My first listing

I have my first listing, okay it is my house, but I think it counts (my broker said yes). As it is my first listing, I have been experimenting with many ways to market it. I have no preconceptions of what is good or bad when it comes to home marketing so I will try pretty much anything.

Of course I went with the few musts: Realtor.com, Balloonhomes.com, my site and the MLS. To not do these would be malpractice. But what after that?

The first Sunday after I listed it, we held an open house. To drive folks to the listing I mailed out 160 invitations to the neighbors, friends and folks I thought would be great advocates. I also put an open house ad in The Oshkosh Northwestern's Sunday homes addition. During the two hour open house 33 separate "buyers" attended. This does not include identifiable neighbors and friends. I think this was a pretty good attendance.

The next week I expanded my reach and added a Facebook page for the house. I also scheduled another open house for that Sunday, but no invitations. On the Facebook page I sent out invitations to all my Oshkosh friends alerting to the open house event. Another ad ran in the Northwestern. A dear friend and colleague of mine, Kris Villars, hosted the open house this time. She reported 15 additional buyers came through, including one who saw the house on Facebook.

I also purchased a domain for the house and gave it its own website: http://www.1249MerrittAve.com. I added more pictures to Realtor.com and twittered about the house. I sent out fliers to other real estate agents who had buyers looking for houses like mine. I got slapped for doing that. Apparently an agent in Oshkosh took offense and requested the MLS board make me stop mailing new listing fliers. Don't understand that one.

So, how is it going? There is a lot of interest, phone calls, emails, showings, but no offers, yet. I am open to all ideas for further marketing options. I am going to post to Craigslist and will continue to mail out fliers to targeted parties.

When your first listing is your own house, you can learn a lot and try anything, your client won't mind.

When to buy

Is there one special moment when you know it is time to commit? Not just when the pros out way the cons, but the moment when you realize the risk of homeownership is worth it?

Doubts can erode all the preparation and work you have put into finding the house. A buyer can talk themselves out of a decision pretty easily. Two words usually work: what if? I can guarantee you, buying a house will cost you money. It will cost you money the day you close, two weeks after you close, two months and two years. Some, if not most, will be because you decide to do something, but some will be a repair. It comes with homeownership, responsibility.

Are you ready?

I can't answer that question for you. Why did you start looking for a home? Why did you go on line and click through to learn more about a house? Why did you set your sights on that particular one? Why did you start arranging your furniture in your head when you saw it? Why did you fantasize about that sparkling new appliance on sale that will fit just perfectly?

Remember that feeling and let go of the what if.

You did your due diligence. Respect your decision and move in.