For me it is more of a matter of risk. Guys, the SDAR risk mitigation classes I have taken drill over and over and over into our heads risk management. While I may be the Realtor that represents the buyer only for a given transaction, I can still be held liable for a snafu’d transaction by a court in a FSBO (sellers side) transaction, even when it may not be (in my opinion) my fault. So even if the seller does pay a buyer side commission, it still is a lot more risk for me (the buyers agent) and in order to mitigate that risk, I will do alot more work, (verifying the disclosures, getting the NHD, and other such issues)…
The fact of the matter is many many FSBOs do offer good co-op commissions. Again, it is simple risk. I have buyers who have seen FSBO’s and like them and when they told me they wanted to buy it, I didn’t stop them at all. I gave them the number of a real estate attorney and advised them to have him represent them. As a REALTOR that is just the way things go if your invested time doesn’t get you the sale. So no it doesn’t go over well but I understand the motivation of people.
Again, I know most everyone here pretty much view agents as worthless and that is okay. However if any of you guys actually attended some of the seminars and classes that we have attended regarding risk mitigation, and all the lawsuits, you would see why most (but not all) of us Realtors shy away when a FSBO is involved. Especially as I am a small business, not one of massive brokerages, that even makes me more risk averse. I get nervous enough when there is a mortgage broker on the other side of my transaction instead of a Realtor.
