Month: August 2012

For Sale By Owner com Founder used an agent

August 21, 2012

Today I learned something no so surprising.  CEO of ForSalebyOwner.com, Colby Sambrotto sold his home using a Realtor! said the article title.

He’d used his FSBO site for 6 months, then listed the property and sold it in weeks, …. for thousands more than he’d been asking no less. Why  is this NOT surprising to me ? I’ve been in the business 30 yrs as a 2nd generation multi-state broker and even I know the value of NOT representing property yourself – yes, I too have listed more than 1 property with other offices. Why ? I practice what I preach, thats why.

Face to face buyer/seller I see many opportunities for immediate loss of strategy.

The buyers may think:

  • Well, you’re not paying an agent so I’d like to save that cost ( you get nothing extra for all your work ).
  • They ask a question, seller answers, they move in and have a problem and say ” well you said such and such and now I have this problem. ( extra pain, no financial gain )
  • Or buyer is  old, seller is young – buyer thinks, we’ll offer much less since we should be better off due to our age.
  • Or seller is old, buyer is young – buyer thinks, we’re young and craftier then seller, we’ll make sure we get the better deal.
  • Or seller is _____ and buyer is ______, the list goes on what personality and etc things can get in the way.
  • Forget the possibility for sellers violating disclosure requirements, HUD Fair Housing parameters.

So what about me a buyer going it alone and buying from a FSBO ? Been there done that didn’t go well. Did it once and never again. If an agent isn’t there to talk sense into a seller on my behalf re: price/ repairs/ etc etc, it always ends up a waste of my time. Unrealistic sellers that don’t have a plan of attack may even say YES to my fair price, but then I have to do all the work from then on with little to no help or cooperation  from them. So I have to earn my discount running things about, setting up appraisals, closings, inspections, and no lockbox makes for a really (not) fun time getting back in the property after acceptance of offer.

I’m not surprised the FSBO chief used and agent, after all, I – a broker – prefer not to rep my own properties !

5 things needed to make an offer

August 20, 2012

Its not the same as going to a garage sale – here, you want more than just the “garage” !

Yes you need qualification to buy, but as a buyer, you also want a mapped out strategy and the tools in hand to execute it. When we submit an offer, well typically be ready to defend & “sell” our buyers as best as possible with specific goals and strategy in mind.

  • Proof of ability to purchase: bank statement or lender letter
  • Our valuation packet – how we arrived at our buyers offer, support documents and calculations, why this is the sellers best expectation from a legitimate purchaser offering an amount a legitimate appraiser will confirm.
  • Fully signed by all buyers and witnessed offer packet, with full set of disclosures signed buy all buyers.
  • Strategy. This is were we are ready to act in a pre-discussed/ predetermined way. Will the seller ignore your offer ? counter ? accept ? or simply move on to other waiting offers. What you’d like to ultimately accomplish affects how we approach “the negotiating table”. Here’s were you’ll want someone who can speak knowledgeably on your behalf in matters involving timing, valuation, construction techniques relative to possible inspection results.