Newsgroups: alt.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: private vs. listing
From: "Stephen Horrillo" 
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 22:59:33 GMT


On 17-Apr-2005, "Tyrone"  wrote:

> "J Doe"  wrote in message
> news:cd2dnWkkVK_FQvzfRVn-gw@rogers.com...
> The goal is to get the house sold and get the highest price possible. I
> simply want to know if this can be accomplished when selling privately.
> Or... am I more likely to do better, even after commissions if I list
> with an agent.
>
> Now seriously, what do you think the answer will be, if it comes from an
> agent?  Kinda like asking the fox if he would like to guard the hen
> house, isn't it?

I worked for a FSBO company for three years called Buy Owner / MLS Realty. I
was able to list Sellers on the MLS as a Realtor or sell them a "marketing
plan," or both at the same time. I sold hundreds of ads and listed hundreds
of homes. The vast majority of the 1500+ people I saw felt they were in over
their heads. Some felt had to try because up North they had no problem
selling their home fsbo, but said that people in South Florida were a lot
different. But I've heard nightmare stories from both directions being that
some of my customers had fired their Realtors to try it on their own, while
others got disgusted trying it on their own and wanted help. One theme that
seemed to ring true over and over was that trouble usually followed the
*individual.* It had little to do with the method they used. They had
problems with the Realtors when they were listed THEN they had trouble
dealing with the Public when they turned FSBO, and visa versa.

The truth of the matter is that as long as the listing is properly entered,
properly priced and the listing office and agent answers their phone, the
MLS (in other words the Buyer's Agents) will get the house sold despite a
bad listing agent.

The best quick advice I can give as a test for finding a Realtor to list
with is try calling them and their office. Especially on the weekend. Do
they answer the phone or does it go to voice mail? Once you pick them ask to
sit down at the computer and have them pull up ALL their previous listings
on the MLS. Our MLS goes back two years. Take a look at how the listings
were entered. Did they include plenty of photos? Did they provide a decent
description and directions to the property? Are things like subdivision and
street names misspelled? What percentage of their listings are showing that
they have expired? Is there a large gap between the original listing price
versus the selling price?

-- 
Warmest regards,

Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com