So You Are Thinking FSBO

The first thought may be - "Of course he is pitching against FSBO - he is a real estate agent".

And my answer is - "partially true, but it is because I know the stats, not because I am biased about this".

Read on. What I am sharing with you comes from the pros - and market experience.

It is a myth that selling by owner nets you more money!

And, the 6% would just about cover the cost of a professional - eliminating a lot of work, risks and liability for the selling owner!

The number one point to consider is that the FSBO buyer KNOWS you are saving the cost of a professional agent.

In their view, the seller can give it up "to sell". What you are trying to save, so is the buyer.

How good are you at negotiating?

How much time do you have to negotiate?

Do you want to negotiate with everyone on the list?

Pricing is usually viewed as the biggest concern.

My view on this is not the norm. If you are satisfied with the price, then fine.

My biggest concern for sellers is your personal safety and the risk of scams. We all know about the things that happen today. Bad things even happen to real estate agents. It is a fact of life.

This is why folks hire us.

I can't speak to every agent - each is an independent business person. Each of us pursues education to get licensed and continuing education to keep the license. Some agents pursue additional education over and above the requirements. I do.

The point is, it may look easy to buy and sell a house on your own, but if it were that easy - then why all the education requirements?

We just make it look easy :-)

Say No To FSBO

Three reasons you may not want to do a "For Sale By Owner" - fewer and fewer people are. Let today's video show you in just about a minute!

Top 3 Ways to Sell Your House in San Antonio

By Nick Disney (guest poster)

If you’re thinking about selling your house, it’s important to consider the different choices you have available to you and which one of those best suits your specific needs. As a home-seller in San Antonio, there are three main options to choose from when selling your house; we’ll dive into each of these and discuss some of the pros and cons of each one.

For Sale by Owner

For Sale by Owner, also referred to as FSBO, means that you are going to sell your house on your own without the assistance of any home-selling professionals. While most people consider going this route because they want to save on agent commissions, people typically sell their house for less than they do when they work with a real estate agent. You also won’t have someone to help you with all of the paperwork and assist in negotiations.

You need to consider all the factors including sales price, time on the market, paperwork and closing procedures before you decide which choice is best for you.

Pro: Don’t pay any agent commissions.

Con: Lower sales price and no assistance from professionals.


Listing with An Agent

Listing your house for sale with a licensed real estate agent in San Antonio is the most common way of selling and the avenue that will typically get you the highest sale price for your house. The National Association of Realtors reported that “The typical For Sale by Owner home sold for $200,000 compared to $265,500 for agent-assisted home sales.” This means that people who used a real estate agent to sell their house averaged a sale price of $65,500 more than those who sold their house without an agent. Let’s break that down:

Sell with an agent:
Sale price = +$265,500
Mortgage pay-off = -$40,000
Closing costs = -$6,000
Home repairs = -$6700
Agent commission = -$15,930
Cash at Closing = +$196,870

Selling FSBO:
Sale price = +$200,000
Mortgage pay-off = -$40,000
Closing costs = -$6,000
Home repairs = -$6700
Cash at Closing = +$147,300


Real estate agents have access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and since 87% of buyers use a real estate agent to find a home, having an agent to list your house on the MLS is terrific marketing. Also, a licensed real estate agent can help walk you through all the paperwork involved when selling your home and be there to assist you in negotiating sales price and concessions.

Pro: Higher sales price and help with advertising, paperwork, and negotiations.

Con: You will have to pay real estate agent commissions.


Sell to an Investor

If you’ve found yourself searching “sell house fast San Antonio” then selling your house with a professional company like Sell My San Antonio House may be the best route for you. Professional house buying companies are local cash home buyers in San Antonio that specialize in helping home-sellers sell their house fast for cash. How fast is fast? Cash for house companies can usually close on your house in as little as 7 days. They will typically not ask for you to make any repairs and you can have them pay for your closing costs.

Pro: Sell fast, don’t make any repairs, and choose your closing date.

Con: Lower sales price.

Take some time to consider which things are the most important to you when selling your home and then take a look at the pros and cons of each of these choices. You may not get everything that you want, but if you know all of your options then you can select the best choice for you.

Nick Disney, Sell My San Antonio House

Should you consider FSBO

NO FSBO (at the advice of 2 Dr's)

I share many things on social media that I do not post on this real estate blog. This time, I am making an exception and sharing something I think is so very, very important to folks considering selling their home. Often you will hear a REALTOR advise against doing a "For Sale By Owner" (FSBO) and often the response is said to be self-serving as commissions are how REALTORS make a living. Even though the statistics confirm year after year that somewhere around 80 to 90% of those who try going it on their own eventually engage the services of a real estate professional.

You have heard that before so let's get to the news today. The challenge "FSBO sales will, on average, sell for something less than comparable regular sales when markets are in equilibrium."

NAR has shared the short version here: Study: FSBOs Net ‘Significantly’ Lower Profits

And you can view the in-depth report by Dr. Michael Sklarz and Dr. Norman Miller | August 16, 2017 here: Saving Real Estate Commissions at Any Price

5 Reasons Not To

5 Reasons Why You Should Not For Sale By Owner (FSBO)! As I review the reasons, I find it interesting that #5 is what I would call #1 - you NET MORE MONEY using a REALTOR®. The skeptics will suggest that I say that because I am in the business. NOT true. Before I got in the business, I used to be a buyer and a seller - and I always used professionals. I do that too when I need a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, a plumber (especially a plumber - no joke, me and water - oh no!) Experience is a wonderful teacher - 'eh, sometimes reading about it is a lot less painful.

Back on track here. There are 4 other reasons not to do it yourself folks. You will find them in today's article. Check it out

SAY NO to FSBO

Think You Should FSBO? 5 Reasons to Think Again! Negotiation can be tough - finding a qualified buyer (can the buyer afford the home) - following all the laws - and the list goes on. Sure, you may know someone with a success story but the playing field has changes - so much so that over 90% of folks do not FSBO. so many that do eventually hire an agent to do the job. The reasons are compelling. Check it out

Y NO FSBO

Thinking You Should FSBO? Think Again

DIY - seriously?

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t FSBO. Please read this

Things best left to professionals

Today we see specialist everywhere. There are reasons for that

OH NO - DIY - FSBO

Some things are best left to trained professionals. Some things in DIY mode can be stressful - even catastrophic. According to NAR statistics - clearly, the majority who go that route eventually seek the help of a professional once making the attempt. Read more - and then let us help you. It is simply what we do - we help folks.

To do - or not to do

What comes next is always a good question. Read more on that

Of course I am going to say DIY is not a good idea

Because I KNOW what can heppen. Do you? This is not too long, check it out

To sell or not to sell - or how to sell

Check this out for more on that....

Thinking about being a FSBO

There are many points - and risks - to consider. Start here

FSBO - or not!

Think selling by owner is easy - and safe? Check this out first.