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How Not To Sell Your House In One Easy Step

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Stars TX #0552717

This sign sprouted in my neighborhood this morning:

FSBO?

The owners recently held an estate sale and we surmised they'd be moving out soon. It seems like they conducted the estate sale themselves as it wasn't advertised in the usual places, there were not many directional signs, and the sign in the front yard could barely be seen from the street. There was little traffic when I drove past.

It didn't come as surprise that they didn't engage a REALTOR to sell the house. But is it a FSBO? The sign lists a website and a phone number.  

The website has only 3 pages: home, photos, and details. The name and number shown on the home and details pages belong to someone who is not licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission, and it's not the name of the owners.  It appears this person creates minimal websites with only photos (more on that in a minute) and some details about the house.

FSBO?

Most of the 11 photos are of the outside of the house, with only two of the interior - just the living area and dining room.  No pictures of the kitchen, bedrooms, or bathrooms. But the fence, oh what a fence! That should definitely sell the house!

FSBO?This listing is NOT in our MLS.  It seems the only way to find out about the house for sale is to drive by and scan the QR code, visit the website, or call the phone number.  How many people do you think will drive down a cul-de-sac street, way off the main arteries? I wish my neighbors well! Maybe they'll call a real real estate agent when their home does not sell.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to see this home, give me a call.  I can't tell if it's priced correctly since I'm not getting a sense of what the interior looks like. More pictures, please!

Posted by

Lorrie Semler, REALTOR
HomeSmart Stars

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Comments(5)

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GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

good post with great information. Thanks for sharing it. Bill

Have a fantastic week!

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Jun 22, 2026 03:16 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Ahh, someone who doesn't know what they don't know is trying to do something they aren't skilled to do. Maybe they're "testing the market!"

Jun 22, 2026 04:45 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417

Kat Palmiotti I don't think they're testing. They're moving to a senior living facility and probably need the funds from the house to pay for it.

Jun 23, 2026 06:25 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Oh wow, Lorrie... this is totally wild. Are you going to keep track of this home and let us know how long it takes to sell  (if it ever does)?

Jun 22, 2026 05:07 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417

Nina Hollander, Broker It's down the street and around the corner, so I'm keeping an eye on it.

Jun 23, 2026 06:26 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Lorrie, this is a textbook example of "how not to do it!" It is amazing how some folks will try to save a buck on commission only to cost themselves thousands in market exposure.

Hiding a home down a quiet cul-de-sac with no MLS presence, barely-there signage, and an amateur 3-page website is basically keeping the listing a secret. And leaving out photos of the kitchen and bathrooms while highlighting the fence? That is wild! Buyers want to see the heart of the home, not just the perimeter.

You hit the nail on the head—they don't know what they don't know. Hopefully, when the silence becomes deafening, they will reach out to a true professional like you to get it marketed correctly. Great local observation!

Jun 22, 2026 05:46 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417

Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518 I'm SURE they wouldn't reach out to me.  Mr. and I served on our HOA board at the same time and to say we butt heads ALL the time would be an understatement.

Jun 23, 2026 06:27 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

I can remember the 1st FISBO many years ago- back in the late 80's.  A neighbor put up a sign and within weeks called me asking for help as nobody had called her. 

Jun 22, 2026 11:00 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417

Anna "Banana" Kruchten I expect they'll be reaching out to one of the other agents in the 'hood for help soon.

Jun 23, 2026 06:28 AM