| Some For Sale By Owner sites, or FSBO | | | | seriously look at FSBOS (truth is, most are just |
| (pronounced Fizz-Bo) as it's called in the real | | | | "lookers") are expecting a DISCOUNT on the |
| estate world, love to show you how "easy" it is | | | | purchase of a FSBO by the usual commission fee |
| for you to sell your home yourself. Hey, it's their | | | | for your market. Both buyer and seller can't get |
| job, after all, to convince you to list with them | | | | the "savings." Guess who wins if you want to |
| (that's what they're doing, you know) vs. listing | | | | sell? |
| with a REALTOR®. That's the only way that | | | | 5. Sell your home fast |
| they get paid is to get you to advertise with | | | | Supposedly, because you don't "up" the price to |
| them. However, the reasons that they give for | | | | include a commission, your home will sale faster. |
| someone to go FSBO vs. listing with a | | | | Truth is, as stated above, buyers looking at your |
| REALTOR® are flawed, at best. | | | | home will deduct the commission from your |
| 1. Less hassles and frustrations | | | | asking price, so if you've already reduced your |
| Somehow, having to maintain all the advertising | | | | price, you're getting hit TWICE, (that's assuming |
| (not to mention the cost of that advertising), | | | | that it's priced right in the first place). Also, |
| schedule showings, preview buyers, show your | | | | almost 90% of all home buyers use an agent to |
| property, getting your property ready to show, | | | | find property. If yours isn't listed, it's not "on the |
| contacting attorneys, appraisers, contractors, | | | | market" to those buyers. Can you really sell |
| inspectors, etc and a whole host of other "behind | | | | your home faster AND for more money by |
| the scenes" things that go on when your | | | | ONLY marketing it to 10% of the active buyers in |
| property is on the market is supposed to be less | | | | the market? |
| hassle and frustrating than simply letting a | | | | 6. Less uncertainty |
| professional, knowledgeable and experienced | | | | You'll have less uncertainty because you'll get to |
| REALTOR® take care of it for you. Of | | | | interview the buyer and will know the "serious" |
| course, if you believe that you don't have to | | | | ones. I ask, how exactly? Do you have a lot |
| keep your house clean and "ready to show" and | | | | of experience dealing with home buyers to |
| that you can make appointments when it suits | | | | determine how serious they are? How would |
| you, then they may have a point. | | | | you know if they are even qualified for the price |
| 2. You can sell your home better than anyone | | | | of your home? Sure, they'll say they are, but |
| else | | | | what if they're lying (buyers DO do that |
| The simple truth here is...it ain't true. The fact is | | | | sometimes)? Furthermore, for buyers who didn't |
| BECAUSE it's your home, you'll have a harder | | | | like the property, you'd like to know why. |
| time selling it than a neutral third-party (that | | | | However, most buyers wouldn't be truthful with |
| includes a REALTOR® or your next door | | | | this either when dealing with the seller directly, as |
| neighbor). Why? Because you have an emotional | | | | most don't want to say anything negative about |
| attachment to the property. It is practically | | | | your home to you. They will to an agent, though |
| impossible for you to separate you from your | | | | and you can use that to help you sell. An |
| home and "sell" it to a potential buyer. Even I, as | | | | experienced professional REALTOR® will have a |
| a REALTOR® prefer to list my personal home | | | | system in place for you, as the seller, to get |
| with another agent because they will be better at | | | | good feedback on showings. |
| selling it than I will. | | | | 7. It's easy...as selling a car |
| 3. Sell for a price on your terms; you're in control | | | | Seriously, this is just a complete myth. That is the |
| Well, you can choose to price your home for | | | | definition of comparing apples and oranges there. |
| whatever you want. However, it's the market | | | | They say that a lender or an attorney will "take |
| that will ultimately decide what that property sales | | | | over" the process of the sale once you get a |
| for. So, you can decide to price your home | | | | contract on the home. That, too, is simply not |
| within the current market prices, or you can | | | | true. A lender is going to make sure that the |
| simply wait for the market to "catch up" to your | | | | buyer gets the loan (assuming that they're |
| price. If you're ready to sell, which would you | | | | qualified). They are not going to do anything about |
| prefer? An agent can help you in setting an | | | | the sale other than that. An attorney is going to |
| accurate price based on current market | | | | make sure that the documents provided to HIM |
| conditions, not simply guessing. | | | | (if you forget something, that's your problem) are |
| 4. More $$$ in your pocket | | | | legal and valid for your state, that's all. They're not |
| This is "save the commission" argument. The | | | | going to make sure everything is moving forward |
| facts are that, on average, agent-assisted home | | | | as it should and don't care if it does. Furthermore, |
| sell for 32% MORE than FSBO sales. Now, would | | | | in many states (NC for example), the closing |
| you lose 32% in order to "save" 5 to 6%? | | | | attorney works for the BUYER. |
| Furthermore, the majority of buyers that do | | | | |