NAR(r) Broker Will Swear On It: Real Pro Brokers Share It – FSBO "TRUE"
For posting the “Truth” on your website, some FSBOs will not like you. These prospects would not have listed with you anyway. For Sale By Owners, who can get some good advice, will appreciate your courage, celebrating listing your home with you.
Sometimes the “Truth” hurts. However, getting 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 full unspeakable 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 a personal gain motive, you can be sure that you, a true “Professional”, have done the right thing.
It is absolutely the homeowner’s right to sell their own home, without the help of a real estate agent. However, more often than not, the dominant marriage partner says, “We can sell our house ourselves, honey, without paying any real estate commission. We’ll need those extra dollars when we move.”
No thought of danger is realistically acknowledged.
Rather, the man says, “I’ll go find the For Sale By Owner sign. You write the ad for the newspaper. We’ll save thousands selling this way!”
His accommodating, if apprehensive, escort posts the ad, is supposed to answer the phone, makes appointments for – supposedly interested – homebuying prospects to come look at the “For Sale” property. She wants to be sure that her husband is in her house, with her, when people come to see her house. If that’s not always possible, it’s likely that she has enough awareness of the inherent evil that lurks in her that she’ll try to make sure she’s a friend.
Soon, the parade of the unskilled begins. These are the curious “Lookie-Lews”. People come home from the FSBO, anxious for their own reasons, not all of which are honorable. For thieves, it’s a free-for-all. For astute royal 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 careful who they work with. The “Truth” is: For Sale By Owners can’t be too careful…