Selling your home is not an easy task. And if you sell alone – known as FSBO (or For sale from owner) – You are responsible for handling some of the more difficult aspects of the process without the required expert guidance.
That 2021 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers of the Federal association of real estate agents (NAR) interviews homeowners who recently sold their home on their own and what difficulties they faced. These sellers say some of the biggest headaches are getting their home ready for sale, properly appraising it, and completing the necessary paperwork.
Working with an agent is the best way to ensure you have an expert by your side to guide you every step of the way. Agents have the skills and knowledge needed to navigate each step with ease, efficiency, and accuracy. Here are just a few things a real estate agent will do to ensure you get the most out of your sale.
1. Make the best first impression
Selling your home takes a lot of time and effort. Do it To the right requires expertise and understanding for today’s buyers. Your agent knows the answers to common questions like:
- Do I have to take down my personal art?
- How much garden does my house need?
- What color should I paint my walls?
Your time and money are important, and you don’t want to waste either of them focusing on the wrong things. A real estate consultant relies on their experience to answer these questions and more so you can make the right investments to prepare your home before you list it.
2. Maximize your buyer pool – and your sale
Today, the average home gets 3.6 offers per sale according to the latest data from NAR. This is great news if you’re planning to sell, because the more offers you get, the more likely you are to sell your home in a bidding war and at a higher price.
There are a number of tools available to real estate agents such as: B. Social media followers and agency resources that ensure your home gets viewed by the most buyers. Without access to these tools and your agent’s marketing expertise, your pool of buyers – and your home’s potential for selling – is limited.
3. Understand the documentation, including the fine print
When selling a home today, more disclosures and regulations are mandatory, which means the number of legal documents to juggle is growing. It’s hard to understand all the requirements and fine print (especially if you’re not an expert). That’s why your advisor is an invaluable guide.
Your agent knows exactly what needs to happen, what all the paperwork means and can handle it efficiently. They’ll help you review documentation and avoid costly missteps that could happen if you go it alone.
4. Act as your experienced negotiator
If you are selling without a broker, you are also solely responsible for all negotiations. This means you need to coordinate with:
- The buyerwho wants the best possible offer
- The buyer’s agentwho use their specialist knowledge to help the buyer
- The inspection companywho works for the buyer and almost always finds concerns with the house
- the appraiserassessing the value of the property to protect the lender
Instead of going toe-to-toe with all these parties alone, lean on an expert. Your agent relies on experience and training to make the right moves during the negotiation. They know what levers to pull, how to address each concern, and when you might want a second opinion. If you’re selling your home yourself, you need to be prepared to have these conversations alone.
5. Price it right
Real estate professionals have the expertise to accurately and competitively value your home. To do this, they compare your house with recently sold houses in your area and take into account the current condition of your house. These factors are key to ensuring your home is priced to move quickly and giving you the maximum return on your investment.
If you’re selling as an FSBO, you’re operating without this benefit. This could cost you in the long run if you over- or under-price your home.
bottom line
There is a lot that goes into selling your home and it takes time, effort and expertise to truly maximize your sale. Instead of going it alone, let’s work together to make sure you have an expert by your side.
