For Sale By Owners, Please Be Careful

At Arrive Real Estate Group we truly care about and look out for those around us. All too often we see people get into the wrong situation and wish we could have helped sooner. Here is a recent story about an interaction one of our Founding Partners, Katie Moe, had when she was showing a buyer a property.

Please call me if you need anything…you really need to be careful

Those were the exact words out of my mouth as I stood on the driveway after showing a FSBO property to some buyer clients. What is a FSBO??? For Sale By Owner. And in this market, I honestly can’t believe anyone would attempt to take that on. 

I was genuinely curious how the process had gone for him. So I asked “How is this whole thing going for you?” He was stressed, anxious and looked at me and said “Oh my Gosh, it is insane. I have agents calling me non-stop from all over the state asking me to let them sell it or list it. I don’t even answer my phone anymore.” The conversation proceeded with me asking if anyone of those agents had talked about the current protocols for showing in 2020 (Thank you Covid-19). And if any of those agents had asked him about the seller disclosures he needed to provide. He was literally a deer in the headlights. At the end of the conversation I offered the referral of a real estate attorney and encouraged him to please be careful, this market is NOT for the faint of heart. I knew he would get an offer…but I was genuinely worried that he would have no protection or a true advocate for him and his asset. 

Low and behold 5 days later after I had referred him to a real estate attorney, I got a phone call asking me to come over and discuss listing his home. In his words, “I am in WAY over my head and I learned my lesson.” 

When we met later, the discussion revolved around what most sellers are concerned with: How much does it cost for you to help me sell my home? This seller, like many in today’s market, is recently retired, moving out of state and wanting to maintain as much of his investment as possible. In his journey of attempting to represent himself he was not aware of the preparation, market analysis, staging, multi-channel marketing opportunities, security and peace of mind that working with a licensed Realtor brings. It is my job to put my client, their goals and the preparation of their property first and foremost. 

Within 24 hours of meeting with him, my team had inspections scheduled, a landscaper lined up to finish some projects, a staging consultation, a moving crew to move his piano, a cleaning crew and professional photographs scheduled. And 10 days later, we launched the home on the MLS. When I spoke with my client that Friday he said “Katie, this looks like a whole new house. I never could have done this without you. Thank you.” We had over 25 showings scheduled within the first 2 days, Covid showing protocol is being followed and offers are due on the following Wednesday. 

I meant what I said when I first met Bob standing on his driveway. It is an honor to take care of my sellers, work very hard for them and help them achieve their goals. I am so thankful that he called me and trusts my team with this most important decision. Stay tuned…I will share the results when we have them! 

Katie Moe

Founding Partner | Realtor® | DRE #01507863