| If millions of people sell their homes each year | | | | superior tasting product it won't mean a thing |
| through an agent then that might suggest that | | | | unless people hear about his superior hot dogs and |
| private selling of real estate isn't the way to go. | | | | that is known as (exposure) |
| Of course it's not that simple and the premise | | | | So you see price and marketing exposure are all |
| that a person needs an agent is a false one. | | | | that really matters and up until recent times the |
| It could be argued that even if an agent is actually | | | | real estate agents did have a huge advantage in |
| required to sell a home, that the agent will at least | | | | that area. But now the playing field is far more |
| make the sale easier or more likely. I have to say | | | | level and FSBO's can now get as much or greater |
| that there is no evidence to support either that | | | | exposure than some agents. How can this be? |
| an agent will get you more money or a quicker | | | | Simple really. The average, For Sale by |
| sale. | | | | Owner,person has just one house he needs to |
| There are no industry figures comparing the two | | | | promote and he can spend more time and |
| methods and even if there were the results | | | | resources on that one product as opposed to the |
| would be at best ambiguous. So for better or | | | | agent who may have a hundred properties that |
| worse we can only reason through the topic and | | | | he is trying to do justice to. |
| make an educated guess. | | | | Funnily enough it's that very fact that most |
| The pro agent people (mostly agents) would | | | | agents will point to as proof that you need them. |
| argue that only an agent has the marketing clout | | | | They will use the analogy of having a |
| and inherent skill to achieve the highest possible | | | | supermarket to attract buyers with, while you |
| price in the shortest timeframe. But is that claim | | | | haven't even got a corner store to promote your |
| accurate or indeed verifiable? A cursory look at | | | | one solitary product i.e. your house. Now I think |
| the question would tell you that there are to | | | | that was possibly true to some degree years ago |
| many variables e.g., is the agent a good one? | | | | but now thanks to the Internet, the private seller |
| Is he acting in your best interests or his own best | | | | can arrange his do it yourself house sale like the |
| interests i.e. a commission. | | | | big boys. Using a private selling FSBO company |
| All agents freely admit that price is the ultimate | | | | and either his own sign or that of the company |
| determinant of saleability, not the salesman's | | | | the average diy seller can get the marketing |
| ability. | | | | reach that eluded him in years gone by. |
| Agents when talking amongst themselves always | | | | Now that's not to say that selling your own home |
| say that if a house is being reasonably marketed | | | | is easy without an agent but then who would be |
| and remains unsold it's the price that's the main | | | | willing to bet that it is going to be easy with an |
| problem. | | | | agent? |
| If one accepts that price is the problem then one | | | | Whether it's easier or harder is debatable but |
| would also have to accept that a lower price | | | | what's not debatable is the savings you can make |
| (through not paying thousands in agents | | | | by selling for yourself. The typical seller would |
| commission) would help the home to sell faster. | | | | save many thousands of dollars in going the diy |
| Houses sell houses and the very best agents are | | | | selling route and those are often tax free |
| the ones that show up. They oil the wheels and | | | | thousands as well. |
| perhaps make the process a little easier. Some | | | | The key in all of this is that if one is going to sell |
| may in fact make it harder to sell. | | | | their own home then they must attend to it in a |
| At the end of the day it's only pricing and | | | | manner that gets professional level exposure. The |
| exposure that sells anything...and that goes for | | | | best way to do this is to spend a small amount |
| houses or hot dogs. Ah I hear you saying...but | | | | of the saved money on quality marketing. |
| what about the fact that the hot dog buyer is | | | | We aren't talking rocket science here. Simply set |
| hungry? That surely is a factor? Yes it is and so | | | | your price as accurately as possible and then tell |
| is the taste of the hot dog. But all things being | | | | everyone you can about your real estate.... and |
| equal if two hot dog stands have similar food and | | | | that means more than just a For Sale sign in your |
| are side by side the cheaper one will get more | | | | front yard. |
| custom. Likewise if one hot dog maker has a | | | | |