Learning About Real Estate Listings and Agent Services

Sell It Yourself Or Use A Realtor?

by Elaine Ryan

When you are selling your home, you may be tempted to do it yourself. There are several reasons why a homeowner would want to handle the sale of their own property. There are just as many reasons to use a realtor to sell your home. If you are contemplating selling your property, keep the following things in mind before you make the decision to handle the sale yourself without assistance. You may find that having a realtor come in and do the legwork is a lot more attractive option.

For Sale By Owner Pros and Cons

Most people attempt to sell their own home because they don't want to pay realtor fees, and there is no shame in this. That 3-6% fee can eat up a lot of cash at the time of closing. However, that fee brings a lot of amenities. When you sell your own home, you have to deal with cleaning, preparing and staging the home. You have to deal with marketing your home and getting it out in front of potential buyers. You can list your home on the MLS for a fee when you sell it yourself, but you still have to market it on local websites and print media, and that will rack up more fees. You have to deal with showing the home to potential buyers; this is one of the biggest hassles of selling a home. You also have to deal with the inspections, closing and other tasks. Another drawback is that many potential home buyers will avoid homes that are for sale by owner, because they don't want to deal with any potential headaches.

For Sale By Agent Pros and Cons

While the fees may seem daunting, in most cases, it is worth paying realtor fees when you sell your home. Your realtor will help you prepare your home for viewings. Your realtor will handle marketing your home, take charge of all open house events, as well as schedule and monitor all home showings. Your realtor will handle any incoming offers and counter-offers. Your realtor will also be present at closing to walk you through the process so you can get your house sold and move on with your life. Your realtor will relieve a huge burden of stress from your shoulders so you can focus on daily life.

When deciding to sell your home yourself, you have to determine how much is your time worth. Do you have the time to properly list, market and sell your home? Generally, the answer to this is a resounding "no" once sellers take into consideration all the chores associated with selling a home. Contact a business, such as Re/Max River & Sea, for more information.   

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