If you are selling your own home, you have two options: use a realtor or do it yourself. Although the majority of people choose to sell their home through a real estate agent, a few brave souls will decide to sell their home by themselves. If you are one of them, keep reading for some useful tips on selling your home through a classified advertisement.

What are the advantages of selling a home on your own, without the assistance of a realtor? The most obvious benefit is cost. Most realtors charge anywhere from 3-6% of the purchase price. You will save that cost if you decide to sell on your own. The other advantage is that you have more control over your marketing. You decide where to place your advertising and what the ads will say.

When deciding to place a classified ad for your home, the first decision will be where to place the ad. Where you place your ad will depend on where you live and what free placements are available. The mostly widely known platform is Craigslist, where a person can sell anything and everything. Depending on the country, Kijiji or E-bay Classifieds might also be available. All of these sites can be accessed online and it is not necessary to speak to anyone from their organization.

Go to the site and look for the icon for posting your own ad. The software will ask you where you want to place your advertisement and search for the real estate section. You can then place your ad under that section and it should be up and running within minutes.

Here are five tips for making the most of your free classified real estate ad:

1. Give the Important Information. This includes the number of bedrooms, the square footage, age of the home and location.

2. Always List a Price. People expect to see a price listed and won’t respond unless you have one. A price gives them somewhere to start when doing negotiations. A listed price also lets them know if your home is within their range.

3. Make it Sound Enticing. Make your home sound enticing by helping the reader imagine themselves living there. If the house is in the country, talk about the sound of the birds flying by. If it’s a downtown condo, talk about being able to access the best shopping areas in town. Sell the experience of living in the home, not just the physical characteristics of the place.

4. Upload Good Pictures. Take the best pictures you can of your home and upload those pictures to the site. Be aware that this process can be slow but it is definitely worth it! Use the maximum number of pictures allowed and try to get a variety in your shots. If you can, put up at least one of the exterior and one of the interior of your property.

5. Make It Easy to Contact You. Give more than one phone number, as well as your e-mail address. People trying to buy real estate don’t want to wait too long, once they have decided to buy. If they can’t get a hold of you right away, they might not bother doing so again. So give out all the numbers you have, including all cell phones and be sure to answer your phone or respond to you e-mail!

Selling your property on your own can be challenging and advertising is a must. These five helpful tips will go a long way in the marketing of your home to potential buyers.