MS The Story Behind the FSBO Novel

[Guest guest]

Well, it looks like MS has given many of us time to reflect. As for

me, I published a novel about this time last year. Only one of the

charactors has MS. The fowling was lifted from a news article about

the novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO by Russ Miles. Amazon has some

used copies available too.

About the author, MS, and FSBO (in his own words):

I retired from real estate in SW Washington, but only when I could

no longer walk. Over three years previous, the doctors had said I

needed to " Get rid of stress and stop working. " In denial, I was slow

to accept Multiple Sclerosis. Who, after all, would embrace a

diagnosis of the dread disease of no known cause, and for which there

was no cure? I continued to operate my own real estate company,

increasing the number of experienced agents who required less hands-

on supervision.

Putting renters in my house, I moved closer to my office using a

handicapped scooter to get back and forth on those days when I didn't

have appointments set up to " List " or " Show " homes. I refused to give

up driving because one leg still worked, most of the time.

In hidden panic, I began to make more hasty decisions. On a week

that required my personal intervention on behalf of two of my agent's

real estate transactions, I decided to sell my company. For a coffee

cup, I traded my principle share of the real estate corporation to my

new partner (another such decision), just to get out. I had no

problem obtaining an Associate Broker position with one of the major

corporations.

When it became apparent ~ even to me ~ that I could no longer

provide the level of service I expected my clients to have, I took

the Social Security Disability option. Gritting my teeth, while the

mandatory waiting period ticked away, I tried to decide what to do

with the remaining years of my life. Although I had once owned art

stores, even taught oil painting ~ always the optimist ~ ever I could

not paint a portrait of future prosperity.

I think they had a special going on despair at the time, and I

considered trading in my new depression on it. At 53 years of age,

with a pre-teen daughter yet to raise, and an ex-wife who couldn't

work, life looked pretty bleak.

A good friend suggested that I write a book. As I had published two

poetry books twenty-five years before, I considered the possibility.

In an attempt to overcome personal depression, I decided to write

about making better choices. I chose a novel format because it

allowed the freedom to develop hypothetical scenarios, involving

fictional characters, while forcing awareness of real dangers. I

wanted to make a compelling case for right choices, not just in

marketing ones home, but in all aspects of life.

I've made a lot of mistakes. Most of us do. We live in troubled,

unpredictable times. People must contend with changing economic

issues, employment disruptions, family problems, health upsets,

crime, and consequences. Through awareness, we can perhaps gain

clarity when, standing flat-footed over home plate, the curve ball

comes while we were expecting a fast ~ pitch.

For Sale By Owners: FSBO www.FSBONovel.com is a novel about people.

Not perfect people. It begs the question, " What would For Sale By

Owners do if they knew they were really buying trouble? " As former

real estate broker, I am qualified to shed some light on this often

un-addressed area of concern. Most agents are reluctant to tell

people just how dangerous it is to open their doors to strangers.

Understandably, people who must sell homes do not want to pay

brokerage fees, if they can avoid it. It is, absolutely their right

to sell their homes themselves. But all too often, the man says, " We

can sell it ourselves, Honey, " pops a FOR SALE BY OWNER sign in the

yard, and goes off to his work. His wife then places an ad in the

local newspaper, answers the phone, and sets appointments for the

supposedly interested buyers to come see their home for sale. The

danger is minimized.

I've had former client wives tell me they had prayed that no one

would call, and peeking out the curtains then not answered the door.

If an effort to be professional, most agents do not wish to alarm or

alienate sellers who might list with them, later. I have no such

vested interest.

Even real estate agents recognize they are placing themselves at

risk when showing houses. Every year, many are abducted, robbed,

murdered, and raped in this country. The National Association Of

Realtors constantly warns agents to vigilant, careful whom they work

with. Many Realtors© will no longer do " Open Houses " because it is

simply too dangerous. The commission reward of marketing a home this

manner, to them, is not in proportion to the risk.

Yes, I am passionate about the problem. My book doesn't mince words.

The serial rapist adds an eerie element, gives a fractured face to

one possible perpetrator.

The diverse cast of characters, each with their own perspective, is

largely unaware that they even have problems. Each is imperfect. All

are preoccupied with their own survival. Maybe, through increased

awareness, there is hope for us all?

For Sale By Owners: FSBO by Russ Miles, ISBN 0-595-28703-4 $17.95 in

trade paperback, is available in Adobe e-book and hard cover editions

too, through the publisher iUniverse, www.iuniverse.com., Amazon.com,

& Noble.com, and at textbookx.com