When the time comes to offer, homeowners wonder, “Should I engage a full-service realtor which helped me to sell my house?” Although I’m not really a licensed agent, I get asked this inquiry often. My answer might surprise you.

Let me begin by saying that there’s no simple answer. This will depend about the housing marketplace. This will depend about what you’re feeling will be the capabilities. This will depend on regardless of whether you have the time to handle the task. This will depend about how quickly you have to sell…or if you will need to obtain it sold in any way.

And in this tough housing marketplace, homeowners are investing in remodeling or updating, then looking to get a better price by using cut-rate agents or listing the home themselves, Fsbo (FSBO). But is that this effective?

Well, can you write marketing copy, create make ads, get involved a nearby Mls (MLS), take flattering digital pictures, insurance policy for a video “Virtual Tour,” hold open houses, produce professional flyers, negotiate an arrangement, and handle an all-inclusive sales contract?

Although there are firms offering FSBO services which can help considerably with these things, there exists a perceived stigma in the buyer’s eyes, particularly with more expensive homes. Its keep may be the very real liability issue of legal disclosures. In my experience, even most skilled and reputable agents sometimes can be somewhat lackadaisical about disclosures, since rarely will a buyer make an effort to revisit following the seller for a claim. Nonetheless it does happen…so be sure to over-disclose. Also, it is essential that you will get indexed by the local MLS, however a FSBO typically do that through a flat-fee MLS listing service (do a Search for starters locally).

I have remodeled several homes for resale, and i have done the buying and selling lots of different ways. I’ve hired telephone marketing seller leads real estate. I’ve bought and sold privately with another private party. I’ve deeply in love with my own, personal to some buyer who was represented by an agent. I know that it’s always tempting to attempt to sell yourself to save lots of the hefty commission, that is generally 5-6% (usually split 50/50 between buyer’s and seller’s agents).

By selling it yourself (FSBO), you can dictate simply how much commission you might be happy to pay a buyer’s agent. However, in fact many buyers are uneasy of a home that is not represented by an agent, and in fact I’ve discovered that some agents won’t even show your house for their clients in case there are lots of selections of homes listed with other agents. Also, there are legal potholes, particularly regarding mandated disclosures, for which you would assume responsibility and liability. I’ve discovered, however, that many escrow agents will gladly allow you to (and the other party, if appropriate) navigate these potholes without the involvement of an realtor. I did it using this method once or twice.

Alternatively, if your buyer is represented by an agent (which you are paying a couple or 3% commission), you might ask the buyer’s agent to deal with your contractual obligations for a small additional compensation, such as 1%. I did this before, too.

Most Realtors will advise you that it’s better to introduce your house for the market in a reasonable price which has a big splash, generate a lot of traffic and hoopla early, and try to get multiple interested buyers bidding inside the price. They’ll point out that in the event you use it the market yourself in the wrong price and yes it languishes, that becomes “stale” and are harder to offer later. I think chiefly true, however new buyers emerge continuously, so don’t let anyone scare you into doing something you really don’t want to do. I’d personally point out that if you sell a home within a seller’s market (like we had from around 1996 through 2006), of course, if you’re feeling confident in keeping the time, capabilities, and wherewithal to do all those necessary things, then you might want to think about FSBO or flat-fee discount listing brokers. When you have any doubts, however, then hire an agent and let them cope with the problems. During a seller’s market, your property will likely sell faster if represented.

On the other hand, should you be marketing within a buyer’s market (like we are in now), you should engage a good full-service listing agent. Even though you might be tempted in the weak market to decrease your price and earn up by not employing an agent, the stark truth is this is precisely the type of difficult marketplace for sellers in which you absolutely need a solid, well-connected, and well-respected REALTOR to provide you with the most effective opportunity to obtain it sold.
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