NAR(r) Broker Will Swear To It – Real Pro’ Agents Share It – FSBO “Truth”

For posting the “Truth” on your website, some FSBOs won’t like it. These prospects would not have listed with you anyway. For Sale By Owners, who can take good advice, will appreciate your courage, celebrating listing their home with you.

Sometimes the “Truth” hurts. However, being scammed, raped or even worse hurts a lot more. Ask any police officer if home sellers should throw their doors wide open to strangers. Better yet, ask how often FSBOs report to law enforcement after being robbed, assaulted, or endangered by people posing as homebuyers.

Since many agents, in an attempt to appear professional, are reluctant to tell prospects the whole egregious truth, too many FSBOs are not properly informed of the real risks they are taking. In an effort to put the safety of others ahead of personal gain, you can be assured that you, a true “Professional,” have done the right thing.

It is absolutely the right of the owner to sell his own house, without the help of a real estate agent. More often than not, however, the dominant marriage partner says, “We can sell our house ourselves, honey, without paying any real estate commissions. We’ll need those extra dollars by the time we move.”

No thought about danger is realistically acknowledged.

Rather, the man says, “I’ll go get the For Sale By Owner sign. You write the ad for the paper. We’ll save thousands selling this way!”

His accommodating, if apprehensive, escort places the advertisements, is supposed to answer the phone, makes appointments for -supposedly interested- homebuyer prospects to come see the “For Sale” property. She wants to be sure that her husband is at her house, with her, when people come to see her house. If that isn’t always possible, chances are she is aware enough of the inherent evil that lurks in her that she will try to ensure that she is a friend.

Soon, the parade of the unqualified begins. These are the curious “Lookie-Lews”. People come to the FSBO house, anxious for their own reasons, not all of which are honorable. For the thieves, it’s “all against all”. For savvy real shoppers, “It’s Bonanza!” Unfortunately, “Little Joe” Cartwright isn’t there to protect the farmer’s interests.

Every year, dozens of real estate agents are kidnapped, robbed, raped, and murdered. The NAR®, National Association of Realtors® continually warns its own members to be vigilant and be careful who they work with. The “Truth” is: For Sale By Owners can’t be too careful…