Tom.. Re: For Sale By Owner
 

Tom,

You wanna play in the FSBO market?

#1) If you hurry, you can secure the domain

www.FSBO-Sidney.com

#2) Start promoting the heck out of it.

#3) Get some "FSBO-Sidney" business cards printed and get 'em out ANYWHERE you can. (Building supply companies are GREAT)

Just my 2-1/2-Cents worth.

Pete

My site got me a call from St. Pete, FL last week.
We're "negotiating" the price right now.

> I would suggest adding more value than just
> a website.

> About a month ago, there was a bit on TV
> about a Melbourne couple that had started up
> a For Sale By Owner company, offering a
> complete service to potential sellers.

> They supply assistance, a check list of
> things to do (get 3 realtors to look at your
> property to price it, make sure you have a
> legal contract before advertsing etc.)
> They supply a large professional coroplex
> For Sale sign, web site with pics etc.

> The complete package goes for $995.
> Don't underestimate the fact that the
> average person is clueless and does not know
> the best way to sell their property. An
> agent is generally the path to least
> resistance.

> The story was news worthy enough to make it
> on Prime Time TV.

> It is always better to offer a complete
> package.
> It dramatically improves the value of your
> product, allowing you to charge more.

> Most people that are thinking of selling
> look thru local papers to price similar
> properties etc, so this would be the ideal
> place to place an Ad.

> Also, if you can add value that a real
> estate company can't easily do without
> getting in outside help, such as Virtual
> Tours, that's a bonus.

> I just sold my property without an agent and
> created my own virtual tour. It generates
> interest to passerbys when you have the URL
> on your For Sale sign.

> Depending where you live, it can be
> extremely difficult to sell Realtors the
> idea of joining your portal, if you go that
> way.

> See this forum at Slashdot where they
> discuss selling a listing database to
> realtors.

>
> http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/06/2043214&mode=thread&tid=126&tid=156
> To list realtors on a portal, in my
> opinion, will depend whether you live in a
> large city that has a competitive market. In
> Sydney you would not have a hope in hell of
> creating your own Real Estate portal that is
> viable.

> The Real Estate agents are virtually all
> locked in with major portals like
> http://realestate.com.au It is too late for
> that.

> If you would like a few pointers in Virtual
> Tours as an extra bonus for a Sale By Owner
> website, feel free to drop me a line.
> Check out my site too if you like:
> http://insideouttours.com Good luck.

> Tom B.

Re: Tom.. Re: For Sale By Owner
 

Pete,
Thanks for your enthusiastic response.
I am in the process of moving interstate at the moment.

But you are right, I think there is potential there, especially if you can add value/backends.
As soon as I'm settled, I'll look into it as an adjuct to my Virtual Tours.

Also, no offense...we love the Yanks....
but it's Sydney, not Sidney. An we dont use the term FSBO here,generally we just say Private Sale. But translation aside, I appreciate your upbeat post about this.

Cheers,
Tom B.

Re: Tom.. Re: For Sale By Owner
 

Sorry 'bout that, Tom! :(

Never could spell. 'Specially when I get in a hurry!

So.. get a "PrivateSale-Sydney.com" web site! :)

Pete

> Pete,
> Thanks for your enthusiastic response.
> I am in the process of moving interstate at
> the moment.

> But you are right, I think there is
> potential there, especially if you can add
> value/backends.
> As soon as I'm settled, I'll look into it as
> an adjuct to my Virtual Tours.

> Also, no offense...we love the Yanks....
> but it's Sydney, not Sidney. An we dont use
> the term FSBO here,generally we just say
> Private Sale. But translation aside, I
> appreciate your upbeat post about this.

> Cheers,
> Tom B.

Re: Tom.. Re: For Sale By Owner
 

> Sorry 'bout that, Tom! :(

> Never could spell. 'Specially when I get in
> a hurry!

> So.. get a
> "PrivateSale-Sydney.com" web site!
> :)

> Pete
Thanks Pete--
Great intercontinental translation!
Tom

Re: ONE thing I've learned...
 

I also think that you have something with this whole FSBO idea. Lets add a different prospective to it though. Instead of charging the homeowners money to place their homes on your website, you could find a way to list mortgage companies and have them pick up the bill. This way the homeowners get free advertising, mortgage company gets new customers, and you get paid as well.

> Don ....

> I was not taking away from what you said
> about the www.ezmls.com idea. I think it
> is a great idea as I mentioned. I also did
> not say Carlotta or I or anyone else does
> not have what it takes to sell.

> I was just applauding her idea to do
> something with the FSBO market because even
> though that market has been there a while
> ... I have noticed an abundance of more FSBO
> signs popping up in this area and less
> "Real Estate" signs in yards.
> Matter of fact I was commenting on that the
> other day when I saw a copy of the
> "Homes By Owner Georgia" magazine.

> You spoke of one thing you have learned ...
> and I am sure you have also learned that
> things change and we need to adapt to
> change.

> I am also sure that it pays to do as you
> have said numerous times (and I agree with)
> to "keep your eyes and ears open to
> opportunity" because it is everywhere.
> I applaude Carlotta for having done just
> that. She saw a need and decided to fill it.

> Ideas are a dime a dozen and we all know
> that. Now an idea acted upon ... that is
> worth a whole lot more.

> That is one thing I like about you Don, you
> get an idea and you act on it. And then you
> freely share your ideas to others who
> hopefully decide to do something ... either
> with your idea or some other idea.

> None of us corner the market on ideas or
> opinions ... the great thing is that there
> are so many to grab ahold of and do
> something with ... be it our own or someone
> elses.

> Randy Sutton

> out a "Market"....there is