I'm Jane.

**FSBOJane** · 10-10-2007, 12:50 PM

Hello, everyone! I'm Jane, a semi-retired real estate professional currently living in the Chicago area. A friend at the community college where I teach recommended I get involved with your forum, so here I am.

Some background about me:
I

**Jaysonnhs** · 10-10-2007, 03:22 PM

Jane,

Welcome to the forum. I agree and disagree with you! I think that real estate savvy people, such as yourself, can get away with FSBO. On the other hand, if someone knows nothing about real estate, marketing etc. and doesn't have time their profit margins might not exist.

**Codythebest** · 10-10-2007, 05:05 PM

I agree. Some people will make less money as FSBO. You just need to know how to deal. Looks like it was your case since you are(were) an agent yourself...

**TeamRobertson** · 10-10-2007, 05:16 PM

I think like the previous people it all depends on if the person really knows the market, how to work it, and how to market.

Location also plays a huge role, as if you are stuck all the way back in a subdivision that has a lot of roads to get to it from a main road your drive by traffic are going to be almost non-existant.

If you know how to market, as I have seen some FSBO people do, including making a website for their home, flyers, etc. I guess it might all be an opinion of how much time you have to devote to selling your home, if you are willing to take the liability issues, especially with contracts, etc.

I think obviously convenience wise Realtors are awesome (I am a wee bit biased though

), however it is not impossible for a really savvy seller to sell FSBO.

We work with some by offering free marketing as a listing on our website with their contact number, etc. This is for the hope that if the seller sells their home FSBO they will use us as their buyers agent, and if they are unable to sell their home they will see the great job we do for our clients, and use our services.

Anyone else offer any kinds of "Free" services to FSBO's?

**FSBOJane** · 10-11-2007, 06:39 PM

Wow, what a friendly place! Thanks for the feedback already.

While yes, I was a real estate agent, I think that's exactly why I am an authority on this. I know what real estate agents do, and I'm convinced homeowners can (learn to) do those things themselves. I'm also convinced that what real estate agents do usually doesn't justify the commissions they receive.

You know, I was thinking today that real estate agents are like staffing agencies. What they really do is find out what's out there and try to hook those who have openings with those who are looking for them.

I plan to write a post about this on my blog sometime soon.

**RJacobsen** · 10-12-2007, 11:47 AM

Welcome to the forum Jane,

I think that there are likely many individuals here who could learn a great deal from your experiences. Thanks for joining and I look forward to hearing more about some of your good and bad experiences, regarding FSBO!

**Greg** · 10-13-2007, 05:27 AM

How can you know you wouldn't have made more money with an agent? Without access to the market info available to agents to were taking a stab in the dark and got lucky. It is possible that you sold some of those houses too cheap.

**FSBOJane** · 10-16-2007, 02:03 PM

It's a common misperception that real estate agents have some sort of access to data that others do not. In reality, discovering current market values can be done by anyone.

By the way, of course you can't know if you would've made more/less money in each situation... but I've done it both ways and always been happier, more satisfied and more successful with FSBOs.

I find people who are reluctant to believe this haven't tried it or have only tried it halfheartedly.

RJ: thanks for the welcome, and I hope you're right!

**tlnew** · 10-18-2007, 01:07 PM

I personally believe in the FSBO concept. I promote a website called fsbo com where people can list their properties, and it is loaded with information.

Terry