Comments on: Go FSBO! Save $20,000! Realtor Tells All!!

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:25:28 +0000

I find your blog post misleading. You only got them 65,000 more because you did not charge then the customary 6% (3% to you and 3% to the buyer agent) I’m confused, did the buyers have a buyer’s agent, or did you go dual-agency? If they didn’t have a buyer’s agent, did you pay them out of pocket or something? Considering you said the seller netted 65K more with you then the 430K they were willing to accept, that would mean there was either no buyer’s agent involved, or that you coughed up the 3% of 495,000.

Let me remind you that net refers to the takeaway after all other fees are subtracted. Perhaps you are using the word incorrectly.

By: FranklyRealty.com

FranklyRealty.com — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:50:16 +0000

I don’t think the type of market matters.

When the market is HOT, people say… “oh you can just through it on the MLS and get it sold fast”
When the market is LOW, other people say “well you can’t afford the commission, so do it yourself”

So regardless of the market, people will find a reason to say that that route is suddenly better. As for the above, when I got a FSBO $101,000 over his asking price on a $500k house, the benefit of a Realtor was knowing how to get him more (he said he would have stopped at $535k).

And in a LOW market, a good Realtor will also help you net more, for the same reasons in the post.

So it all pretty much holds up true today.

As for the National Chain, that is a crapshoot. What did you do, call the front desk and take the desperate weekend warrior agent answering the phones or did you get the person that sent you 200 postcards, who spends $300,000 to GET your business, but then doesn’t care once they get it.

By: liz

liz — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:31:30 +0000

Frank,
I’d like to see an update (to the 2007 article) and your spin on today’s market in the NOVA area (think DVCC in PW county). I am in “non-MLS” limbo right now and am considering the Flat Fee MLS avenue. After my last adventure with a realtor from a National chain not really chomping at the bit to get stuck like that again. Also would love to hear about hybrid strategies that incorporate the best of both worlds- if there is such a thing.
you can get me at my email.
oh- and thanks for tutoring me on your website

By: Betty Westerlund

Betty Westerlund — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:49:32 +0000

Deanna says, “The hypothesis suggests that the concerns of the Realtor are the single most important factor a Realtor uses in selecting the homes they show prospective buyers.”

I am a buyer’s agent. This is the 21 century. My buyers do their own searches online. If they want to see a house, I show it to them regardless of the commmission or who listed it. If a Buyer wants to see a certain home – they will. If not thru me, they will use another Realtor if they are that determined to see your home. Your hypothesis is bogus.

By: Realtor Commissions. The Great Hush Hush Exposed. | FranklyRealty.com Trust Me I'm A REALTOR

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:06:46 +0000

[...] Well kinda. That 5.4% average isn’t broken down. People like to assume it is half and half, but that is not likely. So if 5.4% was the average in Arlington, it would be 2.4% to the listing agent and 3% to the buyer agent. But the study is nationwide. And I don’t know what the rest of the USA charges or if they include FSBOs (see post on Saving $20k going FSBO). [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:44:23 +0000

Typo: “OK bearare with me.”

By: FranklyRealty.com Trust Me I’m A REALTOR » Death of the Starter Home?

FranklyRealty.com Trust Me I’m A REALTOR » Death of the Starter Home? — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:04:42 +0000

[...] payment, you have to overcome those damn Realtor fees (sure you could sell it yourself, but read my “Save $20,000″ FSBO [...]

By: Al

Al — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:00:17 +0000

While I was searching for falt fee mls listing discovered this. Like your physician friend ( I am one, too) I am convinced not do fsbo, at least not yet. Could you suggest a “great agent and stager” in central Virginia (Henrico county?
Thank you in advance.

By: FranklyRealty.com Trust Me I’m A REALTOR » Hurry for Tax Credits? Or WAIT?

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:26:16 +0000

[...] for the Obama tax credit. People LOVE tax credits. Kinda like people love to “SAVE” by going FSBO, when it will likely actually NET them [...]

By: FranklyRealty.com Trust Me I’m A REALTOR » Redfin Increases Fees 50%. “Advantage” Leaves Off Seller Subsidy. Oops.

Sun, 31 May 2009 04:22:27 +0000

[...] Rebates blog post, and for discount listings and For Sale By Owners go to my 2nd best post ever: Go FSBO! Save $20,000! Agent Tells [...]