Selling by owner is more convenient

Real Estate Mythology 101

Myth #1: Selling by owner is inconvenient and requires around-the-clock availability.

Reality: Homeowners find selling by owner more convenient than listing with an agent. 

Why? Primarily because you control your own schedule when selling by owner. If you only want to show your home on Wednesday evening and weekends, that's what you do. Many homesellers hold impromptu open houses to minimize the disruption in their daily lives (as well as minimize the number of times they need to clean the house!), encouraging buyers to come at the same time as others. Contrast this with having to quickly clean and leave your house each time an agent wants to show it. And, speaking of cleaning, who has the time to do this each morning before leaving for work or errands "just in case"?? Certainly not parents!

Also, when scheduling showings, you only have to coordinate your schedule with that of the buyers'. This is much easier than trying to find a time that works for three parties -- seller, buyer and agent (and guess who is expected to be the most flexible of the three!)

As for around-the-clock availability, that's what answering machines are for. If you have to leave town for a few days, you can access your messages remotely, or leave the out-of-town phone number for buyers to call on your answering machine. While on vacati

on you can arrange for a relative, neighbor, or friend to show your property for you in your absence. Even real estate agents aren't available around-the-clock (ever notice how many agencies are closed on weekends -- particularly Sundays?)

"One of the nicest things about selling on our own was that we were in control of the showing schedule. We didn't have to leave the house in the morning and wonder if people were going to look at it. We had an answering machine -- people called -- we called them back and would set up a time at our mutual convenience." -- Ben Hale, Waitsfield

" The process works well because we are able to discuss our home personally with prospective buyers before scheduling appointments. This means that only those buyers truly interested in our type of home come to tour it. Without a middleperson, the process is more efficient, less time-consuming and less frustrating for everyone!" -- Alana Ryan,Westford

"People who've used brokers complain they had no control over when their house was shown, that brokers didn't make enough of an effort to bring in potential buyers and that real estate agents even encouraged them to underprice for a quick sale." -- excerpt from "How to Sell Your House at the Highest Price", Smart Money magazine, July 2007

Many things have changed in recent years in real estate, including the introduction of for-sale-by-owner publications and helpful Internet sites that make it easier for private sale homesellers and buyers to come together. So before you accept something as the truth, look into it a little further. It might just be a myth!

If you have any questions about buying or selling, please call Picket Fence 660-3167 or 800-201-0338