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How This Veteran Agent Makes FSBO’s Beg For Representation

By Alex Camelio, CEO - Posted on
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Last Updated on October 6, 2020

Submitted By Linda Fogarty, Managing Broker, Coldwell Banker (with editorial from Craig Forte, Executive Editor)

Don’t you wish every FSBO understood the value your services bring to the transaction? If you’re tired of cold calling FSBO’s to “convince” them to list with you…take just 2 minutes to read how a veteran agent in Illinois gets FSBO prospects to beg her to list their home… Linda’s proven process is a winner if you take this easy strategy and use it in your practice. Here’s her idea (in her own words)… “I have found that cold calling and asking FSBO’s to list with me never works. Instead, I use the following 4-steps to get FSBO’s to beg me to work with them:

STEP 1: Gather FSBO Contact Information

On Friday’s I go through our local paper and the FSBO web site and pull all the “open house” notices in the paper (with phone numbers and addresses) in the areas I’m working.

STEP 2: Contact FSBO’s and Get Appointments

I start making calls to the FSBO’s. My conversation goes like this:

Hi, My name is Linda Fogarty and I’m a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker. I noticed you have your house on the market (NOTE: I DO NOT TELL THEM I KNOW THEY’RE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE), and I like to stay on top of the market and was wondering if I could preview your home.

Nine times out of ten the FSBO will be more open then any other time. They are getting their home ready for an open house and are afraid no one will show up. So they usually respond by telling me they are having an open house so I can come over. Then, I respond with:

Oh, I would love to but I’m having an open house myself, could I come over AFTER my open house?

They always say, “YES”! The reason I don’t go over during their open house is because I want their undivided attention. I continue to call FSBO’s in the same general area until I have a minimum of 3 appointments.

STEP 3: Make the First Visit and Become the “Helpful Agent”

When I arrive to their home, I start asking questions about their open house and of course my open house was always better. I am building rapport while I’m looking through their home and noticing they don’t have any of the following home marketing tools…

  • brochures
  • seller’s disclosure forms
  • sign-in forms

I give them a few extra copies of the forms and tools they need to have a good open house. In essence, I become their helpful REALTOR®. Plus, I just happen to have a copy of one of my beautiful brochures of my listings (so they see what they’re missing out on).

STEP 4: Follow-Up Each Week with Valuable Resources

During the next few weeks, I drop by with helpful articles that I read and thought might interest them, or I drop off forms I think they might need, or I do a market analysis for the neighborhood and go over it with them. I have created 10 weeks of “stuff” in files that gives me another reason for going back to them again as a “helpful REALTOR®.”

I rarely or never ask for the listing. In most cases it comes right to me. Why? Because most agents I know who prospect FSBO’s give up after the 1st or 2nd try.

BIG TIP: I stay persistent when other agents are unwilling to keep going back. My average number of contacts with the FSBO is FIVE! I get most listings by the 5th visit, but I don’t give up even if it takes TEN visits. When they’re ready to list, I’m getting the listing. I’ve calculated the amount of time it takes to call 100 FSBO’s to simply get one deal, and found that following up with a handful of open FSBO prospects each week is far more profitable. I know it will be for you too.”

Thanks for sharing, Linda. I don’t think there’s any agent reading this who couldn’t immediately start using your system. Best of all, there’s almost no money needed!

One final thought: even if the FSBO sells on their own, you can add them as a contact to your database for regular monthly contact. And then you open yourself up to getting a flow of referrals. Remember, it’s all about building market share. And market share comes from building and nurturing your Power List of past clients and leads!

By the way, if you’re looking for a fast and easy way to nurture relationships and demonstrate why you’re worthy of referrals, check out this real estate newsletter. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen that offers a PRINT, EMAIL, and SOCIAL MEDIA version. All you do is send it out once a month to bond clients and leads to you like family. Plus this one has special programming devices that practically force people to think of you for real estate. Don’t worry there’s nothing unethical or sneaky, people actually LOVE getting it!

The strategy above is called the FSBO First Date™ System and it can make even most skeptical homeowner ask you to list their home.

Action Steps

  • Get preview appointments (“dates”) by calling FSBOs
  • Go on your FSBO dates (preview appointments)
  • Leave behind extra home-marketing tools that demonstrate your expertise  

Would you like a ready to use phone script for FSBOs? Click here…

What did you think of this article?

Click here to leave a comment!
Alex Camelio
Throughout his career, Alex has personally helped over 15,000 Agents and Brokers, including some of the Top REALTORS® in North America. His passion for marketing, technology and business development has translated into more than a decade of cutting edge technology and contributions to the real estate industry. As the CEO of the Agent Inner Circle®, a 40,000-member real estate agent community, Alex focuses on providing agents with education and actionable strategies to grow and optimize their business, ultimately building some of the most successful careers in real estate today. Alex is an internationally recognized educator who’s shared his thoughtful and energetic presentations with various National Associations and industry organizations. As always, Alex is excited to share his expertise with everyone.
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14 thoughts on “How This Veteran Agent Makes FSBO’s Beg For Representation”

  1. Linda has devised a very easy and result oriented technique to work with FSBOs. Thanks Linda for sharing it.

  2. I love the idea of having 10 weeks of material to keep the FSBO up to date. No pressure of selling and just being the “helpful Realtor”.

  3. This is very much like the process I have used for many years… and it works! Every fsbo owner is different, but if you become their friend and act as if you don’t care if they list or not, most times they will. Good luck to all who decide to use this method!

  4. Hi and thanks for these pointers! Wondering if you would comment about the Do Not Call Directory…? I thought that cold calling this way wasn’t allowed anymore…? Is there an exception for FSBO listings since they are making their contact info public…?

    1. Yes, if you read the strategy again you’ll catch that these are FSBO’s who are advertising an “open house” in the paper – with their phone number included in the ad.

      So, when FSBO’s make their phone number available for calls from buyers by advertising in the newspaper (or on Craigslist) or by putting a listing sign out front with their phone number, they are welcoming phone calls.

  5. You cannot call to solicit your services by requesting the listing, HOWEVER, you can call any FSBO if you’re requesting to preview or show because of the reasons she stated. In the mean time you proceed with how she’s suggesting. I think it’s a great idea!

  6. Hi ,
    I am a new agent and wouldl like to know exactly what materials you give to FSBO (10 weeks stuff) and where do I find it?

    Thanks
    Jackie

    1. Hi Jackie-
      As the article mentions, this agent has gathered forms and brochures that she herself uses and provides examples to the client. You can follow up with things like real estate reports about selling your own home, etc. As Linda mentions, she “drops by with helpful articles that I read and thought might interest them, or I drop off forms I think they might need, or I do a market analysis for the neighborhood and go over it with them.” The specific items you use should be things you know will be helpful to the FSBO.

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