If you’re thinking about selling your home, you might be considering going the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) route. After all, why pay a real estate agent when you can save that commission and sell your home yourself, right? Well, we’re here to tell you that selling your home without a realtor agent is not only a bad idea, but it could end up costing you more in the long run. Here are four reasons why:
- You’ll miss out on marketing your home to the fullest extent possible.
When you list your home with a realtor, they will market your home on their company website as well as on national websites like Zillow and Trulia. According to studies, 85% of buyers start their home search online. So if your home isn’t being marketed where buyers are looking, you’re already at a disadvantage. - You won’t have an expert to help navigate the negotiation process.
Selling a home is much more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign in your yard. Once you get an offer (or multiple offers), you then have to negotiate with the buyer (or their agent) on price, repairs, inspections, and more. If you’re not experienced in negotiation, this can be a daunting and time-consuming task. Having a real estate agent by your side will make negotiations go much smoother and quicker. - The paperwork involved in selling a home is complicated.
From the initial listing agreement to the final closing documents, there is a LOT of paperwork involved in selling a home. If even one form isn’t filled out correctly, it could delay or even derail the entire sale. A real estate agent will know what forms need to be filled out and when they need to be filed in order to keep the sale of your home on track. - Selling your home takes up a lot of time and energy…time that you probably don’t have.
If you work full-time or have children at home, finding the time to show your house to prospective buyers can be tough. And even if you do have the time available, do you really want to spend your weekends playing tour guide? Hiring a real estate agent means that you can go about your life while they take care of fielding calls and showing homes to buyers.
As you can see, there are many good reasons why hiring a real estate agent is worth it when selling your home. Not only will an experienced professional be able to get you top dollar for your home, but they’ll also save you time and hassle in the process. So if you’re thinking about FSBO-ing your Michigan home in 2022 Without a Realtor, think again!