As one with a lot of experience with Craig's list - I can tell you that every time someone either calls me or contacts me other than the manner specified in the ads I have posted, I simply ignore them, or when I have used it to hire - it has told me that the person contacting me does not know how to follow instructions, so why would I want to speak with them?

Just my opinion.

I have send email's to each FSBO on creaig's list and most of them responded with please don't contact us again so I give them a break for about two days and send them new email back. Some how I am meeting with a couplle tommorow that has been my FSBO contacts from craig's list.

Good Luck

I always email them if the asking price is reasonable.  I have always received a reply and usually the reply is "I will give you a commission if you bring a buyer".  If can't hurt.  Do you receive replys from your mailings to them?  In Florida, we have a big problem with agents listing property and not disclosing the fact that the property is not personal but MLS property.....

I would respect their expressed request. I would post an ad like "FSBO not selling? Call me!"

You are great that is funny

I would not call them.You can always mail a post card. I receive so much email, that I do not like to receive junk, and it may be the same with them.

I would not call them - post card yes - or perhaps even stop by on an evening or weekend.

Donna

I get craiglist sending me free trials of which I never take, but they do send me whats happening in the area so, I just go and knock on the door after making sure its not already listed. I find this to be the best approach in almost all circumstances!

Is this a trick question? You stop by and introduce yourself until you get the listing. You visit their Open Houses and talk with them and get their list of people that stopped by for showings and previous Open Houses. If you know someone is selling their home and they are not listed with a Real Estate Agent(FSBO) it is your responsibility to do whatever it takes to get that listing before someone else does.

It depends.. Are you trying to sell them something, or do you want to GIVE them a free report? :)

If you're looking to sell them your services then by all means - respect their wishes. If you want to give them a free CMA out of the goodness of your heart, I think that's a fantastic idea!

Galel Fajardo, CMPS™

President, Coast Mortgage Group

I would do a nice hand written postcard.  I usually put something like RE: Craig's List or Home for Sale on the outside.  I have found when its handwritten in a nice white envelope it gets better response.  You could also just drop by with some useful information for them.  They may be more cordially if you show up bearing gifts like a complementary CMA, local home sales, some type of report or something like that.

I believe you have to be more aggressive and get to speak or meet in person.  Just a non pushy conversation, to qualify them for seriousness and reasonableness. 

You can't get the listing if they don't know about you.

Our local FSBO site has a defalt button asking agents not to call.  I couldn't call anyone if I respected that.  They need me anyway.

I have been very successful e mailing them asking to preview the home.  Most answer, some ignore, but nobody has requested that I stop e mailing.  I'm not asking for a listing appointment, nor am I offering a buyer right away. 

I'm curious to see if any of you think I'm violating any laws or craigslist ethics?

I have emailed to fsbos too asking if they cooperate with agents if they have a buyer. Some respond and some do not. Iomegranate do not know if there is any law against it.

I say respect their wishes.  They put that for a reason, why agitate them further and make them even more determined not to use a realtory.  Of course, most of them will learn on their own that they need a realtor but give it time, they will figure it out.  Definitely snail mail them.  I hope this helps.  Good question by the way. 

The farther you are from face to face the more contacts you have to make to convert one.  The diminishing returns from highest conversion rate to lowest is 1)Face to face,  2)Phone call,  3)Direct mail,  4)Email. 

I think that the conversion rate is higher with face to face contacts, then using phone, mail and email as followup.

We should respect their wishes. It might be considered to be spam if we send unsolicited email.

I wouldn't email them if it clearly says not to but would send them some sort of mailing and put them on my monthly mailing list so they can contact me if they want.

Spamming is never good. If they requested not to be contacted commercially you shouldn't send unsolicited e-mail. 

The 'gray' area centers around if you are providing something of value that is related to the property they are selling.

Why e-mail them - call them.  Honestly I personally believe that agents should work with a favorite loan consultant to get more FSBO's.  We as loan officers can offer a free service to help FSBO's pre-qualify interested parties.   We now have pre-qualified buyers to refer to agents that we have relationships with.  In addition we know that the FSBO will likely be purchasing a new home that they will need an agent for, so we pre-qualify the FSBO and refer them to an agent.

Why focus on getting a single listing when you have the potential to make multiple sales with an appropriate synergistic relationship.  I know this is off topic - but I would find a back door in. 

I respect their wishes on craigslist...but have found a better source on FSBO prospects in the Sunday classifieds. All the info is usually there:address,phone numbers,names. I send a letter snail mail, followed by a call for an appointment to see the property. Usually works depending where they are in the selling process (after a month of trying themselves)

My opinion is that contacting the seller against their wishes (if they check they do not want to be contacted) indicates that they are not yet serious about selling their home. If you go to their open house and can establish some form of connection then they will be much more willing to listen to you when they are at the point of frustration with selling their home for themselves. You can also send mail to them. You will be amongst many others who will be doing the same. Just make sure you are sending something of value (the them).

Best wishes,

Scott

Donna,  Snail mail, phone call, visit.  Teaming up with a mortgage officer also works well.

If the address is posted and you happen to be in the nieighborhood then you should pay them a visit. I find that 9 out of 10 FSBO's are really nice if approached in this way. Of course, you need to have something of value (Fair Trade Item) for them, maybe a FSBO help kit or at the very least some buyer offer forms.

I like the suggestion of placing an ad 'FSBO not selling...'. If you send them something, do it by mail, and do it consistently.  Don't just send one thing and expect a return.  Offer something of value.

Has anyone experienced increased listing activity from FSBO's in this current market?  I didn't market to FSBO's previously.  But have been seriously contemplating it now.

I never thought of going after FSBO on craiglist, but I will now as a mortgage person offer them free FSBO kit.  THis can generate buyer leads for me and my realtors.

John Thomas - Citizens Lending Group - http://www.DelawareMortgageLoans.net

Aggressive is good. Just offer value in return. Meeting FSBOs in person is the best. Build a relationship - even better, bring by a client. It's all about them, not us.

I contact FSBOS from Craigs List, paper or wherever, and expireds from MLS and basically say the same thing:  I have a buyer who is looking for something similar and may I stop by and preview the property to see if it fits her needs?  I do have a number of buyer clients, so nearly any home is a potential for one of them.

Then I can bring with me to the house a CMA for their neighborhood which you can leave with them.  While there ask how long it has been on the market and ask if they would mind you giving them a few handy tips for a quicker sale (and undoubtedly you can think of something to advise them after looking through the house).  Also offer to answer any questions they may have and leave your card.  If they decide to retain an agent to help them, who will they call?  The one who disobeyed their ad instructions and tried to get their listing or the one who simply offered to help them with no strings attached?

I email them. It takes 5 minutes and I've converted many leads this way. It's a numbers game and most posters don't even realize they're checking the 'contact' box when they post. It can't hurt. Just respect their wishes if they email back asking to be removed.

I honestly don't think it can hurt to contact them as long as you are careful about what you say.  People don't want a bunch of pushy spammers contacting them, but if you have a legitimate service realted to what they are selling it really can't hurt.

I would not contact them! 

I contact the people all the time.  I ask if they want to be on a free site.