Are you thinking of selling your home but debating if you should do the job on your own? While an FSBO (for sale by owner) sale can seem quite appealing, it may make more sense to use a realtor to handle this job for you. Here is what you need to know about using a realtor or selling the home on your own.

Why Use A Realtor?

The main thing you get with a realtor is expertise in the housing market. They work with real estate on a daily basis, and they know more than you could ever learn by the time your home finally sells. Their valuable insight into things like home pricing and market trends can make a big difference in the entire process when it is finally wrapped up.

Realtors also can provide assistance with the financial and legal aspects of selling a home. You may need help with making sure all the contracts are created with your best interest in mind, or you may need help seeking out a different type of financing to secure your next home. Realtors are well-versed in these areas and can definitely help.

There are also plenty of administrative tasks that need to be done when selling a home. A realtor knows what needs to be done and can handle it quickly when it can take you quite a bit of research.

Why Use FSBO?

The big advantage of selling the home on your own is the cost savings. You will not need to pay a commission fee to your selling agent based on the final price of the home, which is what the realtor would earn. However, you are still required to pay a commission to the realtor that helps the buyers. As long as there is a realtor involved with the transaction on the other end, you can expect to negotiate a commission with them so they can be paid for their time. 

You'll also have more control over the process of selling your home. You can make sure you are marketing and pricing the home exactly how you want it, and don't need to do what anyone tells you to do. If you want to price your home high and see if it attracts buyers, you are more than welcome to do that on your own. 

However, being your own realtor means that you are responsible for all showings of the property, which can often happen at odd times during the day. If you don't work from home you may end up losing out on buyers because you're not around to let someone in for a tour. For more information, contact a home seller agent near you.

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