FSBO Sellers Be Prepared to Negotiate

It’s not unusual for sellers to toy with the idea of selling their own home (FSBO or For Sale By Owner). They reason that they can cut out a real estate professional’s commission and save themselves thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars.

Hold your horses, as you must be prepared to negotiate if you plan to sell your home yourself. Negotiation is the key to netting the most for your home when it closes escrow.

Negotiate?

Yes, be prepared to negotiate for the following reasons:

• The buyer, too, wants the most for his money
• The buyer’s agent is representing the interests of his buyer
• Inspections may bring up problems you didn’t know about
• Inspections may question the value of your house
• Contingencies are sometimes included in an offer

Therefore, you need to be prepared to negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. This is usually where your real estate agent comes in. They have come up against these brick walls time and again, and they know how to handle each of these obstacles. As the buyer’s agent is working for the interests of their buyer, a seller’s agent will be working for you to realize the best possible net at closing.

Why Use a Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents will negotiate with the buyer’s agent on your behalf. They know how to handle offers, counter offers, and what to do when inspections uncover unexpected damage. They can advise you when it’s best to walk away when dealing with unrealistic buyers.

Are you looking for an experienced negotiator that will represent your best interests? At the end of the sale, do you want to walk away feeling you had an experienced negotiator on your side? Contact us! We can explain why one of our happy clients said, “Doug is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, patient, timely and has excellent negotiation skills.”