Are you thinking of selling your home without the help of a real estate agent? It may seem like you’ll be saving if you sell your house but selling a home without an agent hardly ever goes the way you want it to. It’s time consuming, stressful, and can ultimately cost you more in the long run.
8 Reasons Why Selling a Home Without an Agent is a Bad Idea
Not sold on why you need a real estate agent to help you with your home sale? Here are 8 reasons why selling a home without an agent is an awful idea.
Fewer People Will Look at Your Property
Buyer’s agents tend to look down on for-sale-by-owner properties because they’re seen as less professional. In fact, they’ll most likely try to talk any potential buyers out of looking at your property. By having a real estate agent, you’ll look more professional, and see more clients coming in.
It’s Not Your Full-Time Job
Selling a home is extremely time-consuming, especially if it’s not your only job. It requires being able to rush home every time someone wants to see your home and making yourself available for calls about the property at any time. Selling a home is a full-time job, and you need to be able to devote all your time and energy to doing so if you want to sell your property at the right price to the right customer.
You Don’t Have the Same Network as an Agent
It’s easy to list your home on Zillow or Craigslist. But listing your home isn’t the same as marketing it, and just because you have a listing doesn’t mean potential buyers will automatically flock to your home. A real estate agency can bring in the largest pool of potential buyers into your home, and quickly spread the word about your property.
This will create greater demand, which means you’ll sell your home faster and at a better price.
It’s an Emotional Process
Selling a property isn’t easy, in fact, it’s a pretty emotional process. A real estate agent will help you avoid making mistakes like overpricing your home, or caving under pressure and accepting a lower offer than you should. Real estate agents know how to follow up and can handle all the stressful elements of the selling process.
They can also help you keep your cool, and keep you feeling reassured throughout the process.
Real Estate Agents are Expert Negotiators
If you don’t have real estate or sales experience, you won’t be prepared for the negotiation process involved in selling your home. This means you’re more likely to lose out on the negotiation process and be convinced to cave into a low bid. A real estate agent can make a counteroffer on your behalf, and negotiate in your favor, so you end up with the best price for your property.
You’re Biased When It Comes to Your Own Property
If you’ve lived in your property for a long time, chances are you aren’t able to see the benefits or flaws of it like an unbiased party could. A real estate agent can tell you what works in the house, and what needs to be changed or staged to increase the property value. They can assess the current condition and market appeal of your property to make sure you’re listing it at the right price.
You Can’t Determine Who’s a Qualified Buyer
As an inexperienced seller, you’ll ultimately end up inviting in a lot of people look at your home who aren’t really qualified to buy it. A real estate agent can determine if a potential buyer is really legitimate and keep you from wasting time on needless showings.
You Could be Sued
Selling a property is tricky; there’s a lot of legal paperwork involved, especially when it comes to things like seller’s disclosures. If you don’t handle this process properly, you could be held liable for things like fraud or breach of contract. A real estate knows how to handle this process, so you can rest easy knowing you’re protected legally.
Final Thoughts on Selling a Home Without an Agent
As you can see from the 8 reasons outlined in this article, selling a home without an agent is never a good idea. If you do, you’ll ultimately run into roadblocks that will make the process more stressful and expensive than it needs to be. By pairing with an expert real estate agent, however, you can sell your home easily and effectively in no time.
Do you need help selling your home? Not sure how to start? Contact us for expert assistance!