References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.
Most Important Reason for Selling Home as FSBO
- Did not want to pay commission fee: 44%
- Sold it to a relative / friend / neighbor: 29%
- Buyers contacted seller directly: 16%
- Did not want to deal with an agent: 5%
- Agent was unable to sell home: Less than 1%
- Could not find agent to handle transaction: Less than 1%
- Other: 1%
Source: 2022 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers (National Association of REALTORS®, 2022)
Information From NAR
7 Reasons to Work With a REALTOR® (REALTOR® Magazine)
Most people buy only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years between purchases. Even if you’ve bought a home before, laws and regulations change. Real estate practitioners may handle hundreds or thousands of transactions over the course of their career.
6 Suggestions for Converting FSBOs (REALTOR® Magazine Tool Kit)
Be persistent. FSBOs will likely reject your first overtures. By the third or fourth time, you may find them at the peak of their frustration and ready to sign on with you.
The REALTOR® Advantage, Is Your Agent a REALTOR® Brochure (Item # 135-145)
This brochure was created with support from the That’s Who We R® campaign and helps support the messaging that whether buying or selling, REALTORS® bring value to the process.
The FSBO Market
10 Reasons Why For Sale By Owner Fails (Simple Showings, Oct. 21, 2022)
“FSBO sellers don’t often realize how much work realtors put into what they do. A substantial chunk of this work involves being readily available to handle inquiries from buyers. Because most FSBO sellers have full-time jobs and other obligations besides selling their home, it can be difficult to find the time or availability to do this.”
The Unspoken Problems with "For Sale By Owner" (FSBO) (CA Realty Training, Aug. 22, 2022)
“Although there are quite a number of legitimate sellers out there, many people still regard all FSBO listings as scams. This is a problem that hinders the success of most FSBO sales. Without an agent, there are huge chances that someone may try to sell a property they don't own. Buyers don't want to go through the stress of having to fix issues like this, so they’d rather just avoid them.”
Why a House Listed as ‘For Sale by Owner’ May Be Overpriced (RISMedia, Mar. 7, 2022)
“When a seller works with a real estate agent, the asking price takes commission into account. An FSBO seller who doesn’t understand that may set a price that would be reasonable if the house were being sold with the help of an agent, but that is too high for an FSBO property.”
Working With FSBOs
What Is ‘FSBO’? What ‘For Sale by Owner’ Means for Home Buyers (realtor.com®, Oct. 10, 2022)
“Still, if you buy a FSBO home, you should be warned that there may be risks, and prepare to do a lot more legwork yourself. This may explain why most home buyers prefer to hire a real estate agent to help them through this complicated process (here’s how you can find real estate agents in your area).”
The 10 Finest FSBO Scripts to Land More Listings In 2022 (Lab Coat Agents, Jan. 27, 2022)
“This script shows you how to ask for opportunities even after the FSBO says “NO” and bypass their excuses. Chastin also recommends recording your calls to listen back, see where you faltered from the script, and where you might have missed opportunities to get the listing appointment. This way, you can get back on your calls, avoid the same mistakes, and be even more successful.”
Can You Buy a FSBO Home with a Real Estate Agent? (realtor.com®, Jun. 18, 2021)
To move forward with purchasing a FSBO property, you should ask your real estate agent to contact and ask the seller to sign a fee agreement. Be warned, there will be owners who don’t want to pay fees to any real estate agent, but many will be willing to pay at least the buyer’s agent’s fees since the agent is bringing the buyers and helping with the process.
11 Reasons Why FSBO Sellers Should Hire a Real Estate Agent (UpNest, Mar. 4, 2021)
One thing you might not be taking into account as a potential DIY home seller is just how available you’ll need to be in order to show your home. Are you really going to be able to call in sick or cancel your plans every time someone wants to look at your home? Potential buyers aren’t going to want to work around your convenience. A professional Realtor, however, doesn’t need to take a day off work in order to show your home, since this IS his/her job.
Books, eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
42 Rules to Turn Prospects into Customers (eBook)
The Home Owner's Guide to For Sale By Owner (eBook)
The Home Seller's Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Get the Highest Price for Your House (eBook)
How to Sell Your Home in Any Market (eBook)OPEN-Question Selling (eBook)
Red-Hot Selling (eBook)
Selling in Tough Times (Audiobook)
Selling Your Home in 45 Days or Less (eBook)
Seven Steps to Sold: The Secrets to Selling Your Home for Big Bucks... Fast! (eBook)
Tips & Traps When Selling a Home (eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
The Lost Art of Closing: Winning the Ten Commitments That Drive Sales (New York, NY: Portfolio/Penguin, 2017) HF 5438.25 .I25 2017
Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie or Die (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013) H 61.4 S54
The Real Estate Agent’s Guide to FSBOs (New York, NY: AMACOM, 2008) HD 1341 M29
For Sale by Owner (Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press, 1992) HD 1341 D49F
For Sale by Owner: a No-Nonsense Guide to Getting the Best Price for Your House (Chicago, IL: Probus, 1990) HD 1341 L83
For Sale by Owner (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1989) HD 1341 G42
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.