The Cheeseburger and the Realtor: Why FOR SALE BUY OWNER is sometimes the better option when selling your home

 Those who know me, know that I love a good cheeseburger. It may be from my years growing up on the water listening to hour upon hour of Jimmy Buffett music. The idea of a good cheeseburger has perhaps subliminally found its way into my DNA. Or maybe it is my 12 year old taste buds that never grew up. Whatever the excuse, I love and appreciate a good cheeseburger. Like a good cheeseburger, I also love and appreciate a good Realtor. Sadly, I have experienced my share of awful cheeseburgers and awful Realtor alike. That is OK, because without the bad ones, we would never know just how appreciative we are of the good ones. 

So, enough about the Cheeseburgers, it is making me hungry. I wanna talk about Realtors. As a real estate attorney, I love working with a good Realtor. A good Realtor makes my job very enjoyable and most times a good Realtor adds more value to a transaction than the cost of their commissions. A good Realtor knows just the right light and just the right angle for those MLS listing photos. A good Realtor can creatively describe your listing in such a way that it may even give you pause. Once read you about your chef inspired kitchen with its decadent stone surfaces and appliances that rival the best 5 star kitchens in France you may reconsider selling.  A good Realtor knows how to price your listing correctly.  Too low and you leave money on the table; too high and your listing sits on the market. If listed just right, a multiple offer situation can be accomplished and often an above asking price offer can be accepted. In addition to all these obvious advantages of a good Realtor, there are plenty of behind the scene scenarios that a good Realtor can handle without ever bothering or involving the seller.

OK, so a good Realtor seems like the way to go. Then why are we talking about the idea of selling FSBO?! Because there is a time and a place for a good Realtor, just like there is a time and a place for a good cheeseburger. Jimmy Buffett likes his with "lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes, a big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer." Sans the tomato and I concur. But what if I just want a small snack before a big family dinner, or perhaps I just got back from a long jog and its 100 degrees in the shade and all I want is an ice cold water and a banana? In those circumstances, the Cheeseburger doesn't seem appealing or appropriate. Once again, the current circumstance analysis works for your Realtor decision as well. 

Lets say you are moving out of town and selling your house to your neighbor or a family member. Or perhaps you own a rental unit and your long term tenant wants to buy it from you. All of a sudden paying those Realtor commissions doesn't seem very appealing or appropriate.

Whatever your current circumstances are, the "current circumstance" analysis can help you make the right choice. If your analysis tells you not to employ a Realtor, call PALMA TITLE & REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS. Our lawyers can prepare the contract for you and can guide you through the entire selling process. We can order your HOA estoppel and lien search, order the buyers survey, prepare closing documents in coordination with the buyer's lender. Once ready, we can schedule your closing either in person at our office, virtual, or at your place of business or employment. We are here to fill in the gaps and provide a smooth closing experience for you.