Thank you for your interest in Lewis, Pfanstiel & Williams' Shown By Owner Attorney Assistance Programs for Sellers. There are two flat fee programs designed specifically for Sellers. The law firm of Lewis & Pfanstiel has designed the For Sale By Owner Assistance Programs to streamline the selling and purchase process for both seller and buyer, while at the same time complying with all applicable law. The programs differ in price and level of service provided. We offer a $895.00 Shown By Owner Program, and a $395.00 Shown By Owner Program which are explained in detail below.

    In the $895.00 Shown By Owner Program there is an initial consultation that we call the "marketing strategy meeting". You will meet with Ryan J. Lewis, who will instruct you on a marketing strategy that we have found works best for people selling their homes For Sale By Owner.  We will review with you the legal issues that you need to be aware of as a seller and get the documents into your hands that you need to be in compliance with the law. 
 
    In the marketing strategy meeting we will instruct you on how and where to advertise, what to say in your advertisements and how often to run them, if you choose to do additional advertising beyond the advertising that the Firm will be doing for you.  The Firm's advertising package includes a front yard sign with your telephone number and remote signs to put at the entrance to your subdivision or other locations, and including your home with picture(s) on our website.  We get hundreds of hits on our website everyday and have sold homes with our advertising being the only advertising done by the owner.
 
    We also teach you how to prepare your home for sale; how to properly field buyer telephone calls, so that you are making appointments rather than wasting your time; how to answer common difficult questions buyers often ask; how to deal with real estate agents; and how to hold Open Houses properly. Time on the market, for sellers who follow our marketing advice, is usually not any different than the average time on the market for real estate agent listed houses in your same subdivision and the purchase price you will receive, again, if you follow our advice, is usually at full market value.  We do NOT assume nor will we advise you that "By Owner" sellers must discount their homes to be successful selling them as many other for sale by owner assistance firms or companies and real estate agents will advise.
 
    During the marketing strategy meeting you will also be instructed on how to handle various kinds of questions commonly asked by buyers as well as the various  situations that real estate agents will present to you.  You will be well prepared and not caught off guard. In other words, that marketing strategy meeting is for the purpose of preparing you for what you are about to do, so that you can maximize your results.
 
    It is easier than you might think to sell your own home. Literally anyone can do it if you have the time and want to save the 7% that most real estate agents will charge.  After the marketing strategy meeting you will leave our office prepared and confident to sell your own home. 
 
    You the seller will be responsible for placing ads, showing the house to potential buyers and fielding telephone calls from buyers about the house.  During the marketing phase and before a purchase agreement is signed we will be responsible for all legal matters including such things as; answering your questions; drafting all documentation required to complete the transaction; reviewing all documentation generated by third parties, such as lenders and title companies.  After the purchase agreement is signed, we will open escrow, order the title insurance and continue representation of your interests through to completion of closing.
 
    At the marketing strategy meeting you will be given a letter drafted on our letterhead that instructs your potential buyers on how to make an offer. You will then make copies of the letter and give it to all buyers who come to your house, as part of an information packet you give them. You can review a copy of the $895.00 Program letter by clicking here. It is an upbeat friendly letter that informs them how we are working together. It encourages them to call your attorney if they have questions of an informational type. (For Example, "What is the zoning?" or "Can we operate a homebased business from the home?")  The majority of their questions, though, are about financing, which we are able to handle in a fast efficient manner in order to help your buyer feel comfortable in making an offer sooner rather than later.   Your attorney stays informed about the various loan programs that financial institutions around town are offering in order to refer your buyers to reputable, quality lenders.  The letter also instructs them that if they want to make an offer, to call us first, rather than make any offer directly to you.  We cannot answer legal questions for them or give them legal advise, because we are solely your legal advisor.  We cannot ethically represent both you and your buyer because it would be a conflict of interest.
 
    The major difference between the $395.00 and $895.00 program is the level at which your attorney is involved during the marketing phase and the negotiating phase with potential buyers. In the $395.00 program, You handle all of the marketing and all of the negotiating.  We provide you a check list of the issues you need to negotiate with your buyer.  Once the transaction has been negotiated we will draft the purchase agreement. You are the sole source of contact with the buying public in that program.
 
    In the $895.00 program all offers come through us which allows us to add an additional service, that we do not provide in our $395.00 program.  We will verify the prospective buyers ability to obtain financing. We also monitor the financing after the purchase agreement is signed. We will be better able to advise you as to your alternatives and risks, when we have fielded the offer, since we had the opportunity to talk directly with the buyer.
 
    In summary, the $395.00 program is best suited for people who either want to do the negotiations themselves or have already found a buyer and merely want us to pick up the ball from there and take it to closing. The $895.00 program is best suited for people who want only to advertise and show their home to prospective buyers and answer their questions, but want us to handle everything else.
 
    The marketing strategy meeting is not a free consultation. If you call to make an appointment for this meeting we will assume that you have decided to hire us and we are beginning our work for you.
   
    The fees are payable as follows:  $450.00 of the flat fee is due at the marketing strategy meeting, which is nonrefundable. The balance of $445.00 will not be due until closing and is paid out of the proceeds of the sale. The second portion of the fee is not owed unless you successfully sell your house. If you do not sell your house the remaining $445.00 is waived.
 
    If you are interested in making an appointment to sign up for one of our programs or have further questions please phone 402.502.9999 or email us at  info@neshownbyowner.com