For Sale by Owner

[Eagle Eye]

I am looking at selling my house early next year (building a new one), and I am wondering if anyone has tried selling thier own house? If so, are the any recomended web sites for tips and tricks? Or should I be letting an agent do the selling for me.

It would be nice to save the apprx. $11,000 by doing it myself.

Thanks

[Frank the Tank]

Our neighbours did it and had a pretty good experience. There are companies that help you through the process and you sell your house under their name. I know the company here is called Pear Tree, not sure about Calgary though.

[Tron_fdc]

welist.com and forsalebyowner.ca are a couple of the free services in town. I contacted welist.com a few months ago, and they do a free evaluation (either over the phone or in person) so you can get an idea of what your house is worth without having to call a realtor. However, after contacting them, they passed my name to CIR realtors and I started getting calls from a realtor offering "discounted" rates.

If you do use a realtor keep in mind commissions are negotiable, and you can get a pretty reasonable rate if you ask for it.

[calf]

my dad's a realtor, and from what he's told me FSBO is hit or miss. Chances are you'd be selling your house to a buyer working with a realtor and 2 problems for yourself may come up. 1. You may think your house is worth more than it is on the market, so it'll take a long time, if ever, to sell. 2. You may under-price your house, getting screwed over in the process. But he thinks that everyone should use a realtor to get it priced right, naturally.

I think one website I've heard on the radio is www.welist.com or www.welist.ca one of those.

[Cheese]

Nothing wrong with selling your home on your own at all. The only thing you have to have is time. Time to do all of the paperwork, time to sit and have open houses every weekend. IF your time is important, OR if you have little free time available I suggest getting a realtor, otherwise there is no problem on your own. Simply study all of the materials that are provided free of charge at any of the websites mentioned above.

[Eagle Eye]

Thanks guys, I definitly have a big decision to make.

I was actaully thinking of trying to sell my house myself for a month and a half or so, and if I was getting no action, I would then try to enlist an angent.

Another question, if I am selling my house my self, and a realtor brings in some clients do I have to pay the realtor a commision for bringing potential buyers?

[Cheese]

You can ideas on your property worth using this...

MLS.ca

and IF you need someone to get a great mortgage from contact our very own Sample00...drop him a message.

[Red]

FSBO has bad reputation because most houses are overpriced. A lot of people won't even look for a FSBO because most likely it's a wast of time.

And don't forget that a potential buyer saves absolutely nothing when buying FSBO. You'd have to make it pretty attractive to get people to even see it.

I've been thru sale/buy 3 times in my life and I've always had bad experience with FSBO. I won't even consider it anymore.

A freind of mine unsuccessfully tried FSBO last year and ended up getting a realtor which sold the place in a couple of weeks.

Also note that comisions are negotiable. 5%+3.5 is pretty standard deal right now.
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Medical Marijuana Doctor

[Red]

Originally posted by 'Eagle Eye'@Dec 20 2004, 08:57 AM
Thanks guys, I definitly have a big decision to make.

I was actaully thinking of trying to sell my house myself for a month and a half or so, and if I was getting no action, I would then try to enlist an angent.

Another question, if I am selling my house my self, and a realtor brings in some clients do I have to pay the realtor a commision for bringing potential buyers?

Yes you do and it is negotiable.

Just to add, think of the hassle of having to be there everytime someone makes a call to see the house. That's why having a realtor makes it pretty convenient, you don't even have to be in town.
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Class action lawfirm

[calf]

nm

[Indi]

actually, I think that realtor fees are 7% on the first $100,000 and 3% on the rest. Then those are split in half between the two realtors. If you are looking for a good realtor, I can recommend a good one who cuts her fees in half.
Good luck

[arsenal]

One of my friends is a realtor for Jaymen. If you decide to go that way in a month or so, I can give you his contact info if you wish.

[Eagle Eye]

Originally posted by arsenal@Dec 20 2004, 09:29 AM
One of my friends is a realtor for Jaymen. If you decide to go that way in a month or so, I can give you his contact info if you wish.

We are actually thinking of building through Jayman, and that is definitly an option. I will PM you for contact info.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I've know three people that tried the FSBO and all were left twisting in the wind for weeks waiting for their place to sell. All finallly caved in and went to a real estate agent. As soon as the thing hit MLS, it sold within a week, if not days (condos downtown).

Just think of it as a necessary cost of business. MLS greatly expands your reach.

[Eagle Eye]

Wow lots of info, thanks for all the help guys

[jam26]

I also sold my house without a realtor. Like Fotze, found someone who was willing to assume the mortgage and pay the difference. Made the deal in an hour over a beer and the entire transaction was completed within a few days.

[Red]

Originally posted by jcody@Dec 20 2004, 09:26 AM
actually, I think that realtor fees are 7% on the first $100,000 and 3% on the rest. Then those are split in half between the two realtors. If you are looking for a good realtor, I can recommend a good one who cuts her fees in half.
Good luck

yes, that's the rate before negotiating, but most people don't pay more than 5 and 3.5% so your realtor falls in to the average.
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Yamaha Vino 125

[Eagle Eye]

Anyone ever used 'Seller Direct'? They advirtise on MLS and other listings, and have quite a lot lower fees

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

I sold my own place about 3 years ago when we built our current home (built by Jayman in Evergreen, coincidentally).

I used one wee herald ad and sold it to the only person who came and saw the place. Easy Peasy.

I got lucky though I think. A friend tried to sell his place one his own, spent about a grand, and got nothing but a giant waste of his time. What he experienced was that everyone discounted the price in their offers because they knew he wasn't paying a realtor.

I remember checking out seller direct and not being impressed, though I don't recall why.

One last thing - the place I sold was a condo, so it was pretty much a fixed market for price. If you're selling a house consider whether a realtor might get you a few grand more on the sale by finding the right buyer than you could maybe get on your own.

Good luck.

[Mike Oxlong]

Hey Eagle Eye,

I own a company that actually buys houses. PM me and we can talk. There might be something we can work out.

BTW - I built my last house with Jayman and they did an awesome job!