Why Having an Agent Is Better than For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

Bolstered by the recovery of the housing market, many homeowners are deciding to head down the “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) path when selling their homes – usually in the hopes of saving money by not having to pay commission.

However, many sellers find the For Sale by Owner process time consuming, and are often left with having to hire a real estate agent before Closing Day.

Considering For Sale By Owner? Beware!

Although you can save money on real estate agent commission, the For Sale by Owner process doesn’t just typically result in your home taking longer to sell; it also usually means your home will likely sell for less than if you had a real estate agent on your side.

After all, studies have shown that a FSBO home typically sells for $174,900, compared to $210,000 for a home sold by an agent.

Aside from your home selling for less, why should you use a Realtor instead of selling your home yourself?

Hiring a Real Estate Agent Saves You Time

Selling your home requires negotiating with a lot of people: the buyer, the buyer’s agent, the home inspector, the appraiser, the bank, etc. That’s a lot of your time on any given day. Selling a home is a very time-intensive process that many homeowners just don’t understand precisely because their agents handle everything on their behalf.

Realtors don’t have to take time away from work to manage these communications – it is their job.

A Realtor can respond to inquiries from potential buyers and their agents, can get valuable feedback from visitors, and show your home when you’re unavailable – all things that save you time.

Agents Have Expertise Needed to Sell Your Home

Real estate agents also have access to market data about recent sales and other homes on the market that can be used to price your home appropriately. Why does this matter? If you overprice (or underprice) your home, you could miss out on buyers.

Furthermore, real estate agents have professional marketing expertise and connections with other Realtors who work with buyers. In short, not only can they get your home on the market and help you price it accordingly; they can also assist with ensuring your home reaches their network, which can significantly increase the number of showings your home gets – which generally expedites how quickly your home sells.

Buyers Prefer Real Estate Agents

Interested parties typically prefer to look at a home without the seller present so they can feel more comfortable exploring the rooms and visualizing themselves in the property without feeling pressured or generally uncomfortable.

Furthermore, a Realtor can look at your home objectively and suggest ways to improve its appearance so it appeals to more buyers.

Conclusion

With FSBO you can save on real estate agent commissions, but if your home sells for less, you have to spend a substantial time marketing your home and scheduling viewings. Plus, at the end of the day, you more than likely have to get a real estate agent’s help anyways with the closing paperwork.

Considering that, are you really saving time and money?

Let ARC Realty Help You Sell Your Home – Hassle Free

Moving is already a hassle – don’t add to it the stress of trying to sell your home on your own. Visit our Agent Directory page to learn more about our experienced, professional agents.

Contact ARC Realty today to speak with one of our agents and to learn more about your options.