For Sale by Owner, Parts 11 and 12

11. Lack of Follow-up System. Homes are frequently sold on the second or subsequent visits which have been brought about by a REALTOR. The broker has a follow-up system on all prospects that haven't yet purchased a home. Usually the broker's representative accompanies prospects on inspections of other homes and when the situation is logical, brings the prospect back to homes they have previously toured for comparison. The owner can take none of these steps with only one home (their own) to sell. Often, visitors to a For Sale by Owner open house, will not provide their contact information, not even their true name, so the owner is unable to follow up with them. Again, the owner is at a distinctive disadvantage.

12. If Purchaser Has a Home of Their Own to Sell. A prospect may desire to purchase a home, but must sell their own home before they can buy. In this situation, unless the seller is a seasoned REALTOR themselves, is virtually helpless. Most homeowners would not know how to handle an offer with a must-sell contingency. A REALTOR knows how to handle these types of transactions.