I had a Taos real estate dream last night. I'm not kidding. I dreamed a neighbor of mine out here in the Tune Drive area, near the Gorge, called me to say she was putting her Taos house on the market. Great, I thought, I'll get another listing! The inventory for homes in Taos is low right now, and this seemed like a great property listing for me.

Of course, I told her, I'd love to list your house! She replied that she wouldn't be listing the property with me, but that she was listing it as a FSBO (For Sale by Owner), and she wanted me to "just put it on the MLS."

Well, of course this naïve request immediately woke me up! And I began thinking how uninformed many homeowners are about real estate marketing. As I lay in bed, unable to go back to sleep, I thought over and over about all the reasons homeowners shouldn't try to sell their homes themselves:

1. Agents probably won't show your home. Selling real estate is a tough business. Does the FSBO homeowner think an agent wants to negotiate with the owner of a property over a potential sale when there are other listings out there that have a posted commission due the buyer's agent? Too much time and trouble.

2. Do you think potential buyers just love having the homeowner hang around while they're looking at the FSBO? Not usually. It's hard to discuss with the homeowner any defects the home may have. An agent can effectively field issues the buyer or seller has about the property.

3. No, FSBO sellers don't pay a commission, but why do they usually get greedier and set a higher price for the property?

4. The FSBO seller can't list his or her property on the local MLS. Yes, there are FSBO websites, but I get most of my Taos real estate leads here in the Taos area from people calling in to speak with an agent. Savvy buyers know speaking with an agent is the best way to find an area they'll like, not just a home.

Yes, homeowners have to pay a commission if they list their property with a licensed agent, but think carefully before you say, "no," to utilizing this professional service. In the long run, you'll sell your home for a higher price, in a shorter timeframe, and with less hassle if you list with an agent. Save yourself the headache and let the real estate pros do your selling for you.

The Taos real estate market has very few FSBO homes available right now. Finally returning to sleep, I was comforted by the thought that we have some really smart sellers here.

Hope to see you in my dreams . . .

Katheryn Pate, Associate Broker, New Mexico Mountain Properties: 575-770-5023