The real estate market is hot! It’s no wonder some sellers think that they don’t need a real estate agent to list their home. Isn’t every house selling immediately at over list price?
Here’s why we think you should hire a listing agent to sell your property. Pricing your house properly is critical – you don’t want to leave money on the table and you don’t want to overprice either. Even in this market, overpriced homes can sit and once you start reducing the price, people wonder what might be wrong with the house. A licensed real estate agent who knows the market will recommend the best price point for your property. She will also advise you on what work, if any, should be done before listing, how to present the home in the best possible light to attract buyers, and so much more. She will have quality listing photographs taken for advertising, negotiate on your behalf, and provide an unbiased and realistic assessment of your home – something that can be hard for a seller to do. She will also help you navigate the home inspection process and any issues that may arise there.
What if you already have a buyer? Without listing your house publicly, you don’t know how many higher offers you might be missing out on. The price difference between what seems reasonable from a neighbor and what some unknown buyer is willing to pay might be more than enough to pay for your listing agent’s commission. Many houses are getting multiple offers right now, and that can significantly drive up prices. Furthermore, when you have a specific potential buyer in mind before you list, you can sometimes negotiate paying your listing agent a lower commission if that buyer purchases the property. And some agents are not charging as high of a commission percentage right now in this sellers’ market.
According to the National Association of Realtors, homes sold for sale by owner (FSBO) sold for 26% less than those listed by agents on the MLS. Call us today if you’d like to discuss listing your house for sale.
