Why Is This a Secret Page?

Here's the Problem

FSBO's

In a more even market only around 10% of all For Sale By Owners are successful.  At least 90% end up giving up (if they can't afford to pay a commission depending on their home's worth) or list with a real estate brokerage.  Others are simply walking away from a home that they owe more on than it is now worth.

In today's market with enough inventory that in some areas would take a year to clean up if no other property went on the market, FSBO's are going to have even lower success rates.

Buyers are busy.  They want to see listings from the MLS because they know that's where the majority of local listings are.  They don't have the time or energy searching out FSBO's.

First-time buyers want full representation and help from a real estate agent.  They are the least interested buying prospects for fsbo listings.

As an active For Sale By Owner, you are probably hearing from other real estate agents and savvy investors more than true, qualified buyers.  Same might be true of expired listings.

How Most Agents Work

Agents are still using only one system, the MLS, when listing a home. They are depending solely on the MLS and a yard sign to bring in a buyer versus adding for sale by owner listings and using other marketing techniques to make their listings Buyer Magnets.

Multiple approaches are what it takes to sell a home quickly and for the most money.  FSBO's are missing a huge marketing vehicle, the MLS, and that's just one important avenue for finding buyers.  You can't get into Realtor.com or Harmon Homes or other real estate resources by selling on your own. 

And, unfortunately, the majority of real estate brokerages and their agents are relying on old-school efforts to get their listings sold and are expecting the same high commission fees for offering you only a few more ways to find a buyer than you already have access to on your own.

So What is Really Being Offered Here That's So Different?

You pay $500.00 up front and only 1/3 of one percent at closing as your listing commission portion of the transaction.  You can offer whatever you want on the MLS (I suggest no lower than 2.5% in today's market).  This low listing portion of the commission allows you to offer a higher selling commission - some sellers are offering 3% or 3.5% or even 4% to make sure that when an agent working with a buyer puts your home among the first to be shown.

If you sell completely on your own without my help you don't owe a commission at closing.  If you would like me to help with negotiations when another broker is not involved then you only pay 1/3 of 1%!  That's getting your home sold for 1/3% plus the up-front fee of $500.00!   

Consider this scenario - most of today's buyers have more than 25 homes to choose from in their price range, areas they're interested in and offering the amenities they want.  For most buyers, that's an average figure, many have more than 25 properties to choose from.

When an agent sets appointments on so many available properties, where do most agents begin?  Do they start with the higher priced homes on the list?  Or do they go through the commissions offered via the MLS?  It's only natural to choose the listings that an agent would get paid the most on, right?  That's why some sellers offer bonuses or higher co-op MLS commissions. 

That doesn't mean we can force a buyer to purchase a home they don't like, but at least that home will be sure to be shown.  So, in this scenario, let's say an agent shows their buyer 6 homes on a Sunday afternoon.

They chose the first 6 homes based on commission offered via the MLS.  The buyer liked one of these homes enough to make an offer.  The offer gets accepted and guess what - the buyer didn't even see the rest of the homes available.  Those homes weren't shown, possibly because they offered low cooperative commissions to the buyer's agent.

You don't have to offer the highest commission on the block to buyer's agents, but it is one more way of making your listing a Buyer Magnet and it's something you might not be able to afford to do with a 6% listing or even a 5% listing.  Did you know that some agents take a 6% listing and only offer 2.5% in the MLS?  They claim that the rest is their cost of marketing the property!

But with my basic program you might be able to sweeten the pot for the buyer agents out there and put your home at the top of the list.  And this is just one item you can use to give your property top billing.

Important: If you are only marketing your home in a For Sale By Owner situation you are missing half of the buyers. If you are only marketing it in a multiple listing with a traditional agent you are missing the other half!

So What is the Buyer Magnet System?

The Buyer Magnet System attracts Buyers from everywhere they are: the MLS, 100’s of websites, the for sale by owner system, investors and relocation buyers. The Buyer Magnet System brings them to your home. You’ll have fun doing this system while knowing that you are covering all the bases, I promise. We do the work, out-of-the-box techniques to promote your home in the eyes of buyers.  We want you to sell your home, be happy with our service and tell all of your friends.

This system was started in another state and that company now offers this program to all sellers.  92% of their new business is from referrals from happy sellers.  That is where I would like this program to go.  This is not being marketed to the general public - at least not yet.

My brokerage, Classic Realty Group, is not a discount broker.  This offer is only being offered by Judy Orr, Agent of the Year in 2007 and Top Listing Agent of 2006 (I have received many awards over the years with the company I was with before Classic Realty Group).

Aren't There Other Companies That Offer This?

There are Internet companies that offer MLS listings, but:: 

• They are not local & don't understand your local market.
• You need to read the fine print - you might end up paying more than what you thought - there is no fine print with this listing - everything is spelled out.
• You might pay less up front but you get less in the end - most of these companies charge an additional $200.00 for a Showcase Listing on Realtor.com - this is part of my basic listing package.
• Some companies don't offer For Sale signs or lockboxes and if they do, they charge extra for them.
• These companies don't explain Illinois' Minimum Service Laws and make you think you'll only have to pay the up-front fee.
• Most of these companies do not offer an alternative to the up-front fee - if you don't pay for it you don't get the MLS access
• Make sure you have an Easy Exit option - I don't know of any Internet sites that will refund your up-front deposit - I will!
• Some charge extra for any changes made to their listings
• They usually do not offer any alternatives like this program does
• The listing agent never visits your home and does not give you tips on staging your home for a quicker sale and better offers
• They don't provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis - they just take your listing without any suggestions
• They don't offer any kind of buyer or agent feedback
• They don't keep up with you on current market conditions

Now You Need The FAQ's