The FSBO Blog

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen a lot of attention in the media to some key advertising numbers. So much so, in fact, that now it’s undeniably a trend.

MarketWatch cited a newspaper industry consulting firm who estimated that by 2009 (4 years), more dollars will be spent advertising real estate online than in newspaper classifieds. (article here) Why? Online real estate is out of the experimentation phase now, says the consulting firm. It has proven its effectiveness - agents, brokers and developers are now committing more and more of the advertising budget to online ads.

A Realty Times article (article here) lists the growth of some key real estate websites - AOL Real Estate: up 212% in last 6 months; ForSaleByOwner.com: up 154% in last 6 months.

I love Nielsen//NetRatings’ analysis: “That suggests more consumers are taking home selling into their own hands.”

When you can put your own home online just as easily as an agent, and reach the same audience as an agent, and save thousands of dollars, is anyone surprised??

Then, the National Association of Realtors 2004 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that now 80% of homebuyers shop online for a home. Do they find one? You betcha. The #1 way buyers found the home they bought was using an agent, at 38%. Next was a yard sign, at 16%. A close 3rd was the internet, at 15%.

‘Nuff said.

~Robert Creek
The FSBO Blog

Mortgage News Daily has a great post about getting your home presentable and ready to sell - a practice often referred to as “staging.”

I like the last line:

If your house has a lot of competition in the market you need to measure up. Think of it as show biz.

Marketing and presentation; it really is show biz. A little strategic effort goes a LONG way.

~Robert Creek
The FSBO Blog