Is it Better to Sell Your Home Yourself or Let a Real Estate Professional Do It?

Many people have trouble deciding which is the more cost effective way to go. Should they just list their house for sell in the local paper and put up some signs, or go to a agent and let them do what they do best? Some people feel that the realtor’s do not always have your best interest in mind. Selling by owner will allow you to get more money for the house than you would if you went with a real estate agent. For one thing you would not have to pay the realtor’s fee, which can range from two percent up to ten percent. The other problem is that the real estate market is way over priced at the current time. Which can be a good thing for someone selling their house. If you really want to sell your home yourself there are several things that you will want to take into consideration before doing so.

First of all you will need to get a home appraisal done to find out exactly what your home is worth. There are many for sale by owner companies that you can sign up with, that offer these services for a reasonable fee. It will also depend on how quickly you want to sell your house. If you are looking to sell quickly than the cost of the house will have to be lower than what you might have asked if you had more time. You will also need to check the fair market value in your area prior to setting a price for your home. Keep in mind that most buyers will probably know what the current fair market value for your area is, so if you over price, you will definitely have a problem selling. If you price your home too low this can also make people a little weary as to why it is priced this way. They may assume that something is wrong with the house.

When it comes to a realtor there are some advantages. For example they will be able to give you a very honest idea of the market turnover for homes in your area. There are a lot of agents to choose from so you will need to do your homework before making a decision. You will want to make sure that the realtor you choose has innovative ideas about how to market your home. Also since it is not that difficult to get a real estate license, you never know who you may be hiring. There is nothing wrong with asking how long someone has been an agent, and what experience they have with homes in your area. Also some realtor’s tend to pick and choose which offers they will notify you about. For example if someone offers something that the realtor feels is just too low you may never even hear about it.

If you decide to list your home yourself, then you will definitely need to take pictures of both the inside and outside of your home. Make sure that you take good quality pictures. If they come out to dark or too light it will definitely turn people away. Try to keep your property details simple and straightforward. If you are using a buy owner service than they will also give you tips and suggestions on the best way to advertise your home. Although you can do the same thing yourself without the service. Of course it will take a lot more work on your part but it is something that can be done especially if your main concern is saving money. Whatever option you decide to go with, make sure you think it through thoroughly and do your research before making your decision.