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FSBO vs. Utlizing a Realtor: 
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Did you know that only 8% of FSBO homes actually make it to closing?*

You want to sell your home.  You've looked into getting a realtor, but you don't want to pay the commission that goes along with the brokerage.

So you've decided to go the route of FSBO (For Sale By Owner).  Afterall, who knows your home better than you do?  Right?

After paying to have your home listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and then taking the best photos and posting them, you post a craigslist ad.  You've also got a FSBO Sign with your phone number hand-written on it sitting on your front lawn. 

Alternate Ending #1
The first week goes by and although you've seen some people driving by slowly, you haven't received any calls for people to come view your house.  The second week goes by and one person calls on a Saturday while you're at home and they stop by Sunday Morning to view it.  They start walking through the house, but then something changes in their attitude and it seems as though they just want to leave.  What happened?  Why aren't you getting more showings on your home?  Afterall, it's in a nice neighborhood, you've made plenty of upgrades, it has great curb-appeal and the overall location is excellent!  So what's going on?

Did you have all the lights on prior to them arriving?  Did you take down all of your family photos?  Maybe it was the carpeting that should have been changed going down the basement steps.  The house smelled normal to you, but what did they smell when they walked in.  How does your price compare to homes in the area that were sold recently? 

Alternate Ending #2
Your neighbors, random people and others who aren't truly interested in purchasing a home call and come to look at your home (possibly even people who are trying to look at what to steal.)  You have so many calls and questions that your trip out of town with that special person in your life this coming weekend isn't possible because you're trying to straighten out all the appointments for Saturday and Sunday which is when people typically have enough free-time to view homes.  You've already given up 3 of your weeknights and had countless interruptions while trying to relax after working all day and now this?!?!

These are just a very few of the challenges you face when you decide to sell your home on your own.  Not to mention that when the offer comes to you at your office fax, you're not sure how to go about countering the offer because it has to be done in a very specific manner.  There are contingencies on the offer that go above and beyond a home inspection and an appraisal.

Alternate Ending #3
Here are just a few of the benefits to using a Realtor to sell your home:

• Your home is priced for the market.
• Showings are scheduled and specific times can be blocked out so that you have limited disruptions.
• Your home is prepared for showings and I will provide you instructions on what to do:  turn on all the lights, leave a scented device or candle near the entry way for the first interior impression, make sure every room is easily accessible and clutter is removed, leave the MLS Sheet and home book that I've provided you with on the counter.  We've already taken down all of your family and personal photos, so that part has been done.  The list goes on, but for each showing you'll have to prepare very minimally.
• Go out for the afternoon or catch a movie on a weeknight.  Use the showing as an excuse to take that special someone out to dinner or spend time with friends.
• Let me hold Open Houses and market your property on more than just Craigslist and the MLS.
• I'll put a professional looking sign in your front yard that is eye-catching.
• I'll market your property every way that you would, but I'll also market it to other realtors.
• The most important thing:  When I receive an offer, I'll call you immediately.  If you're on vacation on a warm sandy beach, all you have to do is return my call when you get back to your phone and I'll tell you what's been offered and can make a recommendation.  You don't have to worry about how to counter the offers you receive.  You just tell me what you want, I'll provide you with my professional opinion and take care of all the necessary paperwork/documentation.  No deadlines missed, no paperwork for you, just a signature, no late nights filling out forms.

Every single home I've sold that was previously listed as a FSBO has brought with the seller a level of frustration as they've already spent more than $1,500.00 of their own money trying to sell it and it's been on the market for a long time.  You've lost the initial appeal realtors send their buyers when looking at it.  The MLS Sheet now lists the total time that your home has been on the market which can draw concern from realtors advising their buyers.

Please DO NOT spend your hard-earned money trying to sell your home!  Let me do the work and you can spend your money taking a 3-day weekend somewhere!

CONTACT ME

*Wisconsin Realtor's Association