Kirk Holton Team Blog

FOR SALE BY OWNER:

WHY USE AN AGENT WHEN I CAN DO IT MYSELF?

By: Katie Kirk-Kirk Holton Team

You want to sell by owner, but most people hire an agent. Why? This is a great question, especially when considering the current market conditions. The bottom line is that selling by owner is a challenge in this market. As a homeowner, you want to ask yourself what are the pros/cons of going the “for sale by owner” route.

The main thing you want to ask yourself is “who is the best person to facilitate a successful sale for my home”? There are agents who have years of experience and a knowledge base that covers most if not all issues that generally come up during the transaction.

Sellers also need to remember that there is cost involved and much of that cost would be covered by the commission you would be paying an agent. Likewise there is a big time commitment. Websites, Advertising, coordinating showings, qualifying potential buyers, negotiating the contract, building inspection, coordinating with title co’s and knowing what is on the final checklist before closing….all of these things need to be taken care in order to successfully sell your home.

90% of buyers look to the internet today. How will you get your listing noticed? Is one website going to get viewed? It won’t be in the MLS which is the main site which agents seek property information for their clients. When listed with an agent, your listing is placed in the MLS to be viewed by thousands of agents/prospective buyers.

Beyond MLS, most Realtors have your property on 20 plus sites. Sellers also have to consider print advertising which is an out of pocket expense to you as the homeowner. Print advertising, website exposure, signs, open houses, all of this is covered in the agent’s commission. Revisiting the main question…who is more likely to get the job completed? The average homeowner with limited resources? Or, an agent that is knowledgeable, experienced and has limitless resources?

We advise that before you put the “for sale by owner” sign in your yard, talk to a Realtor about their services and commission rate. You might be surprised that paying commission pays off in the long run.