FSBO or Realtor? The Facts You Need To Make A Decision
Like so many other times in the business of real estate, I'm absolutely amazed at how people affiliated with For Sale By Owner companies can write off the value of a state licensed Realtor and suggest paying Realtor commissions is not a good idea. There are many articles that promote the For Sale By Owner approach to real estate and that's fine. Like many people, I like to get the facts before making an important and financially sensitive decision when it comes to large investments in real estate.
Many FSBO companies question why a home seller has to pay 6% realtor commission when they can simply pay $25 per month to place their home listing on a FSBO website. Now I’m not saying FSBO website exposure is a bad thing. I feel any exposure when selling your home is obviously a good thing. But, exposure alone is only part of the process necessary when selling a home. What the FSBO sites don’t tell you upfront can be quite scary.
If you weren’t selling your home, would you allow a bunch of strangers in your home to look around at each room, opening all closets and essentially taking note of all your worldly possessions? Most of us would get nauseous at the thought. Well, by utilizing a FSBO service to market your home, that is exactly what you are doing. They offer no screening process to ensure the strangers coming to your door are qualified buyers. Most don’t offer any assistance with writing contracts or negotiating them which leaves the homeowner fending for themselves. Unless you are a skilled negotiator, you are in for a rough ride.
When you list with a licensed Realtor, you are getting much more than just marketing. A licensed Realtor is bound by certain ethics and rules that are in place to provide the home seller a plan of action to help reach their goals. Marketing is only one part of what a Realtor provides. A state licensed Realtor is also responsible for negotiating not only the price of an offer on the home, but also the terms of the offer. Terms can include:
***Amount of escrow deposit
***Amount of additional escrow deposits
***Financing terms
***Closing date
***Who pays title search and insurance? What if a title issue comes up? What if there are liens on the property?
***Home Inspection periods and what the seller will or will not include if repairs are needed. What if inspections turn up termites or other damage caused by wood destroying organisms?
***What if a buyer defaults on a contract? How are you protected against lost time and how do you get the escrow money they deposited.
These are only a few parts of a contract that a professional and licensed Realtor negotiates on a seller’s behalf. Again, I’m amazed how anyone that is not highly skilled and knowledgeable in real estate sales and transactions would not highly consider interviewing several Realtors and reviewing their qualifications. I guess the closest thing to representing yourself in a real estate transaction would be representing your self in a court of law without using an attorney. Not a good idea. So, why would you pay a Realtor 6% commission? Quite simply to keep you out of trouble and protect your best interests. After all, we pay accountants, lawyers, doctors and consultants to advise us and keep us out of trouble. Why not a licensed Realtor?
If you are considering selling your home and are not sure if you will proceed as a FSBO or hire a professional and licensed Realtor, please visit my website for more information at http://www.SeanLSpencer.com. You can also call me personally to discuss the options and what is best for your particular situation.
Sincerely,
Sean L. Spencer
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