FSBO (sometimes referred to as "fizz-bo"), or For Sale By Owner, is a way of selling your home without the use of a real estate professional or broker. The idea behind FSBO is that by selling your home yourself, you save the approximate 6% that would be their commission.
6% may not sound like a lot, but it can add up, especially on more expensive homes. But before you run off and decide to sell your home FSBO, remember that to get a savings like this is not easy. So what’s the catch? Selling FSBO is hard. A lot harder.
Only about 10% of sellers that decide to do FSBO are successful at it. And not all of them end up saving themselves money, either. FSBO sellers often end up accepting a lower price for their home than they would with a real estate professional. Not only that, but you risk getting taken advantage of, especially in this tight, frenzied market.
There are of course, other issues as well. Can you afford to make selling your home your full-time job? Because for a lot of FSBO sellers, that’s exactly what it is. Do you have the time and money to spend on the marketing, advertising, inspections, paperwork, phone calls, showings, and problems that come up? Considering the state of today's market, do you know how you'll handle multiple offers? That's probably what you'll get. This is what it's like when ANY home is sold.
Here are a few advantages to selling with a professional agent. One of the biggest benefits is that they can get your home listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and other popular websites where not only homebuyers but also other agents can find it. It’s this extensive network that helps get your home discovered by a prospective buyer.
Secondly, a real estate professional is a wealth of knowledge. Since helping people buy and sell homes is what they do all the time, they know all the ins and out of the process and can advise you of options when certain things come up. If you're getting ready to sell your house, they can advise you on what things to fix or upgrade that would be the most advantageous to you. They know what buyers in your area are looking for and how to make your house stand out from all the others.
Need a hand? My Favorite Realty in Palmer offers you assistance with FSBO. That's right! You can do part of it, and we can do some of the other things; however you'd like to work it out. If you’re interested in giving it a go, give us a call at (907) 746-HOME. We’re authentic, honest and easy to work with. no pressure realtors ho can lend a hand.
