Interacting with consumers on my blog

 What an interesting week it has been.  I let a FSBO write a post on my blog:

He wrote: 

Confessions of a FSBO, Part 1

Then I wrote:  Follow up on confessions of a FSBO

Then he wrote:  Confessions of a FSBO, Part 2

Then I wrote: Follow up on confessions of a FSBO 2 

I learned a lot from this, and got a lot of email.   My FSBO had reasons for not hiring me to sell a townhouse.  The main reason was expense.  I also learned that he did not know much about all the services that a full service REALTOR provides.  He and his partner may have also missed the fact that a REALTOR is listing their home and that they are using a flat fee broker.  Which raises some concerns about how information is presented to consumers and how Real estate companies even have names like "for sale by owner" , "direct by owner" , "by self", at least "help u sell" is a name that is less misleading.

My FSBO believes that all REALTORS are needed for is providing a listing on the MLS and providing a for sale sign.  They are correct in their assumption that neither of these activities require much time or money compared to the fee for a full service REALTOR.  They also believe that they are doing just as good of a job as a full service REALTOR could do.

What I found equally as fascinating is the reaction of some of my peers for allowing and contributing to the posts.  I sensed a lot of anger and hostility toward FSBO's and flat fee brokers.   I beleive we should respect alternative business models, and should recognize that FSBO's are just people trying to sell a home and that they are not going away any time soon.

In general I think it is a good thing to be able to have a conversation with a consumer posted on my blog, and I am greatful to Erik Hare for doing it.  He is a neighbor of mine who decided that he liked my blog and now does a post every Sunday and calls it Teresa's day off.