You’ve decided that it’s time to sell your home. Now you must decide who should help you or if you should try to sell your home on your own. At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices we have been helping sell homes for many years and we strongly urge anyone in this position to carefully consider the reasons not to sell without a real estate professional on their side. Read on to learn about seven reasons selling on your own is not a good idea, then contact us at (310) 373-0021 to learn more about how we can help you.
1. It takes much more time than you may think
The fact of the matter is that it takes a lot of time to sell a home. You’ll need to stage the home, take perfect pictures, write a description, and market it. Then you’ll have to be at every showing and open house. When it comes time to negotiate, expect to spends hours going back and forth the potential buyer’s agent.
2. It costs money to sell a home
The number one reason people decide to sell on their own is because they want to save money but it often doesn’t work out the way they think it would. Just considering how much it costs to stage a home, market it, and show it, you could be spending a lot more than you think.
3. An agent knows how to price your home
A person who believes it is cheaper to sell their home on their own should know that a real estate professional is best likely to know how to appropriately price a home. In fact, studies show that homes sold by agents sell for more than homes that are sold by owner. Even better, a home that’s priced right sells faster.
4. It doesn’t cost you upfront cash to hire an agent
Sometimes sellers know they shouldn’t sell their home on their own but they don’t have the money to pay an agent. The good news is that they don’t need money because the commission comes out of the sale of the home.
5. Buyers are less likely to take you seriously
There is a perception issue by homebuyers that a person selling a home on their own is not as serious as one working with an agent. They may distrust the marketing materials, the price, and the home itself.
6. You don’t have the marketing reach
Unless are a marketing expert, trust that an agent is going to be much better equipped to market your home. Just their access to the MLS listings is enough to make their commission worth it.
7. You could be opening up yourself to liability
A person who is not a specialist in the real estate field does not necessarily know what they can and cannot do or say. Not closely following applicable laws can result in making yourself financially liable.