Should I Use a Real Estate Agent to Sell My House?

The real question is, will sellers receive value for the service fees paid to a real estate company, or will sellers net more money if marketed and sold themselves?

First let's be clear that a seller who attempts to sell their home without a real estate agent is doing so without any representation. Many buyers prefer to work with a buyer's agent who represents the buyer's interest. Therefore, the seller should be aware that they have no one looking out for them and their interests.

The unrepresented seller should also consider that most buyers are working with a professional real estate agent since the services of the buyer's agent do not have any direct costs associated with the purchase. The fact is that the service fees paid to the buyer's agent are usually paid by the seller as a convenience of the sale.

Putting the commission issue aside for a moment, sellers need to consider that they will need to market their home in the marketplace where competition from other real estate companies representing sellers and buyers is avid. Therefore, in order to sell your home without the assistance of a professional real estate agent, you must market your home in the same manner as a real estate professional.

This means expending time, energy and money to expose your home to the marketplace. In fact, you may have to spend even more of your resources since you, as the seller, have only one home to use to attract buyers.

Another consideration is the types of buyers you could attract as an unrepresented seller. Ask yourself these questions . . .

1. Can or how will you attract relocating buyers who are usually working with professional real estate agents?

2. Can or how will you attract first time buyers who usually seek the assistance of real estate professionals?

3. Can or how will you attract investment buyers and do you want to as they are usually seeking a "bargain price"?

4. Can and how will you attract local buyers and what methods are available to you to attract these buyers?

Next, you must consider the risks involved in selling your home without representation or the assistance of a real estate professional. Are you well informed about the disclosure laws and how they affect sellers? Do you understand the fair housing laws and how they affect your advertising, marketing and presentation of your home? Do you know about the penalties for improper disclosure? How will you determine the ability of your buyer to qualify for a mortgage?

If you are willing to learn how to expose your home, attract buyers, stage your home, follow up with interested parties, show your home to strangers, protect yourself against risk, structure and negotiate a contract, negotiate the transaction through contingencies, inspections and approvals, help the buyer through the mortgage process and follow the sale through to closing, you may be able to sell your home without the assistance of a real estate professional. If you do not have the time or desire to learn the process of marketing, selling and closing the sale, we suggest you hire a real estate professional to help you, guide you, market your property and help mitigate your risks while all the time representing your interests.

At HUNT ERA, we have a program designed to assist you before, during and after the sale of your home. Our Seller Select marketing program offers you marketing choices, guarantees and the best tools and systems to net you the most dollars in a time that is convenient for you and with the least inconvenience.

If you would like more information on the value of our Seller Select marketing program, simply contact us.