| A lot of home sellers resent paying real estate | | | | an experienced agent. What's more, they are |
| agent commissions and question whether or not | | | | saving themselves thousands of dollars in |
| they might be better off selling their own home | | | | commissions. |
| 'for sale by owner' FSBO. | | | | Real estate agents will also argue; selling a home |
| Well, there is no clear-cut answer. It really | | | | in today's market is not like it was a decade ago. |
| depends on the seller and how successful he or | | | | The market is more competitive, the buyers are |
| she is likely to be at selling real estate. It is true | | | | much more astute, and the laws are more |
| that agent commissions can run into thousands, or | | | | complex. Add to this the property sales statistics |
| even tens of thousands, of dollars depending on | | | | proving that the average agent has a better |
| the value of the property. And, sometimes the | | | | chance of selling a home in a shorter time span |
| sale comes together very quickly with minimum | | | | (and frequently for more money) than the |
| effort on the part of the real estate agent. | | | | average FSBO seller. But, what is average? |
| However, that is not always the case with many | | | | Not every seller is the same and nor is every real |
| property sales become a long drawn-out process. | | | | estate agent. There is no shortage of |
| FSBO home sellers experience mixed results | | | | incompetent agents and there plenty of "super |
| because they either lack the time, people skills, | | | | capable" ones too. The trick is differentiating the |
| marketing skills, negotiating skills and even the | | | | good from the bad! |
| inclination to sell their own home. For others, selling | | | | With that said, perhaps the biggest obstacle a |
| their home comes as an exciting challenge they | | | | seller faces is the "emotional attachment" the |
| cannot resist. | | | | vendor has to the property being sold. The home |
| Obviously, the big advantage of selling your own | | | | might be where the kids grew up, or where the |
| property; is that you avoid the agent commission. | | | | family pet is buried. The home might have been |
| Make no mistake - if you dream of making a | | | | designed, decorated, or landscaped to the |
| larger down payment on your next home, or | | | | vendor's personal tastes. That is why many |
| want to retire, or simply want to hang onto the | | | | sellers are blind to the flaws that an agent can |
| equity you have worked so hard for... then you | | | | easily spot. And, that is also why an agent may |
| could save thousands by paying yourself NOT an | | | | have a different view of what the home is really |
| agent. | | | | worth in today's competitive market. |
| On the other hand, hiring a real estate agent and | | | | An experienced real estate agent can provide a |
| paying thousands in commissions, could be money | | | | seller with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), |
| well spent. A case in point would be when a real | | | | so the seller knows what the home is actually |
| estate agent gets you a better sale price for | | | | worth, instead of what the vendor feels it is |
| your home. | | | | worth. An agent can provide an independent and |
| There are a lot of variables to consider: like your | | | | objective view which can be the difference in |
| own ability and enthusiasm verses the experience | | | | making a sale. |
| of a professional agent. There are pros and cons | | | | So, think carefully before deciding what home |
| for each method of selling. A lot will depend on | | | | selling method suits you best. You may be able to |
| you or the skill of the agent representing you. | | | | do a far better job yourself and save yourself |
| Most agents would argue; if you needed a heart | | | | thousands of dollars in real estate agent |
| operation would you perform it yourself, or have | | | | commissions. |
| an experienced heart surgeon do it for you? | | | | If you do not genuinely believe you can do a |
| Maybe they are right? | | | | better job, then you might be best to consider |
| Maybe you do need a professional agent who is | | | | listing with a local agent. Choose carefully, |
| experienced in the business for selling homes? But, | | | | interview more than one real estate agent and |
| the counter argument is that, an increasing | | | | ask for testimonials from satisfied customers. |
| number of people are successfully selling their | | | | And above all, make sure he or she earns the |
| own homes (FSBO), WITHOUT the services of | | | | agent commissions you are paying. |