The big myth of FSBO is that you get to sell your home for the same price you would had you used a full service real estate agent. This is often not true. The fact is that most buyers will reduce their offer by about the amount of the commission they think you are saving. In fact, the majority of FSBO sales actually involve an agent on the buyers side, and their fee is almost always paid by the seller.

The problem of FSBO Overload. FSBO Overload is the fact that in any given city, there may be half a dozen or more FSBO websites doing business. Buyers looking for homes are often not even aware of all the sites listing homes. The fact is that the vast majority of online searches are conducted for listings that are part of a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). If your home is not being found on the internet, you need to put your hope in the local buyer driving by your home. This is generally not your best choice.

Limiting the number of potential buyers. When you list FSBO you can severly limit the number of showings you get, and therefore your chance of selling the property. When you sell a home on your own, you need to be willing and able to show it at almost any time, often with very short notice. Real estate agents who deal with relocating clients often have only a day to set up showings, and will often only meet the clients once or twice before writing an offer. In addtion, in some states, an agent needs to be working as a buyers agent in order to show homes that are not listed on the local MLS. These are just some of the issues that can work against you in the FSBO process.

The FSBO/MLS Option. Some companies also offer to list your home on the local MLS for an addtional fee. The listing fee is usually several hundred dollars, and when you list on the MLS you are generally agreeing to pay a commission to anybody who brings you a buyer. There goes at least half of the saving you anticipated. Unfortunatly, you are now also dealing with a professional real estate agent with no professional representation of your own.

The Offer An offer, if accepted, is generally a legally binding contract. You must be sure that you are aware of every detail and timeline in order to protect your interests. There are many other details to consider in an offer besides the price they are willing to pay. Remember, there is nothing to prevent a buyer from writing an offer that is very good for them, and very bad for you. The issues that can make an offer bad for you may have nothing to do with the price.

A few other things to consider...Why do most big organizations require their employees to use a full service real estate agent when they relocate? Why have these companies decided that this is the way to go? Because thay understand that cost and value are two different things. Real estate agents bring value to a transaction, and in many cases have access to buyers that will not be available to you.

Use HomeIncentive when you need to sell your home and you will get the best of both worlds. You will save money and get the professional services and attention you need in a transaction of this importance.