Shhhhhhh, you FSBO!

My newest video, "For Sale By Owner - "The Pitfalls" touches on just a few risks sellers take when attempting to sell their home without a Realtor.

I could go on all day about the danger of inviting strangers into your home - showing them all around - and hoping they're a legitimate, qualified buyer. (FYI...Realtors make every attempt to only work with legitimate, qualified buyers.)

If you were going to sell your house yourself - how would arrive at your price? Would you fork over the money for an appraisal? Would you pretend you were going to list with a Realtor to get their price opinion? Would you base your asking price on what the neighbor sold his house for a few years ago??? Or, eek.... would you add the costs of all of your improvements to the price you paid for the house, tack on a little extra for appreciation and call it a day?

In this video, I really wanted to hammer the point of sellers talking too much. I'm not even suggesting that as a seller you need to be a good listener - but I am advising that you hold your tongue.

I've seen it time and time again when showing FSBO homes. The seller shows us around - tells us how eager they are to sell, makes excuses for broken items or things that need to be replaced, and then identifies all the framed faces throughout the house. They tell you all about the great updates they always meant to do (thinking they're helping the buyer see the endless potential). They make promises to fix things. They intimidate buyers. (Who would be comfortable opening closet doors with the seller standing RIGHT THERE?)

(A lot of this goes for sellers who [even if they're listed with an agent] insist on being present for showings.) I know sometimes circumstances make it very difficult for a seller to leave the house - that's understandable. But when possible - even a seller that must be at home - should make every attempt to let the Realtor show the buyer around - and not hover over them.

I've sold several homes listed FSBO - to buyers that I was working with. In every case - my buyers have gotten a GREAT deal:)

So... without further ado.... enjoy my latest video. I know I've done some crazy stuff to date - but this is probably the silliest. Informative and entertaining - that's my goal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdqrrN2FpkA