When was the last time you read about a homeowner who fired their Realtor and successfully sold their home as a FSBO? Never! In fact, more than 80 percent of 'For Sale By Owners' abandon their efforts in favor of listing with a professional Realtor. Many agents are happy to provide information and suggestions to FSBOs free of charge because they know

there ’s a good chance the seller will ultimately list the home with them.

There ’s been a lot of press across the country about the real estate market and how people found they could sell their home merely by placing a sign in the yard. What’s not reported, but has often occurred, are the lawsuits and botched transactions before, during and after the sale. You don’t hear about these because few people want to admit they made mistakes, over or under-priced their home or made costly errors in negotiating repairs?

The truth is that complaints rarely, if ever, come from a seller who used a Realtor to successfully market their home with a minimum of problems; or a buyer whose Realtor found them a great home before it was snapped up by someone else.

The challenge for Realtors today is to show potential buyers and sellers the value a professional brings to the table. From personal integrity, to marketing savvy, to negotiating prowess, the professional Realtor must justify your choice to use them. I know if you enlist my services, you will not regret a penny of my commissions.

Just to give you an idea of the maze you or I have to navigate to buy or sell a home, take a look at the chart below. Don’t you want a professional at your side as you go along?