Things Agents May Tell You (and What We Say Back)
When you choose to sell For Sale By Owner, you may hear a lot of “reasons” why you shouldn’t. This page walks you through common lines some agents use—and the reality from a FSBO perspective.
Use this as a mindset tune‑up whenever you need a reminder that you’re allowed to take control of your own sale, keep more of your equity, and still leverage the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca.
Quick Reality Check
Myth
“Selling is too complex for you.”
Reality
With the right tools, many sellers handle it better than anyone.
Below, we break down 8 common things agents may say—and how FSBO sellers can look at each one.
“Managing the sales process is extremely time‑consuming.”
(Translation: “You should pay us to handle it.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Managing the sales process of a home is extremely time‑consuming.”
✅ We Say
The seller is usually the one who works the hardest to sell the property anyway. You clean, fix, prepare, and pay for everything. You sit down to go through the paperwork. You get the home ready for showings and keep it in “ready to show” condition inside and out.
In many cases, the listing agent actually does the least amount of work out of everyone involved.
With help from For Sale By Owner and our network of brokerages, you can replace the listing agent by stepping into their shoes. We put you in control—from the start of the sale to closing the deal with your lawyer.
“Conducting showings is an art and should be left to professionals.”
(Translation: “You couldn’t possibly show your own home.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Conducting showings is an art and should be left to the ‘professionals’.”
✅ We Say
You already do most of the running around—often with very short notice—getting the home ready for showings. If it’s an “art” for an agent to walk through a home they barely know, with buyers they barely know, then the arts are in trouble.
In traditional full‑service deals, agents often discourage buyers and sellers from interacting directly. But why? Buyers can benefit hugely from speaking with the people who actually live there.
You know what makes your home special, where the main shut‑offs are, how the neighborhood feels, and what the schools are like. No one is better equipped to walk buyers through all of that than you.
“Marketing your home on your own is time‑consuming and expensive.”
(Translation: “Only we can get your home seen.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Marketing your home on your own is time‑consuming and expensive.”
✅ We Say
With today’s social media tools and platforms like For Sale By Owner, Kijiji, Facebook, and more, it’s never been easier or more affordable to get your listing out there.
When you list with us, we syndicate your property to a growing list of relevant websites and properly index it in Google and other major search engines. Our syndication system is one of the most robust in the FSBO space.
You’re not starting from scratch—you’re plugging into an established marketing engine.
“Agents will screen out renters or buyers who aren’t serious or qualified.”
(Translation: “Only we can protect you from ‘bad’ buyers.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Agents will screen out renters or buyers who aren’t serious, or qualified.”
✅ We Say
Since the beginning of time, buyers have misrepresented their ability to complete financing for homes, vehicles, and other big-ticket items. No one—agent or seller—is a mind reader.
Many full‑service listing agents do not rigorously qualify every buyer who walks through the door. Buyer’s agents don’t always do it either.
Try calling an agent and asking to see a property. Notice how many questions they ask about your finances, proof of funds, or intentions. Often, the first priority is getting you to sign a “Buyer’s Agency” agreement—locking in their commission—before anything else.
“Agents are proactive about making the sale more profitable for you.”
(Translation: “We’ll get you so much more that our commission will ‘pay for itself’.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Agents are proactive about making the sale of your property more profitable for you.”
✅ We Say
Consider this Alberta example: on a $600,000 home, two agents might make around $22,000 in commission. If the home sells for $550,000 instead, they still make about $20,500.
That’s only about $1,500 less to split—roughly $750 each. But you lost $50,000.
Are agents truly motivated to squeeze out every last dollar for you if their own pay only drops a small amount when the price goes down significantly?
When you list with For Sale By Owner, you are in charge of negotiating your sale price—and you’re saving thousands in commission at the same time.
“Agents have broad knowledge about your community.”
(Translation: “We know your neighborhood better than you.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Agents have a broad knowledge about your community.”
✅ We Say
Nobody knows your neighborhood better than you do. When a buyer’s agent shows up with buyers, they often know very little about what actually makes your street, area, or community special.
Unlike those “scary” real‑estate commercials, the real local expert is usually the person who lives there—you.
“Agents will set the proper price of your home.”
(Translation: “Only we know what your home is worth.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Agents will set the ‘proper price’ of your home.”
✅ We Say
At the end of the day, agents don’t dictate your listing price—you do. They provide SOLD market data and recommendations, and you have to trust that they’re showing you the most relevant comparables.
But the owner always has the final say on price. With For Sale By Owner, you can access the same type of SOLD data through our optional Comparative Market Analysis service (available in most markets), and still stay in control.
“Agents use networking channels with other professionals, clients, and agents.”
(Translation: “Our network is your only way into the market.”)
❌ Agents May Say
“Agents use networking channels with other professionals, clients, and agents.”
✅ We Say
Today, powerful social media tools and platforms like For Sale By Owner, Kijiji, Facebook, Twitter and many others make it easier than ever to tap into a growing pool of buyers.
Using our system, you can also get your property in front of buyers on REALTOR.ca and across a syndication network of websites and social platforms.
We are one of the last true For Sale By Owner companies remaining today. We’ve been at this since 1997, and we can honestly say there has never been a better time to sell your own property.
Take Control of Your Next Sale with Us
With our help, you can sell it yourself—confidently. Our Flat Fee MLS® System services, online tools, and seller resources are all designed to support you, not replace you.
You don’t have to accept every line you hear from agents as truth. You can read the data, use the tools, and make your own decisions about how to sell your home.
Thank you for taking the time to read through these important selling points.
Ready When You Are
Take control of your next sale with us. With our help—you can sell it all by yourself.
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