(This drawing was created by Bradley Inman. Brad gave his written consent for me to use it in this blog post.)

Dear Mr. and Mrs. FSBO:

Even as I write this letter, I realize that there is a very good chance that it will be discarded...along with ALL of the other mail/solicitations you have received from real estate agents. Still, I am most hopeful that...when you recognize my name on the envelope...your curiosity will prevail and prompt you to read my little letter.

Although it has been a while since I showed your home, the memory is as fresh as just laundered linens. In fact...of the more than 1500 homes I've shown this past year...yours truly stood out from the crowd and left a lasting impression.

For your contribution to and participation in the world of real estate...I have dedicated a chapter of my (yet-to-be-published) Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book to you and ALL FSBO's the world over. And, while I do understand that you do NOT recognize the need for (or value of) a licensed, professional REALTOR® when selling your home...I hope that you will accept the autographed copy of my book I will reserve for you. It is just my way of saying ‘THANKS for the memories!'

Warmest regards and best of luck,

Elizabeth Nieves, REALTOR®

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Rule #5:  F.S.B.O. does NOT stand for (material) FACTS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL!

(  Rule #5 covers the broad spectrum of 'DOs and DON'Ts' that ALL sellers - including FSBO's - should know before placing their home on the open market. Please note that ALL of the following ‘hints' were inspired by actual listings and events. Although I am often guilty of packaging a serious topic in a less than serious wrapper...my intention is always to educate and inform...and to make you chuckle a time or two in the process. )

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When describing your home's unique features...you may want to mention the PSYCHEDELIC MASTER BEDROOM. Not ALL surprises are good surprises!

In general, when repainting your home to prepare it for sale...a neutral color scheme is recommended. Nonetheless, a properly measured dose of color can add warmth and make a ‘naked' or ‘cookie-cutter' home more aesthetically pleasing.

However...when I open the door to the master bedroom and see this ------------------------>

...the ONLY warmth I'm likely to feel is the flush of embarrassment that I did not properly warn my buyers.

Moving your CLUTTER from one room to another is NOT the same as ORGANIZING!

De-cluttering a home prior to placing it on the market is one of the best investments of time and energy a seller can make. As a REALTOR®, I educate all of my clients that...in order for a potential buyer to ‘SEE' themselves living in your home...they have to actually be able to SEE the home. A clean and organized home says "Welcome, Mr. or Mrs. Potential Buyer. Have a seat and ENJOY my home." A cluttered home says, "Hey, Mr. or Mrs. Potential Buyer. I wasn't expecting you, but I want you to buy my home anyway...IF you can find it under ALL MY STUFF."

Please keep these three points in mind:

1.  IF you are bothered by your own clutter... (YEAH...you know where I'm going with that, huh?)

2.  IF you begin each tour of your home with, "Please overlook the mess...we are in the process of packing and organizing"...you may want to delay the packing and finish organizing before the next showing.

3.  IF you need 48 hours of notice prior to showing your home to a potential buyer...your home is probably NOT market ready.

IF you choose to NOT disclose...OR...to blatantly misrepresent a material fact, you may want to coordinate your story with your spouse...prior to my arriving with my clients.

This particular ‘hint' may seem a bit obvious...but then again...neither would you think that the makers of Preparation H would need to warn users NOT to brush their teeth with it. You've heard the saying..."can't see the forest for the trees"...right?

IF, upon arriving to your home with my buyers (who have two small children), we hear the neighbor's pack of wild wolves singing howling ‘HUNGRY LIKE A WOLF'...please do not try to convince us that the wolves are ‘sweet and friendly'.

This is a TRUE STORY:

I'm certain that there are at least a few people who are saying..."HUH? NO WAY!" YES WAY!

A few months ago, I arranged to show a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) to a family with small children. As soon as we pulled into the driveway, we were met by the owners of the home AND the deafening sound of nearby wolves howling. I looked at my clients with an expression that asked the question, "IS THIS FOR REAL?"

Seeing our faces, the wife quickly attempted to calm our fears, saying..."Oh...isn't that just a wonderful sound? Those are our neighbor's wolves."

::WOLVES!!!::

"He raises them from pups and tames them. They are a special breed of friendly wolves. After a while, you get used to the noise. We don't even hear it anymore."

At that, the soft-spoken husband speaks up..."NOOOOOO...they aren't a special breed of wolves. They are just regular wolves, but you don't have to worry. They have ONLY gotten out of their pen ONE time since we've owned our home."

The wife interrupts..."Let's go on inside and see the home."

The husband continues..."Yeah...the one that got loose only had three legs, but it took three grown men to wrestle him to the ground."

At that point, I saw my client looking around for her children. Then, she said..."Yes...let's go inside."

Moral of the Story:

IF you need the PSYCHEDELIC MASTER BEDROOM to distract potential buyers from the pack of howling wolves in your neighbor's yard...GOOD LUCK WITH THAT FSBO THINGY!

Rule #1 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***NO NAKED PEOPLE ALLOWED TO 'POP OUT' DURING SHOWING***

Rule #2 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***NO! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A R.E. LICENSE IF YOU CAN'T COUNT!***

Rule #3 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***IF YOU WANT ME TO SELL YOUR LISTING...I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT!***

Rule #4 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***TO ALL LISTING AGENTS: PLEASE GIVE ME SOME WARNING THAT YOUR SELLER IS INSANE***

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

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