Q) How much can be saved?
A) Depends, I have had Sellers just pay only the admin fee. Some Sellers pay only my Listing Agent commission fee and admin fee, but no Buyer's Agent fee . Every deal is different.
Q) What is the value of an agent?
A) Most agents tell everyone it is the MARKETING that wins. In my opinion, the marketing is just one component, but the harder piece is the negotiating process and being able to read people. Only through experience do people becoming better negotiators.
Q) Why is my house not selling?
A) Houses sell based on what the market will bear for the price and condition as presented considering all the competitor homes available plus society considerations including politics, perception of price, interest rates, and buyer's gut.
Q) Why are Steve's services better?
A) With 10 years as a Realtor, experience selling homes FSBO, and 2 years as a lender, I understand all the nuances. I've helped other agents, builders, flippers, and regular ole people sell their homes this way.
Q) What is Steve's experience?
A) Approximately 35% of my transactions come from Sellers who start as FSBOs. I have been a Realtor since 2015 and I have more than 20 years of experience negotiating contracts in all sorts of industries. I have also been a mortgage loan officer since 2024.
Q) Sometimes Sellers hear that they can get out of paying 5%-6% commissions, is this correct?
A) The statement of not paying 5%+ is kind of a half truth. Steve can offer that service too, but here is the kick that platforms don't tell you. 90% of those Limited Rep listings eventually turn into Full-Service @ full-rate because Sellers can't find Buyers or Buyers don't want to pay for the Buyers Agent fee out-of-pocket. Aside from the home being at the wrong price, or the marketing is bad, there is an entirely different factor in play.
Most large brokerage houses do NOT let their agents get into transactions where there is only one(1) agent - like only a Buyer's agent. It is called dual-agency aka dual-liability. So that kills all the agents, and their Buyers, that come from the big brands. Lots of smaller brokerages agents will do it - but not the big brands. Dual-agency is scary for large brokerages because their size makes it hard to manage individual behaviors of so many agents. One way to "counter" a dual-agency deal is for brokerage houses to split any available commission and employ two different agents at the same firm - but that happens few and far between. FSBO Limited Rep works 1,000% better when the market is tight totally in favor of Sellers - which is no longer the case.
Q) In a classic FSBO Limited Rep listing, how does someone get the Seller's contact info?
A) Whenever an agent posts a listing on the MLS, this overrides any Seller-only info on Zillow, or any other site. This is because the MLS information takes precedence, by contract between those platforms and the MLS, and now the listing agent is the representative to contact.
But when a Buyer's agent looks in the private agent comments - the place where we agents talk to each other, they see, "Please contact Seller @ 503-555-1212 and send offers to bigdaddy@isavedyoulots.com and seller@ihopethissells-yahoo.com". Otherwise Buyers can get that information if the Seller has their own sign in front of the property with their phone number. Many Buyers find out about properties from their favorite online platform and then drive the neighborhood before contacting the Seller or an agent to arrange a showing to view. It just is.
Q) Need a sign and post?
A) I've seen people contact a local company for an install, or go to Home Depot, or order from Amazon.
Q) Need a lock box?
A) I have seen people use contractor lock boxes.
Q) Need photos?
A) Take HDR wide-angle photos with a smartphone or hire a local photographer, or a local college kid.
Q) Why don't more Sellers sell this way?
A) Hassle factor and the quirks of dealing with people. Putting this project together logistically, dealing with emotional conversations, and dealing with the in-fighting that comes from high-dollar negotiations prevents many from wanting to take this on. But if this is something the Seller is comfortable with, I am willing to help, and Sellers can save lots of money.
Q) Does Steve provide services to all MLS' in Oregon and Washington?
A) I used to, but it got to be too much cost and work to service areas where I am not active as a Realtor. Each MLS has their own access fees, and it's not cheap.
I belong to the RMLS as my primarily, (click here to see the area served - primary is blue, overlap with another MLS is brown and green). It serves the Portland Metro area, SW Washington, much of the Oregon Coast, the southwest Oregon area including Eugene, and north and northeastern parts of the state of Oregon. All of these Oregon counties include Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, Josephine, Lane, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler, Washington, and Yamhill. Washington Counties include Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Pacific, and Skamania Counties in Washington., and some other areas.
The RMLS overlaps with the NWMLS in Longview to the north and WVMLS to the south.
The NWMLS primarily serves the rest of Washington including the Seattle Metro area and overlaps with the RMLS in Longview.
The WVMLS primarily serves Molalla, Keizer, Salem, Corvallis, Albany, and surrounding.