I've had some success a couple times with selling myself. I use a flat rate service that puts me on zillow, trulia, and the MLS for 250 bucks. I pay an extra 50 for professional photos. I like to be able to talk directly to buyers agents, have control over the description, and it saves money of course. Now if I were doing multiple projects at a time, this would not be the highest and best use of my time. But as someone starting out, It's hard for me to do everything I can to keep costs down, then turn around and fork over thousands of dollars to a listing agent. I paid one once, and he just put it on the MLS.

But I had a conversation with an agent today and he said he absolutely will not show houses listed with a flat fee service of FSBO. The flimsy excuse is that it is too much work. It's no more work than otherwise. I know my way around a contract and do my side of the lifting. But I wonder, is this the norm in the business. I also have noticed a widespread misconception that FSBOs are always overpriced. I know the comps and neighborhood better than many realtors. I can understand how mom and pop selling their house might price it wrong. But it irks me when people suggest I'm overpriced, or that something is wrong with the house, or that I am being cheap, just because I do it myself. As I see it, agents pound the pavement to get a listing--If I have one, without even having to get a license, why should I give it away. But if I'm being shut out of the ol-boys club, then I guess I'll have to use one.