Selling a Home?
I'm selling my home FSBO - why won't agents show my home?
We were recently asked to respond to this disappointed Seller's question on a national real estate advice board for Home Sellers and Home Buyers. Here's our response:
"Sorry that you're having that experience. Sellers working without a real estate agent frequently misunderstand the full range of services provided by an experienced Listing Agent. My Team lists homes in the the Triangle area of NC, particularly Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Raleigh, NC. A *big* part of the expertise that we provide is in marketing the homes *to other agents* as well as to the public.
To get sold in today's competitive market, a home has to be proactively marketed to Realtors as well as to Buyers. Most areas now have many more homes than a Buyer can see (or mentally process!) Consequently 'selling' other agents on showing our listings is a critical piece of our successful track record. Our reputation for being professional, capable and easy to work with also benefit our Sellers.
In addition, with respect to you, when working with a For Sale By Owner listing, the Buyers Agent has to do quite a bit more work. We recently closed 2 homes with Sellers that did not have agents and my Team consequently had to do many of the steps that the Listing Agent typically would have done, such as providing information to the Sellers about what courses of action are available to them at each step of the process.
I've also had Buyers decide that a Seller without an Agent will be harder to work with (because they don't have a professional agent 'buffering' the negotiations) or that they Seller won't be able to make the dollars work (because they perceived FSBO Sellers as being unable or unwilling to pay for a Listing Agent).
It's a tough market in which to sell solo and a good Listing Agent earns every dollar of their commission.
Hope this helps and best wishes for your success!
Real Estate Mimi and the Francis Home Team"
6.3.11