Larry,

You need to check out some of Lonn Dugan's blogs here. He is a RE coach. He has some interesting ideas and basically you need to approach it with just giving them what they want...check out his blog, go to his website, he can get you on the right path. I just picked up 2 fsbo's. Good luck.

Oh yes, I need to warn you, he will have you eating elephant...bring your salt shaker :)

I just got a FSBO listing, actually yesterday. Basically I sent the sellers an email just asking if I could market their property on my website, for free. This:

1) Brings buyers for them

2) Bring more traffic to my site

3) Usually gives you a finder fee, even if they dont want to list

Nate, to advertise their property do you have them sign a listing agreement? How do you handle advertising if you do not have one? My fsbos are full fledge sellers now. Just wondering.

Those of you who've had success with FSBOs, do you find working with them is easier, harder or about the same as any other customer?  It seems that they could end up being more trouble in time and energy because they have the mentality that they already know as much or more than licensed agents and that we are over-paid.

Do you find yourself having to justify your commission over and over again (or do you work at a reduced commission just to get their business)?  Do they try to tell you how to run your business?  Do you feel 'satisfaction' when it's all said and done?  Do they refer new business to you?

Just wondering....???  

Tim/Susan, they are not like other customers because the other customers have called us first to seek help. FSBOs don't feel they need us and/or can't afford us. My first experience with FSBO's was real intimidating. But I had a buyer who wanted to look at the FSBO house, so I pre-arranged a one time agreement with just this one buyer. She loved the house and it all ended well. But even getting  signatures from them with one thing and another was an absolute hassle. Even though we had a contract I think they kept thinking it was going to fall through. I think they just had a bad previous realtor experience. We ended up getting them a full price offer and it ended well, but I don't go after FSBO's in a big way, just every once in a while I try to catch one at my regular commission.

I've had some good luck w/ FSBO's in the past. My method has always been just the opposite of what most brokers teach thier agents. In my area, brokers have thier agents get the seller to sign a one time showing agreement just to bring in a buyer. I, on the other had, just ask the seller if I can bring in my buyer/client. When they ask if they need to sign anything or how much I'll charge in brokers fees I just tell them we'll get to that if my buyer has interest. It never fails, after bringing in the third or fourth buyer in two months the seller calls and starts to ask questions about my full service and about the "lost leader mailings" they recieved from others. It has been my experience that most FSBO's don't dislike Realtors, they just don't want to pay they full commisssion. They are most likely willing to pay a buyers broker.

Hi Mary,

Anyone can advertise FSBO on your personal site, with no listing agreements. What I have found is by giving this free service to sellers, and having them be able to see their site on your page, they are more prone to come to you when they do decide to sell.

I generally send them a few emails a week letting them know about traffic to my site and little tips on how to set their property up for a buyer.

I've only been doing this for 2 weeks, and one of those FSBO I listed, turned into a client. :)