Donna Rucinski - Real Estate Without Realtors

Math Myths for the Modern Child, Volume 1

Call Me Edmund

Introduction

My Credentials

My interests as a young girl were: reading, biking, writing, climbing trees, crochet. But another stood out: real estate.

When I was a teen, I enjoyed reading the real estate section of the newspaper. So when I discovered a real estate class I could take as an elective in college, I happily enrolled. The class was easy and it simplified real estate concepts to the point where I didnt see any reason why I shouldnt try selling my homes as a For Sale By Owner (also known by the acronym FSBO, pronounced here as fizz-bo). Eventually I would buy one home, build three, and sell each of them without a realtor. Assuming a 5% realtors fee on each, Ive saved approximately $68,740 throughout my lifetime of selling my own homes. Thats a healthy chunk of nest egg that I could keep and use to increase my buying power substantially when I bought subsequent homes.

Other books about For Sale By Owner teach how to sell without a realtor, but Ive also purchased four homes without a realtors help. The first was a real estate auction, I built the second, and two were condos purchased without a real estate agent working on my behalf. Though this didnt save me realtors fees (because they are most often paid by the seller), in a competitive sellers market I believe it gave me an advantage in being the winning bidder on the homes. So if you are planning to purchase a home, or know someone who is, dont miss the chapter on buying. The information I share saved me approximately $45,000.

My experiences are from Massachusetts. In the past, I started with tiny ads in the Boston Globe newspaper, but once things moved onto the internet I found out how to get my home into the MLS (the Multiple Listing Service) and onto sites like Zillow.com. Though my experiences are from Massachusetts, most of my advice applies no matter where you live.

Though I earned an A in that real estate course in college, I never applied for my license or became an agent. Im a layperson who has learned to sell houses on my own. The college course gave me the confidence to try, though it always feels intimidating at first. And when I could sell on my own, it was hard to see why I needed a realtor for any future sales. Most people think selling a house is hard and complicated, but its more tedious than difficult.

Its lucrative to sell your house on your own! And through experience Ive learned how to navigate a FSBO safely and effectively. I wanted to share what worked, and what I learned from my many mistakes.

This book contains the information, advice, and stories I offer when friends ask for advice on navigating real estate purchases or sales without a realtor, but in much greater detail. Ive helped five friends sell their homes without a realtor and another to purchase without a realtor. The books an anecdotal account of my experiences, what each purchase or sale taught me, as well as safety tips, advice, and a to-do list, and critical information on how to advertise your home online so buyers can find you. Its a short book, meant to be a quick read and give you money-saving information you should know whether you are buying or selling a home.