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Lancaster PA FSBO - For Sale By Owner - Time to Reconsider

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty

With the market cooling and the home inventory growing, the last thing a house needs is to be put on the market without professional marketing! Selling FSBO, which stands for "for sale by owner", is a losing proposition in today's tech-friendly and buyer-focused homesale market.  Lancaster PA homes for sale demand professional marketing.

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If you are seriously considering trying to sell a home FSBO, without the benefit of a comprehensive marketing plan, please reconsider.  The days of buyers driving around neighborhoods just drooling over your sign in the yard are over.  The days of multiple offers within a few hours are over.  The days of "getting lucky" at a high sales price are over.

Today, you absolutely 100% need to market your home - aggressively.  To do this, you need to first realize that the buyers are now overwhelmingly looking on the internet first (94%, actually).  Guess what?  They're not looking on "FISBO.com" or whatever the local online site is for your area.  They are looking on Realtor.com and Google.  If you are not there...you're nowhere.

LAncaster PA for sale by owner, lancaster pa homes for saleHow to get the exposure you need?  Time to recognize that all realtors are NOT the same.  Really!  Some are in it part time, some are new and/or inexperienced, some are not, um, people people.  You need to ask yourself "would I buy a home from this person?".  

Also, realtors have different approaches to marketing homes.  Some don't - and some do!  I imagine you'll want someone who does.  How do you know?  Ask.  If they are putting a (regular metal) sign in your yard and putting a listing on the MLS, but nothing else, you've got your answer.

Ask them this:

  • Will you have a unique stand-alone website devoted solely to my home?
  • Will you have 10-20 photos of my home done professionally?
  • Will you have a virtual tour of the highlights of my home?
  • Will you have special signs to advertise my home?
  • Will you advertise my home in Homes & Land yourself?
  • Will you advertise my home on Craigslist, Trulia, Backpage, Point2Homes, Postlets, etc. etc?
  • Will you have full-color flyers at my home in a flyer box?
  • Will you blog about my home and get top Google billing for it?

OK, you get the idea.  There is a BIG difference between realtor's approaches to marketing your home.  SomeLancaster PA FSBO, for sale by owner, Lancaster PA Real EState really try to earn their commission!  I am happy to report that not only do I do all of the above, but I am a pioneer in the Lancaster area for many of them!

If you need to sell your home, why take the time and trouble to try to sell it on your own without the representation that offers protection from the liability and risk issues that plague Pennsylvania Real Estate?  Do you know all about mold, radon, lead, asbestos and a host of other hazardouse materials?  Can you complete the state seller's disclosure without scratching your head in wonderment?  Let a licensed pro take you through the process.  You won't regret it.

The days of easily selling FSBO are coming to an end.  It's my hope that you can sell on your own, but if it comes to having to put it on the market, call an expert who cares and has a plan for your home.  I'd be happy to visit your home and give you an honest, no-strings market evaluation of your homesale situation.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Call me at 717-799-0851 anytime or contact me online.

Best of luck!

 

 

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Comments (7)

Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
This is a very concise and relevant post. Very well written. What website are you using for individual listings? Of course down here we are no longer placing any ads in print medium other than direct mail postcards of each of our listings. Many of our communities do not allow signs or flier boxes. And in the luxury home market and celebrity markets virtual tours are a high liability therefore we no longer do them. This post deserves a 5! 
Aug 10, 2007 08:46 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Jeff, I agree. This is a great post and excellent information for anyone considering FSBO or hiring an agent.  I'm giving it a 5 also.
Aug 10, 2007 12:45 PM
Jeff R. Geoghan
Coldwell Banker Realty - Lancaster, PA
REALTOR, Marketing Manager
Thanks Katerina - I hand-build each site for my listings.  Why are VTs a "high liability" in your market?
Aug 10, 2007 10:55 PM
Jeff R. Geoghan
Coldwell Banker Realty - Lancaster, PA
REALTOR, Marketing Manager
Appreciate it, Stephanie.  I hope someone reading this will not go down the wrong road.
Aug 10, 2007 10:56 PM
Anonymous
Murakami
There a lot of good web-sites - that do all this features - check www.fizber.com and vflyer for that
Aug 12, 2007 05:10 PM
#5
waey wyqw
wyq34y - Dell, MT
In this tight buyer's market many home owners are trying to cut costs (commissions) by selling their own home. This post should help educate home owners on why they need a real estate agent.
Aug 14, 2007 12:03 AM
Tara Stone
eXp Realty - Alexandria Township, NJ
NJ Estates and Stables

AMEN!

Dec 18, 2008 11:48 AM