So You Are Ready To Sell - Without A Broker

So you want to sell your house? You have been stalking Zillow and Trulia  for months. The number of homes you have compared yours to have ranged from the foreclosure on the other end of town, to that house you saw on HGTV last weekend. You are CONVINCED that you can figure this whole home selling thing out for yourself. Why wouldn’t you? With the hefty commission fee that agents charge, you can save BIG by doing it yourself! But does it actually save you money when you look at the big picture? Here are 3 things to consider before listing your home solo.

1. A Broker Can Get You A Better Price – You may think you know what you want to sell your home for, but can you actually get that price? Pricing a home out of the gates is crucial in getting top dollar. Brokers have easy access to market data to help in determining the best price to list. Homes overpriced tend to sell for less in the end. The shorter time the house is on the market, the more likely it is to get the highest asking price. Generally, agents are much better at negotiating a deal. They understand that buying and selling a home is an emotional time in both the buyer and sellers life. Your broker also understands that a persons bottom line, is not always their bottom line. Most people would be uncomfortable with negotiating thousands of dollars with a stranger and since neither one have each others best interest at heart, the level of trust is lacking.

2. Marketing – Brokers are able to advertise on a much broader market. Websites like Trulia, Zillow and craigslist are great resources when listing FSBO, however most Brokers don’t troll these sights when looking for homes to show their buyers. Having an agent is essential when wanting to reach a broader audience. Online marketing has skyrocketed. For the most part, buyers no longer drive around all day on a Sunday afternoon looking for signs in yards. With listings online, its as easy as picking up your phone. With thousands of homes to scroll through, having an agent who can feature your home and help it stand out is irreplaceable.

3. Time Is Money – From the moment a home owner decides to sell their home, the work starts. Researching the best price to list, taking phone calls from prospective buyers – and determining which ones are the serious inquires, scheduling showing, negotiations, appraisals, inspections, repairs, and MORE! In most cases, even the verbiage sounds foreign and sellers will be paying an attorney to translate. Having an agent takes all this responsibility off the seller, and in turn saves valuable time, money and grey hairs.

Bottom line is, selling your home alone is possible but in most cases painful! FSBO listings continue to drop. The rules and regulations in buying and selling continue to become more strict, making it harder and harder to go at it alone!

When you make the decision to list your home. Sit down with a real estate professional first and explore all  your options. See what they may be able to offer you and determine if it is beneficial to have the professional experience of an agent.