Boston Condos for Sale and Rent

Putting your FSBO listing into MLS

If you’re looking to maximize your sale and minimize your effort, you need to work with a real estate professional. In a sellers’ market like today’s, it can be tempting to list your house on your own – known as For Sale By Owner (FSBO). But the truth is, a real estate professional can save you time and money by managing every step of the process, from pricing your home to reviewing documents and handling negotiations.

Before you decide to sell your house on your own, here are five reasons why working with an agent is your best bet to maximize the sale of your home.

1. First impressions are everything – and an agent knows how to make a great one.

Prepping a house for sale requires a significant amount of time and effort, even though it may seem simple at first glance. Doing it right so it stands out takes expertise and an understanding of what buyers are looking for. An agent considers things like:

Should you take down any personal art or pictures?
How much landscaping should you invest in to boost your house’s curb appeal?
What wall colors are most appealing to buyers?

An expert real estate advisor relies on their experience to answer these questions and more so you don’t invest in the wrong things. Your time and money are important – you shouldn’t waste either.

2. Agents have tools to maximize the number of views your home gets.

Put plainly, the more buyers that view your house, the better your return will be. In our current market, homes are receiving 3.8 offers on average per sale, according to recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). While that’s promising for the sale of your home, it’s important to understand your agent’s role in bringing buyers in.

Agents have multiple tools at their disposal – from social media to agency resources – to ensure your home is viewed by more prospective buyers. Leveraging the tools available to your agent and your agent’s expertise may help boost your sale price as well.

3. An agent won’t miss anything in the fine print.

Your agent can also save you time by taking any guesswork out of navigating the required documentation. Today, more disclosures and regulations are mandatory, meaning the number of legal documents you need to juggle is growing.

Because there’s so much to take care of, it can be hard to truly understand all of the requirements and the fine print. That’s where an expert advisor can truly shine. They’ve been through the process before and can be your guide to avoid any costly missteps.

4. Expert advisors know the market and how to price your home.

Another way your agent maximizes the sale of your home is by making sure it’s priced right. Real estate professionals have the experience to compare your house to recently sold homes in your area. They also understand the market at large and can factor in any upgrades you’ve completed to your home. Combining these factors is the key to making sure your home is priced to move quickly – and at a competitive price.

When you FSBO, you’re operating without this expertise. Even with your own research, you may not find the most up-to-date information and could risk setting a price that’s inaccurate or unrealistic. If you price your house too high, you could turn buyers away before they’re even in the front door. This could also cause problems when it’s time for the appraisal.

5. Your agent will be an expert negotiator.

In addition to their experience navigating sales, real estate professionals understand how to negotiate every aspect of a deal. They also know all the parties that will be involved with the sale, including:

The buyer, who wants the best deal possible.
The buyer’s agent, who will use their expertise to advocate for the buyer.
The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find concerns with the house.
The appraiser, who assesses the property’s value to protect the lender.

An agent relies on their experience and training to make the right moves during the negotiation. They’ll know what levers to pull, how to address each individual’s concerns, and when you may want to get a second opinion. Selling your house as a FSBO means you’ll need to be prepared to have these conversations on your own.

Boston Condos and the Bottom Line

Selling a house takes time, effort, and expertise – don’t go at it alone. Let’s connect to make sure you have an expert on your side to make the most of your sale

Boston Condos for Sale and Rent

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Boston Beacon Hill Real Estate

They’re called FSBOs (For Sale By Owners).

Did you know that?

Anyway, it so happens that FSBOs can list their properties in the local MLS (MLS PIN, it’s called).

All they need to do is find a real estate broker to do it, for them.

That’s me!

Boston Condos for Sale: For Sale By Owner

I write about this periodically. Sometimes you’ll see that a Boston condo for sale is being sold by the owner but some homeowners choose to sell without the help of a Realtor (don’t ask me why). I don’t have a problem with that at all but I have downtown Boston real estate buyers who ask about these properties. When I do a little research I sometimes find out that the for sale by owner home was sold six months ago, or the owner was just kind of testing the water or the owner will sell if someone will pay an outrageous amount of money for the place.

Boston Real Estate for Sale Short Story

The other day, I looked up a Boston condo for sale by an owner that one of my clients was interested in the condominium was appraised at around $450,000 but the owner has it listed for $950K and as you can imagine it has been listed for a long time. The property was being advertised on some obscure for sale by owner websites that most people wouldn’t know to look at. I doubt the seller is serious about selling but would sell if someone wants to pay almost double the value of the property.

Another Boston Real Estate Story

One for sale by the owner let me show his condo and then told me that he really wasn’t that interested in selling but that he was kind of trying it out to see if people would be interested in buying. I can almost relate to that as I live on and own a home that is very unique. I see hundreds of homes each year but have never seen one like my own. I often wonder how a home buyer would react to it.

Boston Real Estate Positive News

Occasionally I find a home that is being listed by the owner that is a perfect match for my clients. I call the owner and they let me show the property and if my clients like it we make an offer and if all goes well the owner says yes and I get paid too.

Boston Real Estate and the Bottom Line

I encourage my clients to let me know if they are interested in a home that is being sold by the owner. I’ll work with anyone and I am not afraid to knock on a door or two if a buyer likes a home that isn’t on the market.

People who are trying to sell their home or condo should use a real estate agent. Probably, someone with experience, and someone who works at a larger company (to take advantage of the company’s sales and marketing budget).

If you are attempting to sell your property on your own, without the assistance of a seller’s agent, and would like to have your property listed in MLS, please contact me for more information.

I would also be happy to discuss the pros and cons of going the FSBO route, as well as be happy to provide tips on how to sell your property, without an agent.

Good luck.

Updated: Boston real estate for sale 2020