars not paying a 6% or 7% commission. For example, if your home can sell for $250,000, youd save $15,000 to $17,500 in commissions. Sell Your Home Fast. Because you are not paying an outrageous selling commission, you can afford to price your home more aggressively. The lower the price, the more likely it sells fast. You will still walk away with thousands in savings, but you'll just be doing it faster. It's so easy. Despite what a real estate broker may say, selling a house is not rocket science. They know that, and soon you will too. Just follow the simple selling steps below. And, if you have any questions, call us and one of our representatives will try to answer any questions you may have. You are not alone - For Sale By Owner.com will help you every step of the way. We are one of the largest and fastest growing real estate service companies in America. In fact, our web site is one of the top-five most visited real estate sites in America. Thousands of eager home buyers visit us everyday. Perhaps one of them is looking for a home just like yours. Over the past five years, we've helped sell thousands of homes, saving home owners millions of dollars. So let's get started. 8 Easy Steps to Selling a Home Yourself Step 1. Preparing your home to sell - make it look great Presentation is everything! Home buyers are attracted to clean, spacious and attractive houses. Your goal is to dazzle buyers. Brighten-up the house and remove all clutter from counter tops, tables and rooms. Scrub-down your house from top to bottom. Make it sparkle. Simple aesthetic improvements such as trimming trees, planting flowers, fixing squeaking steps, broken tiles, shampooing rugs and even re-painting a faded bedroom will greatly enhance the appeal of your house. Also, make sure your house smells good. That's right, clean out the cat box and light mildly scented candles. Invite a neighbor over to walk through your house like a buyer would. Get their opinion on how it "shows." The stuffed donkey in the family room may have to go to your in-laws for a while. Step 2. Pricing your home effectively Do not over price your home. Over-pricing when you sell a home reduces buyer interest, makes competing homes look like better values, and can lead to mortgage rejections once the appraisal is in. Over-pricing when selling a home is the single biggest reason why many "for sale by owner" home sellers don't sell their homes successfully. Remember: the home selling market dictates the price (not what you think it should be worth). One of the best ways to correctly price your house when selling is to find out how much other homes, similar to your own, recently sold for in your neighborhood. Talk to home sellers, buyers and check out the real estate listings in your local newspaper. Typically, if you set the price of your home at 5 to 10 percent above the market price, you are likely to end up with an offer close to your home's true value. Also, you may try calculating the cost per square foot of your home compared to the house selling prices in your area (divide list price by square footage of livable space). If your house has more features or other desirable qualities, you may want to set a slightly higher house selling price. The easiest way to accurately price your home is to contact your local home appraiser . Finally, set your house selling price just under a whole number, such as $169,900 rather than $170,000. Step 3. Get a real estate lawyer Even though it's an additional expense, it may be wise to hire a lawyer who will protect your interests throughout the entire transaction. An experienced real estate lawyer can help you evaluate complicated offers (those with a variety of conditions), act as an escrow agent to hold the down payment, evaluate complex mortgages and/or leases with options to buy, review contracts and handle your home's closing process. They can also tell you what things, by law, you must disclose to buyers prior to a sale and can also help you avoid inadvertently discriminating against any potential buyers. In some areas, title companies will handle all aspects of the transaction and have in-house legal departments that can assist you with legal issues that may arise. To locate a title company in your area, click here . Unless you're significantly experienced in the home selling process, having a real estate lawyer at your side provides peace-of-mind. You know you've got someone looking out for your interests, not just the buyers. To locate a lawyer in your area, click here Step 4. Marketing your home Exposure, exposure, exposure. That's how sellers sell their home fast. For Sale By Owner.com provides extensive home exposure because over 700,000 unique visitors come to the web site each month (that's Internet-speak for new people). In fact, For Sale By Owner.com is one of the top-five most visited real estate web sites in the U.S. getting literally millions of visitors looking to buy or sell a home. We spend tens of thousands of dollars a month to assure that For Sale By Owner.com is prominently placed on Internet search engines so buyers can easily find our site throughout process of selling your home. If your home is in a market where For Sale By Owner.com has a mass-distributed magazine, your home's exposure will be even greater because they can be found at thousands of locations frequented by buyers that include grocery stores, shopping centers, convenience stores and restaurants (the magazine is in over 40 markets nationwide). Writing your sell ad While For Sale By Owner.com allows you a 3,000 word description of your house (try to afford that in a newspaper ad), your advertising copy should be thorough yet short, simple and to-the-point. Long, flowery prose will not make your house sound more appealing. It will simply make it harder for the home buyer to read. Make sure to provide the critical facts buyers are looking for such as the house's number of bathrooms, a re-modeled kitchen, etc. Most home buyers quickly scan ads, so it is important that your house stands out. For example, you may want to add a theme-line such as "Priced below market" or "Great schools." Stay away from industry jargon and use language that makes home buyers comfortable. Survey our web site and see how others have written their ads. You will quickly see which are "buyer friendly." Copy their approach for your ad. Home Photos: Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words If you are taking a photo of your home, be sure that the home's yard/driveway is uncluttered. Remove bikes, garbage cans and parked cars. The same applies for interior shots. People are looking to buy your house, not your possessions. Think of furniture as props and the room a stage. Move things around if you have to. Also, take lots of house photos. Film is cheap...your home deserves quality. The more you shoot, the better the odds are that you'll get a few really good shots. Lawn signs Lawn signs are one the most important marketing tools for home sellers. They attract attention to your home. Professionally-produced signs (like the ones we can send to you) telegraph to home buyers a "quality" image of your house. Directional signs also help drive buyers to your property, especially if you do not live on a busy street. Open houses Open houses are sometimes a good way to attract buyers to your home. Typically, real estate agents conduct open houses for two reasons; 1. Clients expect them 2. They are a good way to attract buyers, not just for the open house but for all houses for sale in the Real Estate Agent's area (yes, your competition). The fact is that very few houses sell due to a open house itself. Home Brochures/Information sheets It is a good idea to create an information sheet (with a photo) about your home to give potential buyers. Consider printing copies of your ad from For Sale By Owner.com to give to people who visit your home. The MLS The MLS or Multiple Listing Service can also help market your home, particularly to real estate agents who may know of buyers seeking a property like yours. The MLS is a directory used by real estate agents to announce to other agents that they have a home for sale. In many selling markets, For Sale By Owner.com can put your house on the MLS (for an additional fee). However, if a real estate agent finds you a buyer after seeing your home on the MLS, you must usually pay that agent a 2.5% to 3% commission (the law states that all commissions are negotiable, however). You are your home's best salesman As every salesman knows, to be effective you have to really know your product. And who knows your home better than you? Certainly not a real estate agent, who, in all likelihood, has spent only a few moments in your house before showing it to prospective buyers. Sell your neighborhood as well as your house. Show enthusiasm, but don't get caught-up talking too much about how "your daughter spent the best years of her life in this very room." Step 5. Negotiating an offer on your home When a home buyer makes an offer (this is often presented to you directly from the buyer or through their lawyer), you should consult with your attorney. Buyers and sellers have an Attorney Review Period, which is usually three days, to cancel or amend the offer. The offer becomes a contract at the end of the Attorney Review Period, and is binding. Many of your home's offers can be complicated and contain special clauses that favor the buyer. Purchase price isn't everything. Carefully consider the purchase contract's other terms and conditions. Too many contingencies can leave loopholes and cause a deal to collapse. Especially avoid contingencies that favor the house's buyer, such as linking the escrow closing date to the buyer's sale of their current home. If the buyer insists on such terms, include a so-called kick-out clause in the contract that will allow you to consider other offers if the buyer isn't able to sell within a certain period of time. Assess your buyer's financial qualifications Is the buyer pre-approved? How much of a loan is the buyer seeking? Unless you are in an active market, lenders tend to shy away from underwriting a deal in which the purchase price is higher than the nearest comparable sale and the buyer is putting less than 10% down. If this is the case, your buyer may not be able to obtain financing. Know the home selling market How you judge an offer also can depend on market conditions. If the selling market is slow, you may feel vulnerable, especially if circumstances are pressing you to sell. Make sure any offer you accept does not keep you in escrow longer than 30 days. In a hot market where multiple offers are likely, be wary of countering more than one offer at a time (you could end up in legal trouble if two buyers both accept your counter offer). Also be wary of offers that promise more money but contain poor contract terms (long escrow, multiple contingencies, etc.). If you feel the home's offer is insufficient, make a counter offer. Rarely is a first offer the buyer's absolute highest price they are willing to pay. Negotiating is part of the home selling process. Again, your lawyer should review the details of all offers. Step 6. Home inspections All standard real estate contracts are going to give the prospective home buyer the right to inspect your property - so be prepared. Under a general inspection you are obligated to make major repairs to appliances, plumbing, septic, electrical and heating systems - or the buyer may cancel the offer. The inspection will also include your property's roof, as well as a termite inspection (in some states, house sellers must provide proof that the home is termite free). If you are concerned about how your home will fair when inspected, you may want to visit your local inspector . They can conduct an inspection for you before a potential buyer has one done. This way, you can address the problems before a buyer stumbles upon them. Once the inspections are complete, the buyer makes an application to a mortgage lender. Step 7. Buyer appraisals and other details The mortgage lender will order an appraisal of your home to make sure they are not paying more than the house is worth. They may also order a surveyor to make sure that the property boundaries are properly laid out. They will also order a title search to determine if there are any liens against your property. These tasks are all the responsibility of the buyer and/or their attorney. At this point too, the mortgage company will issue a commitment . Again, the buyer (and their attorney) must complete all conditions listed on the mortgage commitment. Prior to closing, you should notify your lender that you will be paying off your mortgage. After a closing date has been agreed to, you should contact your utility providers and advise them of your final billing date. Step 8. Closing The day of the closing , the home's buyer will do a "walk through" of the property to make sure all agreed repairs are completed and that the home is in the same condition as when the buyer made their offer. If problems arise that this point, the closing can still take place with funds held in escrow to remedy the problem. Closings usually occur 30 - 45 days after you have signed the sales contract. Depending on what state you reside in, you may close with an attorney, or with a title company. At the closing, all monies will be collected, any existing loans or liens will be paid, the deed will be transferred, and insurance will be issued insuring a free and clear title. The home seller will receive the proceeds of their home in one to two business days after the closing. Conclusion This step-by-step home selling guide is a general overview of the process when selling a home. Each state has slightly different laws and customs as they relate to the transaction process. Selling a home yourself can be time consuming, but the financial rewards can be tremendous. With help from For Sale By Owner.com , we try to make the process of home selling on your own as easy as possible. 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