Sunday, May 18, 2008

FSBO Advantages & Disadvantages

Main Advantage of a FSBO? REALLY!!! Think Again!

Most FSBO sites say...."The main advantage of selling your real estate privately is that you will save the 5% to 7% commission costs a Realtor would charge for listing and selling your property."

But do you really? Ask us why you do not actually save - that you actually lose that 5% and much more!!

Main Disadvantage of a FSBO:

The main disadvantage of selling your property privately is its lack of exposure due to the high cost of marketing and advertising. If you do not continually advertise your property, the only way it will be seen is if a prospective buyer drives by and sees the FOR SALE sign posted.

If a prospective buyer is looking to relocate to your town or city from a different region of the country, a Real Estate For Sale by Owner sign on your house or lawn will not be seen but your Internet listing through MLS and our website will be seen 24 hours a day 7 days a week from anywhere in the world!

When it comes to selling your property, advertising can make the difference between selling in a week, a month or not selling at all! Listing your real estate through our office will help sell your property faster by cost effectively Maximizing its Exposure to potential buyers!

************************************
Paulette Upshall
Realtor (R), Owner

CENTURY 21 Admiral Cove Realty
www.halifaxrealestateteam.ca
www.C21AdmiralCove.ca

M: 902-877-8851
O: 902-835-HOME (4663)
F: 902-835-7214
Toll Free: 1-877-C21-ADMI

"Resolve to be a master of change rather than a victim of change."

Thinking of a career in Real Estate? Give me a call. Let me show you how to put your career on the right track.

Know anyone thinking of buying or selling a home? Please give them our name. Your referral is our greatest compliment.

FOR SALE BY OWNERS

For Sale By Owner Tips

Need assistance in making an informed decision on whether the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) route is for you? Find out why buyer beware - applies with some FSBO homes.

BUYERS:

There are some very good FSBO deals out there. However, there are homes for sale by owner that are also greatly over-priced, some by $10,000-$30,000 and more. To be fair, there are also lots of real estate listings that are over-priced!

Are you able to distinguish between For Sale by Owner homes that are listed at fair market value, modestly over-priced, or really over-priced? A buyer's agent can help negotiate a fair price, protect your interests, and remove emotion from the equation with a professional market analysis of the home you wish to purchase. The best part is that a buyer's agent does not usually cost the buyer any money, and your interests are protected when you work with an experienced Realtor.

SELLERS:

Buyers not finding you? If you are selling FSBO, there are some questions you might consider asking before listing your home on a FSBO internet site.
Do the For Sale by Owner sites that you visit post their success rates - the number of sales-to-active listings ratio, and their listed price-to-sales price ratio? If not, will they give you the statistics when you ask? If their numbers are not forthcoming, why would they hide information from you which is readily available to them?

Do the For Sale by Owner sites that you visit use deceptive marketing tactics to secure your home listing? A 2003 study of the homes that were marked "Sold" in a popular Canadian FSBO publication, revealed that many of the homes were not sold by owner! They were sold on Canada's Multiple Listing Service (MLS) by a Realtor!

For Sale by Owner sites promise to save you thousands of dollars in Real Estate commissions but do they really? By nature, For Sale by Owner - FSBO - shoppers are looking for bargains. Are you ready to be a target for low-ball offers? Do you know how to handle them when they come in?

With so many For Sale by Owner websites on the Net and more cropping up daily, consider the monumental task that buyers face trying to find you!

Why do most FSBOs eventually list their homes with a Realtor on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)? One reason why is that the MLS marketing system is unparalleled for putting buyers and sellers together.

Most buyers use Realtors, so marketing to Realtors is essential. Do you have a marketing plan in place for both Realtors and Buyers?

If you are thinking of selling your house For Sale by Owner, if you are thinking of purchasing a For Sale by Owner home, or if you are looking for more information before you make your decision, please call me to discuss.

For exceptional service, honest answers, and no pressure to list, contact me today, or download some of our resources in the Home Buying and Home Selling sections.




************************************

Paulette Upshall, BScOT, OT Reg (NS)

Realtor (R), Owner

CENTURY 21 Admiral Cove Realty





M: 902-877-8851
O: 902-835-HOME (4663)
F: 902-835-7214
Toll Free: 1-877-C21-ADMI

"Resolve to be a master of change rather than a victim of change."

Thinking of a career in Real Estate? Give me a call.
Let me show you how to put your career on the right track.

Know anyone thinking of buying or selling a home? Please give them our name. Your referral is our greatest compliment.