As enticing as selling your home without an agent sounds, ask yourself these questions first:
1. Do you know how to write a real estate contract?
2. Are you aware of what clauses and contingencies in real estate contracts can cost you money?
3. Do you have the budget for photography and marketing?
4. Do you know how to prep a home to sell for top market value?
5. Do you know the accurate market value of your home or only the estimates from 3rd party listing websites?
6. Do you know how to qualify a potential buyer?
7. Are you prepared to leave work for showings and arrange them on your own?
8. Are you prepared to stay on top of deadlines with lenders, inspectors, appraisers, and attorneys to ensure the sale goes smoothly?
If the answer to any of the above questions was no, do yourself a favor and hire an agent!
Although it may seem tempting to sell your house yourself, there are several reasons that it’s a good idea to hire a Realtor®, including the following:
– Agents have knowledge of real estate contracts and can easily pinpoint terms that can cost you money
– For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings consistently sell for ~10% less on average than market value
– FSBO listings do not have the same visibility to potential buyers as agent listings. Agents can get your home in front of the largest audience of potential buyers.
– Agents provide useful guidance and resources on prepping for the market including but not limited to staging and photography
– Agents coordinate showings so you don’t have to
– Agents work behind the scenes to ensure all deadlines are met and are experienced to be proactive in helping avoid any delays can arise
People often sell their homes themselves to save money, but it ends up costing them more. Data has consistently shown that FSBO listings sell for ~10% less than homes listed by agents.
As you can see, selling a home is more than just putting the sign in the yard. It requires strategy, market knowledge, and industry expertise. Save yourself the trouble and hire me the first time to get it sold quickly and for top dollar!