Working with For Sale By Owners

It blows my mind that homeowners want to sell their own property in this crazy market!  I imagine that when you come across a “For Sale By Owner”, you have to walk a tight rope.  You can’t be too pushy…but you also want to offer help.

If you’d like to engage in conversation with a FSBO seller try asking some of these questions:
1) How long do you anticipate the house being on the market?
2) How did you determine your sales price?
3) How will you protect your family from undesirable callers?
4) How will you know if prospects are financially qualified?
5) Are you going to advertise? When, where and how much will it cost?
6) Do you know how to help the buyer obtain financing?
7) How are you sure that you aren’t guaranteeing anything to the buyer that could obligate you later?
8) How will you avoid wasting time with sightseers and not miss prospects?
9) Do you know some simple things you can do to sell your home for more money?
10) Do you know how to invest the proceeds of the sale profitably in other real estate?
11) Have you taken out a title report to ensure your home is marketable?
12) Do you have an escrow company you trust?

A conversation with questions like these could help build rapport.  When you pose questions, you aren’t “telling” them so the conversation seems helpful!  It might also make the process seem overwhelming which it is!!  In which case, you’ll be the one the FSBO seller remembers when his house remains on the market.  Because of your helpful approach, he may decide he requires your help since you have dozens of sources for possible buyers, you know how to spot the hot prospect from among the casual shoppers and you know how to show the home so it will sell!