Special offer
Home > Blogs > FRANK LL0SA Esq.- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com > FRANKLY Real Estate Blog
bookmark_border

FSBOs on Craigslist, How to Find Them; Use Quotes

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc

While I've written about FSBOs losing money selling on their own (see Go FSBO! Save $20,000! Agent Tells All!) A good buyer agent with a Buyer Agency agreement (see Exclusive Buyer Agency Contracts. Don't Sign Them... Yet.) should be looking out for For Sale By Owners on Craigslist.

But do you know how to best search for them?

I took Fairfax as an example.

The problem with just Fairfax For Sale By Owner is it brings up false results. Most listings have "for sale"
in it somewhere, just add a mention of "owner," and a bunch of NON-FSBOs come up.

If you add the quotes around "For Sale By Owner," it cuts the 36 down to 13. Only 1 of those remaining 13 were by owner and didn't use either phrase.

Then Fairfax FSBO brought up 9 total. Only 1 seller used BOTH "FSBO" and "For Sale By Owner"

Tips for FSBOS:

  1. Read the blog post (Go FSBO!)
  2. Use BOTH the phrase "FSBO" and "For Sale By Owner," since people search for these phrases
  3. When you say "Agents welcome" that is effectively turned to "unwelcome" when you add "buyer pays commission." (Why? See post above)

Tips for buyers and buyer's agents:

  1. Conduct two searches, one for Fairfax FSBO and one for Fairfax "For Sale By Owner" (with quotes)
  2. After your search, press the RSS link Try it and you can get a "feed" for new listings (what is RSS? or see video below)
  3. Or after your search bookmark the results page and add a shortcut to your toolbar for easy weekly access.

- Written by Frank Borges LL0SA- Broker FranklyRealty.com

(please report typos)

RSS data feeds explained:
Show All Comments
FRANK LL0SA Esq.- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com
Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc - Arlington, VA

Yes, it is spam.  

Frank

Dec 15, 2007 04:29 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Frank

This is so useful.  I appreciate Rainers who teach the rest of us.  I'm adding you as an associate, and will return often.

Mike in Tucson

Dec 16, 2007 12:31 AM
Heather Moriah Martin
eXp Realty - Allentown, PA
REALTOR - Lehigh Valley

Hello Again Frank!

WOW! You are so helpful!  I just read your post about FSBO's which I just kinda skipped through until it mentioned Buyer's and Buyer Agents...then I watched the RSS feed video.  It really explained this in the terms I can understand.  Not sure what adding you as an associate means...Does this mean I recommend others to also come to your profile and/or blog?  I have added you to my subscription list and I hope I can learn how to add you to my RSS Feed as I am learning so much from you.  It is great to have someone with your knowledge and experience here to share!!

I promise to offer the same kind of information here as well...I may be more basic and not as fancy but my purpose is also to inform, share, and educate.

 Warmest Regards, Moriah Martin

Dec 17, 2007 01:43 PM
Rich Schiffer
Swarthmore, PA
Referral Agent, e-PRO

Thanks for sharing the video of the RSS explanation, especially.  I had been using the RSS importer feature in my email.  The result has been that my sotrage capacity has been eaten up very rapidly.  I will go check out one of the RSS Readers that the video mentioned.

Dec 17, 2007 02:40 PM
Kevin McGrath
Long & Foster Real Estate Companies- Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania - Fredericksburg, VA
Long & Foster Real Estate Companies
Frank - 9 days with no blog? Hope all is well. Happy holidays.
Dec 20, 2007 02:55 AM
Linda Reely
Century 21 Premier - Phoenix, AZ

Frank - Great information. Since you are operating your own blog, I am not sure if you knew about PINGING your blog updates so the search engines find it faster and re-index your site?

 Here is one I use: http://www.waldospost.com/ping/index.php

 Thanks-

Mar 04, 2008 03:09 AM
FRANK LL0SA Esq.- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com
Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc - Arlington, VA
Hey Linda, Nah, I don't believe in that. When I write a post, it is in Google Blog search within a minute. Also I hear you can tick off the engines and get banned if you over submit. Thanks for the suggestion. I always like hearing what works for other people. Frank
Mar 04, 2008 03:14 AM
FRANK LL0SA Esq.- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com
Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc - Arlington, VA
Hey Linda, Nah, I don't believe in that. When I write a post, it is in Google Blog search within a minute. Also I hear you can tick off the engines and get banned if you over submit. Thanks for the suggestion. I always like hearing what works for other people. Frank
Mar 04, 2008 03:14 AM
Linda Reely
Century 21 Premier - Phoenix, AZ

 

Well if you ping it constantly, then I am sure it would be seen as abusing it.

I know technorati and other sites offer a pinging service right on their own site, but this one seems to ping a few of them.  I have seen others that ping approx. 50, but I think that might be overboard.

Good point though on not abusing it.

Mar 04, 2008 03:25 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Thanks for the tip.It will make it easier to search FSBOS. I will try it soon.
Mar 04, 2008 09:41 PM
Nancy Kent
RE/MAX Hill & Valley - Granby, MA
RE/MAX Hill & Valley, Western Mass
Thanks Frank! A great tip! Thanks fro explaining the RSS feed too!
Mar 27, 2008 01:29 AM
Vicente A. Martinez
Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson - Woodhaven, NY
Realtor, Brooklyn - Long Island - Queens Homes

Hi Frank. Thanks for sharing the great tip! Keep them coming.

Apr 04, 2008 04:37 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES
HI Frank. Thanks for sharing this man. I really appreciate this. Another great reason why you should always read other people's post.
Apr 07, 2008 06:25 AM
Ben Myers
The Broker Ben Group at Realty Idaho - Meridian, ID
CEO/Designated Broker

Thanks for the tip.  I tried this and it worked great.  I am shocked everyday I look at CL at how many real estate postings are on there daily. 

Apr 08, 2008 05:57 PM
Cape Coral Florida Golf Course and Waterfront Homes
Gulf Coast Realty Network, Inc. - Cape Coral, FL

Good on ya', Frank (and Linda, too!).  Attention to details like these make the results of our efforts much greater.  Bless you all for sharing!!!

Jim Gibson, Specialist in Cape Coral Florida Residential Real Estate
http://www.JimGibson.BIZ

Apr 08, 2008 11:32 PM
Greg Wilson
1st Cornerstone Realty - Schaumburg, IL
Thanks for the great tips.  I love using Craigs List.  Its one of the best ways I think to find new clients.
Apr 09, 2008 01:30 AM
Cindy Hill
Keller-Williams Realty/Little Rock, AR - Little Rock, AR
Great info - I am now off to search the right way :)  Thanks.
Apr 09, 2008 06:09 AM
Johnathan Smith
Coldwell Banker DiTommaso Realty - Staten Island, NY

this is a bookmarker! its great

Aug 25, 2008 05:27 PM
Michael Gendreau
Edina Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
Edina Realty
Thanks Frank, very helpful...
Feb 27, 2010 02:06 AM
Karen Rice Keller Williams Real Est
Keller Williams Real Estate - Hawley, PA
Northeast PA & Lake Wallenpaupack Home Sales

now, 2 yrs later...things on craigslist have been simplified in that listings are separated "by broker" and "by owner."  Not sure how many agents will be deceptive and list "by owner" when they shouldn't..

Feb 27, 2010 07:56 PM
Back to Top

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?