No, you don’t need a real estate agent to sell your home, however, there’s a reason nearly 90% of sellers use a listing agent. Selling your home on your own could mean thousands of dollars back in your pocket, which sounds tempting, especially as housing prices rise. But is it the best move?
“For Sale by Owner” – FSBO sellers should be prepared to do a lot of legwork. Two of the most important tasks is setting the right price and then getting qualified buyers in your door. This takes time, knowledge of neighborhood trends and negotiating skills. If you don’t have the time to invest in researching, marketing, showing and negotiating, you will be better off working with an experienced real estate agent. The commission paid to a real estate agent-usually 6% of the sale price-can be substantial so make sure you are getting your money’s worth.
A good real estate agent will market your home aggressively. This means marketing your house in print, online and at Open House showings; they will recommend staging techniques to make your house show well including the use of professional-quality photographs and videos.
Many home sellers say they want their real estate agent to be honest, ethical, professional and experienced. In addition, there are a number of qualities and traits that successful real estate professionals share. A good real estate agent can coordinate the different players involved to make a successful transaction a reality. At different points in the process, the real estate agent is a salesperson, an analyst, a business manager, a consultant, a negotiator, and a marketer.
Experience is important because it means an agent should be able to anticipate problems and prevent them from manifesting. It also means you’re relatively assured that over the years your agent has learned how to handle just about any type of potential difficulty without running elsewhere for advice. Although the young aggressive agent may work out well, going with an agent with years of experience is a safe bet.
A good agent will screen potential buyers so you can deal only with serious prospects. Once you’ve found a buyer, the agent will negotiate counter-offers, track the paperwork, and generally hand-hold through the most nerve-racking part of the process.Think twice before putting your house on the market FSBO. It may be worth paying a professional to sell your house.without hiring a real estate agent