Comments on: Reasons People Fear FSBOs

By: Dallas Real Estate Buyer Rebate

Dallas Real Estate Buyer Rebate — Tue, 27 May 2008 01:35:17 +0000

Having a realtor will end up with a higher sale price for your home. It is completely worth it as FSBO’s have so much trouble selling their homes that they end up signing up with a realtor anyway.

By: Jill Murry

Jill Murry — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:43:12 +0000

People who won’t sell their home unless they have an agent probably thinks that it’s the agents who do the selling, but in reality, the selling agent only lists the property while the buying agents are the one who bring in buyers. There are other options other than selling FSBO. Many people enlists the help of flat fee listing companies where their homes are placed on MLS sites, giving the seller more exposure.

By: FSBO Jane » Bigger Pockets

FSBO Jane » Bigger Pockets — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:52:20 +0000

[...] If you get a chance, go over and take a look! My first post is viewable here. [...]

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:02:36 +0000

Dallas: As the final quote in my post above illustrates, there’s no harm in trying to sell it yourself first. So what if you were to end up going with a realtor?

Dan: Yes.

RE Blog: Maybe not for everybody, but for most everybody.

Dawn: Thanks for the valuable feedback! I am with you!

Phx: Yes, exactly!

Mike: Actually Mike, today’s slow market is a great reason to sell it yourself. You say a lot of people don’t realize real estate agents work together to find buyers. You’re right. In fact, I’ve found a lot of people don’t realize the magical “MLS” listing doesn’t find you buyers but agents. Those agents will maybe find you a buyer. Emphasis on the maybe.

You’re also right about the connections agents have. This is something I’ve also found through Buy Owner, a help-you-sell-it company that can connect you with a mortgage (they work with Guaranteed Rate), title, lawyer, and more.

I don’t mean to insult real estate agents; I’ve been one. I don’t deny that we work hard. I’m just completely convinced that intelligent, hardworking people work hard too, and they should get to keep their money.

By: Mike Brown

Mike Brown — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:21:55 +0000

I’m a Realtor myself and in a really hot market I’d agree with you. In a hot market a home can sell in two weeks or less. In our current market your home may sit for a year or more if it’s not priced well.

Something a lot of people don’t realize is that it’s usually not the Realtor you hire to list your home who finds the buyer. We Realtors all work together to find you a buyer. In effect when you hire one Realtor you are actually hiring every Realtor in your area. Wouldn’t you rather have 1500 people trying to find you a buyer than just trying to do it yourself? We have large databases of potential buyers, websites that generate hundreds of leads and when you multiply that by 1500 Realtors who do you think is going to get the job done quicker?

It’s certainly not rocket science but we do this every day and already have good working relationships with layers, home inspectors, appraisers, financing companies and we have the raw data and experience to price your home appropriately.

If your car engine dies you can buy a new engine and tools to replace it yourself, if your house needs a new roof you can also drag a couple thousand pounds of shingles up a ladder and do it yourself. Whats your time worth? We can make the whole process a lot less stressful but you certainly don’t need to use us. The choice is yours.

By: PhxCPA

PhxCPA — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:50:25 +0000

Thank you for those encouraging words, Jane! I can just imagine the stress that selling a home for the first time can cause the average homeowner.

I would imagine that if the homeowner were to take less of the commission and offer the buyer’s agent a higher co-broke; he/she would benefit by selling their home much quicker.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:34:14 +0000

I agree that selling your own home can feel very overwhelming, but it is doable and the thousands of dollars that you can save are worth it. After selling and investing in real estate for the last 10 years, here are some things I have found helpful:

Stressful Exoerience: Just because you do not hire a realtor doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Build a team that includes an inspector and a good attorney. Consider having your own appraisal done as well. Although these services do cost money, they will cost less than a real estate agent commission and are worth the peace of mind they give you. Also, having these resources will give you a stronger negotiation position with buyers.

Fear of Spending Too Much: Although traditional real estate marketing can be expensive, the internet has dozens of places to list your home for free, such as Craigslist. Also, starting a viral marketing campaing in your area can be done for just a few hundred dollars.

Fear of Failure: People who hire real estate agents fail to sell their homes too, so there are no guarantees. But create a strong marketing strategy, a budget, and give yourself a timeframe - 30 days for example - to sell your home yourself first. Worst case, you call a realtor. Best case, you just saved yourself thousands!

Dawn