For Sale By Owner vs A Realtor

Many people are making the choice to sell their homes themselves. While it is said that this method of home sales can save an owner money in commission fees, it should be noted that usually the money saved in commission is spent in other areas. Typically an agent's commission for a home sale is approximately 5-7%. However what many people do not realize is that it will cost them at least that to see that their home closes properly. There are many costs that the average home owner does not know about that are covered in the sales process by a realtor.

Consider the following factors to help you decide:

EXPOSURE
Realtors, or real estate agents, are part of an office of agents, and each of them knows of buyers that are currently in the market for a home. Their buyers are pre-qualified, that is, they have already seen a lender and have qualified for a loan so the buyer knows exactly how much they can afford, and the Realtor does too. In many areas, a realtor won't even show homes to a buyer until they pre-qualify. The process saves a lot of wasted time on everybody's part.

Contrast this with the prospect of you putting up a "For Sale" sign in your front yard, and having to deal with people that will be calling you to talk about your house and want to walk through it, even though they don't have the resources to actually buy it. In the end, they are just wasting your time.

Realtors also have contact with many people from out of town who are relocating to your area. Each realtor in town gets contacted frequently through their website, by people that are looking for a home by long-distance. They may be coming to town soon to look at available homes for a few days. The Realtor lines up a number of homes for them to tour that fit their criteria. One of them could be yours. But, if you FSBO, that potential buyer won't know your house is on the market until they get to town, if then.

NEGOTIATION
An area where a realtor's experience also comes into play is during the contact negotiations and execution. Agent's are trained in the proper execution of contracts and all aspects of closing a home. This part of the selling procedure can be extremely confusing and expensive. There are numerous lawyer's and notary costs that can easily inflate a sellers cost beyond the small saving on commission. Also, take into account the fact that a large percentage of people who attempt to sell their homes on their own, eventually end up listing with an agent when their home does not draw the necessary attention to sell in a timely manner. Add to this the fact that homes sold with an agent typically close for over 20 thousand dollars more than homes sold by owners and suddenly an agent becomes a fairly attractive concept. Remember, it is likely that a professional agent will be able to dedicate more time to the sale of your home than you. After all, you have to work yourself, and for an agent, selling your house is the work.

EXPERIENCE
A real estate agent will be able to assist in setting the right price to list your home, according to the current market conditions.
A real estate agent is a trained professional who will spend the necessary amount of time it may take to get your home SOLD.

The agent understands and will take care of all the necessary paperwork to complete the buying process. The agent will also act as a liaison between you and the inspectors, thebuyer's agent, and between attorneys, if they are involved.

Most buyers prefer to deal with a real estate agent because the agent will give them the unbiased professional opinion on a house, and how it stacks up against other houses on the market.

Agents understand all the different types of loans and financing options. They can provide information to buyers about local lending institutions to fit their needs.

ADVERTISING
Realtors have many ways to advertise your home, not just a newspaper ad and a "For Sale" sign in the yard. They also utilize the following ways to advertise a home:

- The Multiple Listing Service
- Open Houses
- Web sites like Realtor.com and Yahoo Real Estate
- Direct mail
- Newspaper inserts
- Regional Real Estate Magazines
- Cable TV
- Realtor "Caravans" where 30 or more Realtors will tour your home and then match it to their prospective buyers.

How much of this marketing muscle can you flex if you FSBO?

SHOWING YOUR HOME
Agents have expertise to help you get your home in top shape before your prospective buyers arrive. They can help you "stage" your home to look more like a model home that would appeal to a larger group of buyers. They know how to emphasize and focus on your homes good points.

If you FSBO you will be learning the process as you go, a costly education when you are trying to sell your own home.