Hi Debbie,

It sounds like your in a hurry to list the FSBO's; don't be. as they languish on the market you need to be there for them. send them something helpful bi-weekly. When their home doesn't sell and they start considering REALTORS, you will be top of mind. Most agents give up on the FSBO after the first rejection you need to hang in there and be persistent until they realize your value.

I hope this helps.

Yes, fsbos are a different breed. But basically, they are the DIY breed. Most just want to save money. Some have had a terrible experience with one real estate agent that makes us all look bad. I think the fact that you have put a special place on your website for them is fantastic. I recently picked up a fsbo, and all I did was attained their email address from them through my website, they downloaded some forms to help them price their home. About every 2 weeks I would drop them a line to ask how it was going and offer my services. No pressure, just trying to help. I would also inform them if the market was active or not, basically what I was dealing with, what properties were pending, what had sold recently, it was slow right now, etc. I made them feel comfortable with me and I think this is the key, stay in contact with them with no pressure. At one point I actually told them I would do their paperwork for them for a small fee if they found a buyer. It takes a little time and you won't win them all, but you don't want all of them anyway!

Hi Debbie:

Great Question....  Great target market, HUGE OPPORTUNITY.  But if you are singing the song about <B>WHY TO USE A REALTOR</b>, or what the stats (averages) show then <b>you are singing the wrong song!</b>

There was never a FSBO Seller born who was AVERAGE !!!!  They are strong minded, independent folks.  That's OK!  

See http://www.FsboKiller.com for FREE Tips on working FSBO's.  You will find a FREE CALL SCRIPT about bringing REAL BUYERS and an outline for a FSBO listing presentation:

- Real Buyers, Real Branding, Real Marketing, Real Results.

The REAL BUYERS part is where you start. That's what they want.  

Get in the door, get a tour, build rapport, then get permission to share what you know about REAL BUYERS, just in case that would be helpful.  NOT ONCE has a FSBO seller said they don't want to hear 10 minute presentation about how REAL BUYERS think and act.  

This technique is called THE NIBBLE - Once we get started eating that elephant, we just keep eating the darn thing one bite at a time until it is gone!    

SALES is a really SIMPLE game when you give people what they want.  The problem only comes when you hide it behind a complicated message.  

Bottom line - FOR FSBO's - GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT...  

They Want BUYERS, they want MORE MONEY in their pocket, and they want a faster sale.  There is nothing else worth talking about.  

They KNOW you are a Realtor, and they KNOW they probably need one, but they just won't admit it until it becomes useful to them.  

You can tell them how many buyers you have on drip in your p2 web site!  

You can tell them about your Google and PI rank.  

You can tell them about virtual tours and realtor.com and MLS

But until they realize how hard it is to find REAL BUYERS, or that you already found some and will find more every week...  You are just whistling dixie...

BEST WISHES in working FSBO sellers!  

Dear Debbie,

my reply isn't relevant to your questions, (I am a standard member and I am not able to create a blog) - but I so would like to share my yesterday experience, and see what all of you folks think or know!

Dear agents and brokers!

As all real estate professionals, I was searching for alternative sources of leads  and I came across of the House Values website yesterday. I filled out a contact form, and was promptly contacted by a sales rep this morning. I was given town price breakdowns  10 leads, 20 leads, etc. Prices range from $320 to $489 a month. I' showed shown some hesitation - the rep went on about the specials - March leads are free, next 2 months are half off. I asked to email me the agreement for the review and went on with my work day. The same rep called me an hour and a half later and left me a voicemail that the town I've requested was no longer availbale. This alarmed me - so I asked my associate to call a general House Values 1-800 number and inquire about the same town. He did - on the contrary to what I was told, the town I"ve inquired and was left a "sold out" message about was still available - interesting discrepancy, ah?!

I"ve called back the rep a couple of hours later as I had more questions about quality of leads, length of agreement, etc. He was very nice and personable but kept pushing to sign up today, NOW, commenting that the towns of my interest may no longer be available. I got off the phone so I could look over the agreement. Beware what you sign and never do so in a hurry, right?! I dropped a courtesy email to the sales rep that I had to leave for a client appointment and that I needed a couple of days to review the agreement and just simply research that this marketing strategy was what I was looking for.

The sales rep has attempted to contact me 3 times during my 40 min drive to my appointment. He also left a pushy voicemail  - "what is your hesitation about doing business with us?!" - 3 calls and a voicemail  - all during my 40 min!!!

After I got back - I had 2 emails from the same rep - a simple and straight forward one - "If you don't reach me at 1-800 number, here is my cell..." and the second one:

Quoting:"

Hello Irina.  Thank you for getting back to me.  Thank you for your time.  We will NOT have any remaining business left in two days, let alone one day.  I have a team of 40 account executives who are responsible for your market.  There job is the same as mine.  To find a quality broker or agent to service these leads.  The ONLY reason we have a promotion today, is to get these prospects serviced in these areas. What is holding you back?  Price?  Quality of our program?  Do you need another agent/broker to talk to that is using us?  Whatever it is let me know, so we can move forward.  Thanks Irina."

After recieveing this email, I decided to do more research - so I went on

www.ripoffreport.com

www.complaints.com

I do understand that one needs to take everything with the grain of salt! But comments I"ve read on these two sites about Home Values (aka Just Listed) are quite simular in content and definetely full of anger! I didn't sign up and not planning, and therefore I can't tell about my experience with this company, what I can tell is that a pushy salesperson does make you question the quality of the product, and it does pay off to wait 24-48 hours to research and evaluate the quality of products or services you are about to purchase!

Just wondering, if anyone had any good or bad experiences with House Values - please, do share? Very curious!

Sincerely,

Irina Allison, Broker

http://www.irinaallison.com/

Some of my best clients have been FSBO'S. FSBO'S are people too. They just want to save money (which they don't) or don't like Real Estate agents, or both.

Most of the time ONLY one person in the couple wants to FSBO anyway. So you already have one person on your side...find out if it's the husband or wife and let them work the other.

The best time to contact FSBO's is Sunday nite or Monday after their weekend and advertising is done and getting ready to spend more money for the following week.

I agree with Dannie let them try it for awhile 3-4 weeks and they'll be done, "what else can they do, BUT list the property"

All you need to do is get your business card on their table so you'll be one of the one's they call, in the meantime ask them for their buyers that don't want to buy their home and offer them relocation advice or maybe even refer them to another agent for $$$.

Hang in there.... you'll be surpised how nice they can be WHEN they need YOU.

http://RealEstateTorrington.com

Search over 20,000 properties TODAY!

Every weekend for a month now there is a lady about 50 years old sitting in the median of a street.. in a lawn chair.. with a golf umbrella.. with a big FSBO sign that says "Was $140K, now $130K"

I stopped by, gave her my card and told her that if she needed any help with  her FSBO to just give me a call and I'd be happy to help her.  I felt sorry for her!

She's competing against new units for sale in the same subdivision so she'll never sell on her own.  Well, maybe if she offered 2 years of HOA, a screened in patio, a refrigerator and came off the price another $7,000 she could.

I never got a call.  She was at the same corner today and it was cold outside. Sigh...

Some people just don't get it.