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Are FSBOs for the Dogs?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Mint Properties, Lic. #01871795 Lic. #01871795

Are FSBOs for the Dogs?

This has been an interesting week. We just got a new puppy, Etta. Someone found her behind a commercial building and we decided to try to help find her a new home. Personally, I hate the dog pound and shelters and would never dream of handing over this adorable dog to them. The bureaucracy and high fees, the holier than thou attitude, the policies about who should or shouldn’t have a pet, and their overall stranglehold on the pooch market I find distasteful. Boy do I have my reasons! And right now in Santa Maria, there are too many chihuahuas in shelters anyway (we speculate that Etta is a Chiweenie), so I decided I would try to find her a new home myself. Hell I market houses in a down economy, I can for sure market a puppy, right?!

I started with the people I know, neighbors and friends, but none were really prepared to take on a dog right now. And of course, the folks that really loved dogs already had too many. So, I put an ad on Craigslist and my facebook page and instantly got an overwhelming response. I set appointments with 3 different people and they all cancelled! Then a dog loving friend told me about a local pit bull fighting ring that was busted a few years back, in part, because they were using chihuahuas to get pit bulls used to the taste of blood. I couldn’t believe it -- I had no idea! I could have easily handed over this dog to someone who would use her for pitbull food. He advised that it would be better to charge for her than give her away for free. Since you can’t charge for animals on Craigslist, I thought it best to pull her ad and advertise her elsewhere. But not before I got one last call from a woman I will refer to as Simone.

Simone convinced me that she was different and really wanted a dog like Etta. She was going to drive down (over an hour trip) to see Etta the next day. She seemed mature, experienced with dogs, and knew what she wanted. However, since her husband was going to be in town on Monday, I told her to wait for Monday and then I would be able to see if her husband was on board too. I was getting attached to the dog, but we already have two (and another that lives with my parents) and it was getting a little crazy, so if I could get Etta a good home I was willing. However, on Mother’s Day I received a text from Simone saying that her daughter just gave her a lab puppy. Labrador, Chiweenie, same thing, right? So, I suppose Etta is my mother’s day gift.

During this same week, I had calls from three potential sellers who tried to sell their homes FSBO at one point or another. Hearing their tales of woe at this time highlighted the similarities for me. Let’s face it some people hate Realtors as much as I hate the dog pound. However, many of the serious potential pet owners are going to try their luck at the pound. That’s just the way it is. The folks I was dealing with had crazy situations that probably wouldn’t make it past their elaborate screening process. Weeding through potential pet owners is tough -- there is definitely an art to it. And there are pitfalls and challenges that even a well meaning person may fall into because they have limited experience and knowledge. And, because I was emotionally attached to the dog, it was difficult not to take the entire process personally. In fact, it was so emotionally draining, that it was easier to decide to just keep the dog then to continue. 

 

And, of course, these former FSBO sellers had decided to do the same thing...

 

 

Tni LeBlanc is a Real Estate Broker, Attorney,Short Sale Agent, Certified HAFA Specialist (CHS), Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR), and Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) serving the Santa Maria, Orcutt and Five Cities area of the Central Coast of California.

* Nothing in this article is intended to solicit listings currently under contract with another broker. This article offers no legal or tax advice and is for information purposes only. Those considering a short sale are advised to consult with their own attorney for legal advice, and their tax professional for tax advice prior to entering into a short sale listing agreement.

Copyright © 2012 Tni LeBlanc *Are FSBOs for the Dogs?*

 

Posted by

Tni LeBlanc, Broker
(805) 878-9879 mobile/text

tni@mintprop.com
www.MintProp.com
CalBRE #01871795

Comments (71)

Keith Lawrence
Christie's International - Mahwah, NJ
ABR, SFR

Cute puppy.

 

Interesting take on the similarity between selling a puppy and FSBO.

May 14, 2012 09:34 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
Very well written. I just got a smile to start my day!
May 14, 2012 10:10 PM
Jeff&Grace Safrin
F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate - Valparaiso, IN
SpousesSellingHousesTM

Great analogy Council!

Perhaps FSBOs have had prior negative experiences with agency relationships.

Just like any pool of professions, practitioners differ. (i.e. if you need a doctor and had a bad experience, and still are sick, you seek another based on recommendations of those who have had good experiences with their doc).

Providing references for a FSBO to call (perhaps in the same town or community as theirs), has helped overcome some negatives.

The only negative it does not help with is negative equity, which in our area is the main reason for fsbo.

May 15, 2012 12:23 AM
Karen Steed
Tallapoosa, Bremen, Waco, Buchanan, Temple, Carrollton - Tallapoosa, GA
Associate Broker Haralson Realty

We have a new puppy for the very same reasons.  It is just easier to keep it.

May 15, 2012 01:34 AM
Stephanie Stringer
First Choice Loan Services NMLS#210764 - San Antonio, TX
Mortgage Loan Originator

Cute dog.   Sounds like your new puppy is your good luck charm on getting those FSBO in the same week.  You might want to do a profile pic of you and Etta!!!

May 15, 2012 01:46 AM
Sandy Acevedo
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

Hi Tni, great post that truly points out what a Pushover you really are! You wanted that puppy from the get-go. Congrats ~ you got her!! :)

May 15, 2012 03:26 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Tni, very cute puppy and good analogy to FSBOs dealing with Realtors.

May 15, 2012 04:09 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Tni,  My bet is that this little rascal stole your heart from the git go!!!  

May 15, 2012 04:10 AM
Kim & Kristine Halverson
Sotheby's & Knipe ERA - Bend, OR
Sisters, Realtors

Hello Tni,I always have a soft heart for animals..Great job in taking Etta to your home.What a good rescue!I always think that good things come to people who have a kind heart.Best of luck to you and Keep being number one Santa Maria Short Sale Agent.


May 16, 2012 04:20 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for sharing this analogy with us Tni, that little fellow is so cute, after looking at the photo I cant imagine you would have been able to give him up anyway.

I agree with your opinion on animal shelters but after the story about the pit bull fighters I am thinking maybe all those rules and fees might be necessary.

May 16, 2012 08:54 AM
Bas Panch
SCV Home Buyer - Valencia, CA

Hi Tni,

Thanks for sharing these awesome photos and this really great post. That is one adorable puppy. Keep up the good work as a top Santa Maria short sale agent, I think you're doing a really great job!

May 17, 2012 12:09 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hey, Tni!  I included this post in Last Week's Favorites.  Have a great week.

May 20, 2012 02:16 AM
Tni LeBlanc, Realtor®, J.D.
Mint Properties, Lic. #01871795 - Santa Maria, CA
Tenacious Tni (805) 878-9879

Thanks for stopping by Keith!

Hi Cheryl - Glad it made you smile.

Nancy - I definitely got a lot of leads on Craigslist, but sorting through them was a lot of work and in the meantime the dog needed to go to the vet and got attached to us, and I guess we got attached to her too. BTW -- Thanks for the great blog re-design!

Jeff & Grace - Probably true.

Karen - Glad I'm not the only one.

Stephanie - I'll wait until Etta gets licensed.

Sandy - LOL.  You might be right.

Thanks Bob!

Bill - Yeah, I guess so.

Kim & Kristine - Let's hope!

Hi Bob - Thanks for the re-blog.  I definitely think that it is not as easy as I thought at first.

Thanks Bas.

Hi Pat - Thanks for the feature!  I'm going to run over there and check out the other posts!

May 20, 2012 03:08 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

It's such a dilemma, the shelters. If they are no kill, eventually there is no room. And everybody has their own agenda and ideas of what is best, there seems to be a lot of conflict. While I was waiting for my license, I worked for a short period of time as the marketing manager at the Sacramento SPCA and was ready to quit after 4 weeks. When I finally did give my notice, they practically booted me out the door on the same day.

May 20, 2012 07:05 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

FSBO's can hate us all they want. They'll eventually have to work with us.

May 20, 2012 09:03 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Tni.  A big heart to go with all those brains.  Vary nice.  What is a Chiweenie?

May 20, 2012 08:40 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Oh, my, who could not love that face?  Yup, she was just waiting for you!!!

May 21, 2012 01:11 AM
Larry & Jacque Ficek
Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK
Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

Tni, what a concept! Both are overlooked for different reasons, some have had bad experiences with their past relationships (owners and licensees) and others just 'sit' and 'stay' there. 

We are happy to hear that Etta (the cute little bugger) has a new family.

May 23, 2012 04:43 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Oh no, if Etta is not the cutest little puppy! I loved your article, too, Tni.

May 23, 2012 07:40 AM
Liz Lockhart
Riverbend Realty, Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau, MO
GRI, Cape Girardeau Real Estate

Congratulations, Etta, for finding just the right home and just the right people to call your own.

May 28, 2012 09:51 AM