For sale by owners (FSBO) can be great opportunities to earn listings for real estate agents. All you have to do is convince the owner that they will be better off with your advice and guidance, so be ready to sell yourself and the value you provide.
But before you have to worry about pitching, you have to figure the best ways to find FSBOs. The more owners you approach, the more listings you’ll get, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with every available source.
Here are some solid sources.
FSBO websites
Some are local, others are national that offer advanced search tools to check out what’s for sale in your area.
Craigslist
Depending on the city you live in, there can be thousands of active FSBOs listed in your area. Since this is a free platform for individual owners to sell single properties, and since many owners are looking to save as much money as possible, there are a ton of leads on Craigslist.
Newspaper classifieds
Look for ads without Realtor® or broker information. Most states require this to be listed. If there is no agent or broker, then it’s probably a FSBO.
Search
Check the neighborhoods with properties that have the best returns, and keep your eyes peeled for a FSBO sign.
The FSBO can be elusive, but it is a niche area that many real estate agents overlook. It means you’ll deal with prospects with an aversion to agents, but when you convince them that your involvement in the sale means a higher selling price, you can turn them into clients.
Bonus item
When speaking with a FSBO lead, send or give them a copy of our free valuable e-book, “The 5 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home.” You might ask, “Why?” Good question!
First, it’s an item of value that your prospect will appreciate. That encourages them to like you.
Second, being willing to give away industry secrets is a sign of good faith. That helps to build trust.
Finally, when your prospect discovers how difficult it can be to sell their home and how easy it is to make costly mistakes, guess who they’re going to call for help . . .
