I totally get why FSBO’s are so attractive. They save you money, right? You don’t have to pay the Realtor® commissions and you get to pocket all that extra cash. It’s most definitely very tempting to go it alone and save!
But here’s the clincher…if your house just sits and you have to continue to reduce the price over and over and over, or worse yet, sits forever and doesn’t sell at all…you are going to make absolutely nothing in profits and probably just did a good job of shooting yourself in the foot.
WHY? Because now hundreds, if not thousands, of potential buyers have already seen it! You’ve already missed out on the original thrill of a new listing and the hype that it generates. You were so concerned with saving money, you didn’t take into consideration what your potential buyers wanted.
Here’s what FSBO sellers just don’t seem to grasp…you are far more concerned with your needs than your buyer’s needs. And unless you can turn your listing into the house every buyer wants, no buyer is going to want it!
Personally, I would never sell my own home for the same reason I would never cut my own hair. It’s not my forte. It’s not something I have a lick of experience with. And it’s not something I would even attempt without a professional because I know it could very easily turn into an unsightly disaster that would take months, or with my slow-growing locks even years, to recover from.
Yet people are still sucked into the promises of the FSBO market because they make it sound so alluring. And what could possibly be more alluring than saving money? Well, how about actually getting your house sold? If I had a dime for every FSBO that failed and eventually ended up in the hands of an experienced Realtor®, I’d be rich!
IMHO, FSBO is not a bad idea if you follow the rules of engagement to a T! In other words, if you are willing to put in the time, energy, and cash required to get it sold. But if your idea of selling your own home is to simply slap it up on the market and hope for the best, you are about to experience a very big and very expensive FAIL!
While selling your own home could potentially save you money if done correctly, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to spend any money to get it done! There is your competition to consider after all, which sadly, most FSBO sellers don’t even think of. The majority of your competition have already hired a seasoned pro! That means, their listings have already been prepared and staged to appeal to the most potential buyers, have been professionally photographed, and will be marketed by someone who totally understands and has the connections to garner a larger audience.
Can you do that?
If not and you need assistance, visit Home Staging Expert® to find an experienced stager in your area that can help you get the job done right! Or if you are truly in the DIY mood, our parent company Center Stage Home, Inc. offers a $99.00 On-Line Home Staging Consultation and Game-Plan that will give you everything you need to succeed in prioritized order.
To find a good real estate photographer, we highly recommend a visit to www.realestatephotographers.org
And if you are looking for the total package, you can even find a Realtor® on our website who not only has earned their Home Staging Expert® certification, but has all the experience you need to get your house SOLD!
