thank you all!

Posted by: natalieinc at October 30, 2008 10:04 AM in response to caravan

thanks all, you've been incredibly helpful.

Posted by: natalieinc at February 27, 2008 7:04 PM in response to FSBO

Thanks Guys, this is all great and I will keep you posted if we go down this route. We are just working out how to price it in a way that seems fair. I was thinking of just getting brokers round to see what they think and check in with streateasy.com and do some general online research. any thing else i should consider?

Posted by: natalieinc at February 27, 2008 11:50 AM in response to FSBO

You should at least meet with a few brokers, not necessarily for their pricing advice but to see if you like them and their services.

We've had good experiences with brokers so far (2 sales) but obviously, there are good and bad ones. I will say that they are helpful in running interference and getting bids to the contract stage.

As for pricing...yes, you'll save 6% if you can pull this off, but if you aggressively underprice you might be taking some money off the table. RE agents are hungry right now, and they might be more willing to go the extra mile for you.

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 12:09 PM in response to FSBO

I went FSBO and it's hard, but selling is hard. Cleaning, decluttering, painting etc is what really takes a million hours. You need to do that with or without brokers.

I believe in going all out for a first big open house... email everyone you know, ad everywhere, etc.

AS for the offers.. our offer sheet asked for a lot of info regarding assets, etc. You can find one online. We knew straight up who our board would approve and not. I've been a board member, know all the board members -- I don't really buy the idea that a broker helps with that. I mean, I know the situation in this particular building far better than an outsider

GL!

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 12:24 PM in response to FSBO

Agree with 12:24 that I knew my board far better than any broker, having been on it.

Disagree with Ms. Limestone on broker having a better handle on how serious people were, or their ability to get a mortgage. I could evaluate the information presented to me by my broker on the offer sheet better than my broker could as to (1) whether they'd get a mortgage, and (2) whether my board would like their finances.

Seriousness is determined by whether they (1) get an attorney right away, (2) get an inspection right away if they are doing one, and (3) whether they push their attorney to do the due diligence quickly as as to get into contract in a timely manner. That's how you tell if they are serious - there is really no other foolproof way.

And I could deal with hearing criticism and not having honest feedback - all I cared about is getting it sold. I went with a broker, but my experience was such that I wouldn't hesitate to do it FSBO next time.

Agree, broker is useful running interference with crazies, if you get any.

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 1:53 PM in response to FSBO

Other thing you should do - go to pen houses for similar apartments. Talk to brokers and potential buyers there - see what they say about those places. Helps with pricing, etc.

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 1:54 PM in response to FSBO

Check on the FSBO on today's brownstoner front page. Great website, just needs more pics, but this should give you a good start.

Also, checkout the prices of recently sold places in your building, streeteasy.com is your friend.

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 3:50 PM in response to FSBO

I never really understood what a broker does besides advertise for you....when clearly in this day and age, many can do it themselves.

If you don't know how to set up a website, have a friend or a friends kid help you. It's not as hard as it appears.

Tell your local merchants that you're selling your house. My brother-in-law bought his house from an elderly man who told the owner of the laundermat. The owner of the laundermat told my brother. No broker. Never went on the market.

Good luck!

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 4:22 PM in response to FSBO

Advertising/marketing your apartment IS what they do, and what you pay them for.

The rest is minor, and you can do it, as long as you are comfortable with the various tasks (showing by appointment, holding open houses, collecting and evaluating financial information from potential buyers, and negotiating offers.) I was comfortable with all that, and though I used a broker last year, I would do it myself next time if I had more time available to me. Some people are not comfortable with doing all that (I do it for my job, but I recognize not everybody has my level of comfort with negotiation, and asking financial questions.)

You can sell with a NYTimes ad - but you DO have to get decent pictures taken. I don't think candid shots work well. And a floorplan sure helps.

Also, I found that most of the "serious and ready to make an offer folks" who came to see my place were the ones brought by their brokers (I went with a broker who cobrokes) in response to the REBNY email that my broker sent each week to participating brokers. I say this, not as a plug for brokers, but because it surprised me - I did have one who made a decent offer who just came to the open house, but I was surprised by how many offers were from people who were specifically brought by their brokers, either to the open house, or to see it by appointment.

Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 4:44 PM in response to FSBO

thanks all, you've been incredibly helpful.

Posted by: natalieinc at February 27, 2008 7:04 PM in response to FSBO

Try this site:

http://www.nyflatfeemlslisting.com Should be good for a fsbo mls in NY.

Posted by: guest at May 24, 2008 6:02 AM in response to FSBO

We had an awful infestation when we first moved in our house last year. Killed well over 30 mice, sometimes four to a glue trap ! Anyways, we put down poison, bait boxes, snap traps, glue traps and plugged all the holes with wire wool. We were mindful to keep moving the traps as mice get used to them. Good thing is mice are almost blind and tend to hug walls so keep traps to perimeter. Our problem cleared up in about a month. If we can clear up a problem anyone can.

Posted by: 10thStreetReno at October 30, 2008 6:31 PM in response to caravan