Classifieds vs FSBO Professional Marketing

"We're just going to 'try' it in the classifieds first and 'wait' and see what happens"

"baby boomers are coming here to retire"

"Our property is the best on the street"

"There's no inventory"     .......Sound familiar?

Q) Why do Classified FSBO listors have a 99% Failure Rate? A) Their patients wear very thin very fast. A classified listor will get excited when the phone rings a half dozen times a day from a small classified ad. They are willing and eager to answer the same buyer questions over and over and over...."it's a 3 bedroom 2 bath with great views, large living area, large lanai, large yard with great landscaping".... Is it any wonder after 2 or 3 months of trying the classifieds that sellers tire when the next buyer calls and asks the same redundant questions?

Why pay For Sale By Owner-Magazine $895 for an ad when a tiny classified ad is only $6. After all, that guy Don Lapre on late night TV says you can become rich with "tiny classified ads." Well, if a classified listor is at least as good as a full-time real estate agent, the classified listor will end up spending over $1,200 on classified ads since agents take 175 days on average to get a property sold (MLS Sold Statistics). Is it any wonder why "classified FSBO's" have a 99% failure rate.

Spending $6 vs. $895 for an ad... on the surface looks like an easy choice, however, most owners are not marketing experts nor do they get the same marketing exposure with a "tiny classified ad" compared to the comprehensive non-stop photo marketing system that we offer, plus all the items we include as part of the marketing package, are designed to ensure your success as a "By Owner" seller, not to mention a 100% rebate guarantee that we offer!

The typical classified ad caller will ask all the questions of the owner that could have been answered in 3 seconds with our post card sized color photo ad (a picture is worth a thousand words) in the For Sale By Owner Magazine. Do you really want to explain for half an hour 10 times a day to any caller, trying to imagine what your property looks like or has to offer? Wouldn't you rather have massive marketing working for you to instantly qualify an interested buyer as well as disqualify a non-buyer? Classified ad callers are generally lazy and want an un-realistic deal (like the late-night TV real estate guru guy said they can get from the Classified FSBO's). They rely on hours of your time trying to imagine what your property looks like or has to offer. Classified listors are so excited that their phone is ringing, they'll typically invite just about anyone (qualified or not) to the property time and time again.

Unfortunately the most typical classified listor problem is when one of these classified buyers ties up the property in escrow for months only to have it fall out of escrow. With the current slowing market, we've seen many times, buyers tie up property for months only to fall out of escrow because the seller failed to adequately qualify their buyer or over priced the property and the appraisal came in lower vs. the asking/contract price, then the classified listor has to start over having stopped their advertising when escrow was opened. And how much value did the seller loose, and how much more paid in holding costs. Is it any wonder why "classified FSBO's" have a 99% failure rate.

The worst and most typical classified listor problem is the fact that most sellers are 'just trying the classifieds first just to see.' The problem is the buyers already know that most classified listors are trying to get a sucker price 'just to see.' When it doesn't happen, the seller may get serious about selling and price it more realistically with us.

Many of our sellers have purchased our non-stop marketing program simply to generate back-up buyers, sort of like FSBO insurance to give sellers piece-of-mind and the confidence to lead their buyer rather than the classified buyer leading the classified listor down the wrong road.

Why does our FSBO SYSTEM work so well? Because of our 5 step self qualifying buyer process... 1) Buyers these days shop 'For Sale By Owner" first because they know agent listed properties are priced 6% over the sellers' net price. 2) A buyer picks up our real estate specific magazine and finds a property they are interested in 3) Buyers go to our web sites to see more photos of the property 4) Buyers drive by to see the property and get a feel for the neighborhood 5) At this point, only seriously interested buyers are calling the seller to do a final walk-through and make an offer.

Our sellers are more successful period! Our buyers act quickly because of the vast number of qualified buyers and agents picking up our magazine, seeing our signs all around town in the sellers yards, picking up info flyers and viewing our web sites.

Our FSBO sellers have a 90% success rate in 6 months or less (typically 1-2 months), compare this with the 99% failure rate for classified listors.

Use our complete professional For Sale By Owner marketing system, not the for sale 'by loner' tiny classifieds.

Is There Any Comparison Really?

	vs.
Photo ad package, $895* one time fee, runs until sold		Tiny classified ad, over $1,200 spent after 3-4 months

Let's settle the overlooked differences right now.

Q) What about a classified ad and add the MLS? A) Sorry, we don't offer the MLS on its own. Since the success rate with a classified ad is only about 1%, the only way you would sell is from the MLS, you'd end up paying a commission for sure. So the real question is 'why pay anyone for the MLS, just for the right to pay a 3% buyers agent commission?' Essentially you'd be paying someone to work against you, to get the lowest price for their client, get you to give up many more concessions on the home inspection... and worst of all, 'MLS only listors' end up pricing their property 3% too high (to cover the cost of a buyers agent commission).

Ok, if you still insist on running a tiny classified ad, there is one reason and one reason only, it's to advertise our web site FSBO-world.com as an additional line in your classified line ad, this directs the reader to our web site showcasing your property with a larger ad with color photos and a detailed description, plus information on how buyer's can qualify and purchase your property "By Owner."

Call our marketing department at: Maui 877-NOT6 (877-6686), Oahu 678-0303, Big Isle 329-6606, Kauai 245-9449 or email and start your photo marketing package today! Don't wait, start today!