So, you want to sell your home?
The first question is, should you sell it using a realtor,
or do you sell your home yourself FSBO (for sale by owner)?
Well, there's no clear-cut answer. It really
depends on you and how successful you are likely to be at selling
real estate. Fact is; some people lack the time, people skills,
marketing skills, negotiating skills and even the inclination
to sell their own home. For others, selling their home comes as
an exciting challenge they can't resist.
Obviously, the big advantage of selling your
home yourself, is that you do not pay a realtors
commission. In most instances the realtors commission will
amount to several thousand dollars. Make no mistake; if you dream
of making a larger down-payment on your next home, or want to
retire, or simply want to hang onto the equity you've worked so
hard for... then you could save thousands by paying yourself NOT
a realtor.
On the other hand, hiring a realtor and paying
thousands in realtors
commissions, could be money well spent. A case in point would
be when a realtor gets you a better sale price for your home.
Again, there are a
lot of variables to consider: like your own ability and enthusiasm
verses the experience of a professional realtor. There are pros
and cons for each method of selling. A lot will depend on you
or the skill of the realtor representing you.
Most realtors would argue; if you needed a heart
operation would you perform it yourself, or have an experienced
heart surgeon do it for you? Maybe they are right? Maybe you do
need a professional who is experienced in the business for selling
homes? But, the counter argument is, that an increasing number
of people are successfully selling their own homes (FSBO), without
the services of an experienced realtor. What's more, they are
saving themselves thousands of dollars in realtors
commissions.
Realtors will also argue that; selling a home
in today's market is not like it was a decade ago. The market,
as well as the buyer's, are much more astute and the laws more
complex. Add to this the statistics realtors have, proving that
the average realtor has a better chance of selling a home in a
shorter time span (and frequently for more money) than the average
FSBO seller. But,
what's average? Not every seller is the same and nor is every
realtor. There's
no shortage of incompetent realtors
and there plenty of "super capable" ones too. The trick
is differentiating the good from the bad!
With that said, perhaps the biggest obstacle
a seller faces is the "emotional attachment" they have
to the property being sold. The home might be where the kids grew
up, or where the family pet is buried. It might also have been
designed, decorated, or landscaped to the sellers' personal tastes.
That's why many sellers are blind to the flaws that a realtor
can easily spot. And, that is also why a realtor may have a different
view of what the home is really worth in todays market.
An experienced Realtor can provide a seller with
a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), so the seller knows what
the home is actually worth, instead of what the seller feels it
is worth. A realtor can provide an
independent and objective view which can be the difference in
making a sale.
So, think carefully before deciding what home
selling method suits you best. You may be able to do a far better
job yourself and save yourself thousands of dollars in realtors
commissions. If you don't genuinely believe you can do a better
job, then you might be best to consider listing with a local realtor.
Choose carefully, interview more than one realtor
and ask for testimonials from satisfied customers.
© Noel Peebles, Market Leaders FSBO real
estate books.
Noel Peebles is co-author of the best selling
FSBO real estate book
"Home Selling Secrets Revealed."
For details http://www.forsalebyownerguide.com |