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Dear Unrepresented Seller a.k.a. For Sale By Owner

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty

 

Dear Unrepresented Seller,

I can appreciate your desire to sell your home yourself in an attempt to save money.  Lord knows we could all be a little more thrifty.  I also understand that you believe that we Realtors® don't do much more than you can do yourself.  So much so that you can do it yourself right?  While you may get your home sold, it's usually not until after the fact that you realize just how much you actually gave away in the sale.

Just a reminder that after the contract has been finalized, it may be just a little too late for your "epiphany."  By using a Realtor®, more than likely, they would have advised otherwise before you signed the contract.  But oh yeah, that's right......You don't need no stinkin' Realtor®.

Fortunately for you, I recognize that my role as a Realtor® calls for me to be honest in my dealings with the public and I can hold my head up very high in successfully honoring that commitment even though I represented the buyer. ?When dealing with Charita Cadenhead, unrepresented sellers will always be able to say that they were dealt with honestly and with respect.

And I know that you'll probably learn a few lessons from your home sale experience and at the forefront of those lessons should be "next time use a Realtor®."  But just in case that lesson somehow escapes you, and you think you can get it right the next time, please don't attempt it again.  Speaking as a Realtor® it would take you far  more than one transaction to learn what we already know:  A formal real estate education combined with day to day experience is PRICELESS.

Oh and just one final thing, if you are going to be consulting with someone in the background (hopefully not an unpaid real estate agent advisor), why don't you just do the right thing and pay them to represent you (particularly if they are a licensed real estate agent). It really will be apparent that you are talking to someone.  But here's another word of caution, should you decide to hire a real estate agent the next time, please don't use the one that was advising you behind the scenes.  I promise you that you probably could have done better.

NOTE TO HOMEBUYERS:  Always use a Realtor® when dealing with unrepresented sellers.  It is in your best interest.

Sincerely,

 

Charita H. Cadenhead
Experienced Realtor®

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Charita... a for sale by owner is a poor soul who is riding for a hard fall...list with a professional and pay the commission.

Sep 22, 2013 10:46 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Barbara that makes perfectly good sense to me.  Unbeknowst to the FSBO, their savings isn't nearly as much as if they had used a Realtor®.

Sep 22, 2013 10:50 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Charita: So they managed to get rid of their house. THEY didn't sell it, you did. And YOU were looking out for the best interest of YOUR client. Too bad for the seller, good for your smart buyers!!

Sep 22, 2013 11:07 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

No question that listing with a Realtor is the wisest choice-and in the end, you may save money and aggravation.  If your time is valuable, a Realtor is the right way to go.

Sep 22, 2013 11:08 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Exactly Joni.  Selling the house was the easy part, it really sold itself and my buyers got a lot out of the deal that would have otherwise not happened if they seller had been represented by an agent.

Joanna listing with a pro is always going to be the wisest choice.  Sellers don't know what they don't know and by the time they find out, it's usually too late.

Sep 22, 2013 11:25 PM
Kristen Wheatley
Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group - Brunswick, ME
Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!

Very timely!  I just had one call me and start the conversation off with "I've decided I'm not going to use a Realtor, because I already know what to do, but..."  and then she proceeded to ask me how to get forms, disclosures, etc.  It was a fun conversation with me replying "But I thought you said you already know what to do?"

Sep 23, 2013 02:12 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Kristen that is so funny and said at the same time in that they thought you would let them "use" you to get information.

Sep 23, 2013 02:31 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

When making one of the biggest financial decisions a family will make professional guides pays - it does not cost.

Sep 23, 2013 04:39 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Many FSBO's end up losing more money when they sell the house by themselves,not knowing they could've made more money if they would've used a Realtor®. Even the CEO of FSBO ended up using a Real Estate Broker and made money on the sale of his condo.

Oct 07, 2013 09:23 AM