Think  For Sale By owner will net you more money? Think again¦I will show you one way For Sale By Owners (FSBO), get less money for their home

I respect that with everything that is going on in today™s market, it might seem a little better to put your home up for sale, save the 6% and go it alone.  Well, I don™t know that I agree¦and maybe after reading this you will see the truth about local FSBO companies that claim to help you sell your home for less money, and look to a true professional to help you sell your home.

Let us first take note that Missouri housing is no longer part of the declining market. In fact since January 2009 home sales have actually increased 124%! We have eight months or so in inventory, which  indicates it is still a buyers market, but none the less we are looking at an upward trend for home sales (personally this is very exciting if you are selling your home).      So where does this leave FSBOs?   With 14,000 homes in inventory the KC Metro Area, how does one typically compete with so many homes on the market?   Selling lower, hoping that whomever is looking will find your home and buy it, right?   Well, let™s think about that¦  If you were a first time home buyer (which accounts for about 50% of home sales) wouldn™t you use a REALTOR to help you navigate the process?   We all have to admit, the first time you buy a home can be overwhelming and you probably want your hand held so you don™t make a large financial mistake.

Ok, so what about move-up buyers?   Typically a move-up buyer has just sold their home and is working with that same REALTOR to find their new home. After all they need to close in 30-45 and with so much inventory they need someone to do the footwork and research for them.

So who is left? Investors and dreamers. Investors will low ball you, hoping you don™t know the true value of the home. Dreamers?  Well, they are just that, they want to buy but couldn™t get qualified. (By the way a certain lender is only looking at buyers with a credit score of 660 or higher to buy a home)So I digress a little, let us get back on track¦So, you still think that if you sell for a couple thousand lower than the neighbors you will surely net a quick sale¦Well let™s look at that¦.Recent statistics from the NAR 2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Reports show that the median selling price as a percentage of the asking price was 97% for FSBO, and for agent-assisted sales was 96%. Wow! At first look that sounds fantastic, FSBO got more for their home than the agent assisted sales. Not so fast my friends, look closer¦  The median selling price on FSBO Home was $150,100 and the median sales price of agent assisted was $211,000. Take this one step further and drill it down by square foot – the average FSBO home size is 1500 sq. feet, whereas the agent assisted average is 1850 sq. feet.   When we compare price per square foot “ the FSBO home only sold for $99/sq. foot and the agent assisted home was $114/sq. foot, a difference of $15/sq. footComparatively, if the FSBO with the 1515 sq foot home sold with an agent he would have sold for $175,740, a price difference of $25,640!There are many claims that FSBO sell faster on average by 5 weeks¦why would that be? Maybe because they are being sold at deeply discounted prices to investors? FSBO have in essence priced their homes too low! Don™t make the same mistake and waste time and energy. Selling a home is much more than putting a sign in the yard, and praying someone buys it.   If anything talk to a qualified REALTOR who knows your market before you list your home.For more information about my marketing plan and how I can help you sell your home. Please visit my website at htt://www.mykcagent.com, via email at christina.buffa@kw.com or at 816-914-2487