There are many reasons to work with a Realtor when selling your home. Although it might be tempting to try and sell it yourself, consider the negative consequences because they may be numerous. The falsehood that you'll make more by selling a property yourself because you'll save commission expenses is a misconception many home sellers fall into. The reasons to work with a Realtor far outweigh the benefits you might think you'll gain by buying or selling yourself.

According to the National Association of Realtors, sellers sell for less when they try selling independently. That's because of their lack of knowledge in negotiation, law, property valuation, etc. These are legitimate reasons to work with a Realtor.

The same is true when buying. You need someone in your court to protect you from fraud, unscrupulous sellers, inspection issues, repair problems, and costs. Property valuation is an essential part of a buyer's agent's job. This is critical and prevents you from overpaying for a property, something every buyer wants to avoid. 

Here are many reasons to work with a Realtor you'll want to consider. Your Agent:

  • Negotiates terms of sale or purchase, including concessions or repairs 
  • Pre-qualifies prospects for safety and protects customers' time and personal property
  • Assists, coordinates, and delivers the contract to the seller/buyer
  • Completes a Comparative Market Analysis to price the home accurately
  • Lists your property in multiple MLS boards for maximum exposure
  • Conducts virtual and in-person open houses to get your home sold
  • Accompanies buyer to the final walk-through
  • Gives property preparation suggestions for the highest sale price
  • Lists your home in numerous listing portals and online publications
  • Markets your property through social media, video, networking, and pitch sessions with other Realtors
  • Offers information on local amenities, local market research, and HOA/Condo Association governance guidance
  • Provides and coordinates all access to homes with your favorite features 
  • Analyzes comparable home sales and assists you in making an offer on your new home
  • Provides support throughout the process and after closing. 
  • Creates a list of available homes and schedules viewing appointments (virtual and physical)
  • Coordinates all requested inspections and allows access to others as needed
  • Coordinates closing with a lender, title company, customer, and all parties in a transaction
  • Adheres to a strict code of ethics

According to the National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics

FSBOs accounted for 7% of home sales in 2020. The typical FSBO home sold for $260,000 compared to $318,000 for agent-assisted home sales.

FSBO methods used to market home: 

  • None: Did not actively market home: 34%
  • Yard sign: 26%
  • Friends, relatives, or neighbors: 23%
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) websites: 18%
  • Social networking websites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.): 14%
  • Open house: 14%
  • Online classified advertisements: 5%
  • Video: 4%
  • Virtual Tours: 3%
  • For-sale-by-owner websites: 2%
  • Print newspaper advertisement: 1%
  • Direct mail (flyers, postcards, etc.): 1%
  • Television: 1%
  • Most difficult tasks for FSBO sellers:
  • Preparing/fixing up the home for sale: 17%
  • Getting the right price: 14%
  • Understanding and performing paperwork: 11%
  • Selling within the planned length of time: 5%
  • Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale: 5%
  • Attracting potential buyers: 3%
  • Helping buyers obtain financing: 3%

Source: 2021 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

For many more reasons to work with a Realtor, call your Treasure Coast Living Blogger, Mona Leonard, at 772-530-6131 or email her at mona@stuarthousesforsale.com