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Knowing More Than The Master

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

As far as guinea pig nutrition goes I don't know who is correct in the cartoon.

What I do know is that if someone with an education in a perticular field coupled with years of experience gives me advice (when I asked for it) I'd be a fool not to follow that advice. I also know that if a For Sale By Owner would tell me that he/she will not work with a Realtor they are hiding something.

A For Sale By Owner may be hiding known defects in the property or even the fact they do not actually own the property and have no right to sell it, this is know as mortgage fraud and it's way more common than most people know).

What I can tell you about all FSBO sellers, including the honest ones, is that they are motivated by greed. If you do a fair comparison you will most often find that the home is at the same price as true comparables and you are NOT saving money, you are only putting yourself at greater risk.

Realtors are licensed professionals whom have been professionally trained in their field. Many have decades of experience. You may think you know more than a licensed professional but chances are... you don't.

 

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Do you enjoy the cartoons written by my son (Timmothy N. Timm) which I use as a springboard to write my daily posts? His strip, Titus & Philemon, has run in two newspapers for years as well as being printed in my blog every day. Titus & Philemon (pronounced Phi - Lee -Man) are guinea pigs. Their owner is Joe. Timmothy has never repeated a joke/comic strip in the 12 years he has been writing it. He has never copied another strip, such as Peanuts or Garfield. You can follow Timmothy on FB as Titus & Philemon and you can also check him out on Instagram as Instagram.com/titus and philemon/ .For Timmothy's website type timmtimmothy.com into your browser. I tried to put it in a link here but it refuses to work. Do NOT put anything in front of timmtimmothy.com or it will not work. 

Comments(10)

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Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Hi Bob... when it comes to FSBO's I don't know how much they might be hiding, but I do know they are just "cheap." To me that means if they ever do list they will remain cheap and not really work with me to get their home sold at the right price. 

Oct 09, 2025 06:11 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Amen! That is exactly how I feel as well Nina Hollander, Broker .

Oct 09, 2025 06:46 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

I honestly can't imagine how a buyer could actually trust a FISBO seller to  know anything about how contracts are written, escrows are handled, legal considerations, condition of property. I clearly would want somebody looking out for my best interests -- and that is not a FSBO seller.  Great post Bob!

 

Featured in BananaTude

 

Oct 09, 2025 09:49 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Anna "Banana" Kruchten for reading, commenting, and for the Feature. 😊

Oct 09, 2025 10:46 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I concur 100% with you on this one. We've spent years in education, experience, and with lots of different transactions. Would you be your own dentist?

Oct 09, 2025 12:16 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Nope. Let professional do what they do professionally. Thanks Dr. Paula McDonald 😊.

Oct 09, 2025 06:24 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

I have represented a few buyers who wanted to move forward with FSBO's, Bob. We had a very stringent home inspection during the home inspection to ensure nothing was hidden because it does happen!

Oct 09, 2025 01:51 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Yes it does happen Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! Over the years I've also had two Buyers who I helped with FSBOs who stiffed me on the commission.

Oct 09, 2025 06:27 PM
Patricia Feager
Currently inactive - Flower Mound, TX
Licensed to April 2027

Hi Bob "RealMan" Timm - congratulations on your FEATURE! I once had buyers that had a difficult time deciding on a house to buy. She was an Urbanite. He was a Country Bumkin. After quite a bit of time, they settled on a FSBO. The couple were good friends of mine and I loved their kids. 

The house they decided on was next door to friend of mine (previous buyer/seller) who knew the FYSBO guy well. In the beginning. Things went okay. He really was desperate to sell and didn't have much money. But when it came time for Market Value, negotiations and Seller's Net he was very weak. That's when his inexperience raised its ugly head. The sale came to fruition, but it was a very painful ordeal. On the outside, he acted like a tough motorcycle guy who tried to arm wrestle. On the inside, he was just a man afraid of losing his home. Thank goodness I got the deal done.  

Oct 09, 2025 04:10 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

All parties were lucky you were there to keep it together Patricia Feager .

Oct 09, 2025 06:31 PM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

My observations include the greed factor- but that only tells part of the story. Other aspects include - perhaps they are being cheap or perhaps they overpaid- and perceive using an agent as too expensive because they are afraid of owing more than they paid. Finally- and in my market at least, they have had bad past experiences with agents and think they can do better. Had I not become an agent- I might have landed in that last category. I have encountered some truly bad agents in the past. In fact, it's been nearly 20 years since I closed on my home- and I am still angry at the agent that represented me. 

Oct 09, 2025 06:20 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I get that Adam Feinberg but fortunately that is the exception and not the rule. 

Oct 09, 2025 06:39 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Bob "RealMan" Timm I purchased a home for sale by owner before I was an agent. The agents I was using were not listening to where I wanted to live and kept showing me homes where they wanted to show me. I had to take matters into my own hands and look after myself. So I learned that when I became a Realtor, listen

Most for-sale-by-owner homes end up listed with Realtors, I believe 85%

Oct 09, 2025 06:49 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

It's frustrating when we seek the help of a professional and they don't listen. This is my top complaint with the medical field Hannah Williams .

ie: you call your Dr's office to make an appointment and they ask why. You get to the office and the receptionist asks why you are there. They pass you on to the nurse and she/he asks you why. Then you get to the Dr and it's like they are clueless as to why you are there???

Oct 10, 2025 06:38 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks so much for sharing this insightful post, Bob "RealMan" Timm. I really appreciate your perspective and the way you highlight the importance of trusting experienced professionals in real estate. Your words remind us all to stay humble and value the expertise that comes with years of dedicated work.

Oct 10, 2025 02:31 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Lew Corcoran . Sadly as others have pointed out (regretfully) that not all licensed Realtors are professionals. It's important we, the consumer, find out who the professionals are.

Oct 10, 2025 06:41 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob. I have only known one individual who was able to complete a transaction as a FSBO and he was an attorney and commercial real estate investor. Otherwise, it did not end as well as it would have with representation. 

Oct 14, 2025 04:28 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

The same here Wayne Martin and unfortunately I've been stiffed twice by Buyers who signed agreements that they would pay my commission. Not worth the legal action.

Oct 15, 2025 10:58 AM
Peter Mohylsky, www.athome30a
Property Management Inc.-Destin - Sandestin, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Buyer beware is always a good phrase to repeat.  It might be good, only time will tell. 

Oct 15, 2025 09:19 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

You never know Peter Mohylsky , www.athome30a , miracles do happen.

Oct 15, 2025 10:59 AM