4 Reasons You Shouldn’t Sell Your Home Yourself
The concept of selling your house yourself may sound tempting, but there are a number of reasons why you should think twice before going this route. In the past few years, many homeowners have been choosing to sell their properties themselves as opposed to hiring a professional agent. This trend has led to an increase in the number of people who regret their decision and end up with fewer offers than they would’ve otherwise received. The following 4 points will provide some insight into the downside of self-selling your home so that you can make an educated decision on what is best for you!
1) You Get What You Pay For
Don’t try and sell your home yourself, you get what you pay for. This is true in so many situations, and selling your home is no exception. While it may be tempting to save a few hundred dollars by choosing the self-selling route over hiring an agent, this cost savings can often lead to more money being lost down the road as buyers become less and less interested.
When you sell your home without a professional agent, you miss out on the exposure that comes with being listed on multiple websites and having access to the MLS database of all local real estate agents. If you’re not able to afford an agent’s commission, chances are this means that there will be some months between when you list your home and when it goes under contract. This means that your home is not being featured on any of these websites or in the MLS database during this time, which can lead to fewer offers than you would’ve received if it had been listed right away.
2) Guidance
When you list with an agent, chances are they will be able to provide guidance through the process and help you steer clear of any unnecessary pitfalls. A professional agent can also provide feedback on how to stage your property so that it is more attractive to buyers, as well as give advice on the best price for your home in order to attract maximum interest from potential buyers.
With all this being said, hiring an agent will not guarantee a sale and you may still end up having to list your home for sale by owner (FSBO).
However, when you choose an agent and get that additional guidance from a reputable real estate professional, the likelihood of selling your property at its full market value quickly goes way up.
3) Protection
When you sell your home without an agent, it is up to you to list the property. This means that if there are any issues with the sale, such as a buyer backing out or not paying after he has already closed on his end of things, you will be solely responsible for making sure that everything goes smoothly and getting him into your new home.
If you sell your property through an agent, the contract will include a clause that states if anything goes wrong or there is any kind of dispute between buyer and seller, it will be up to the real estate broker (agent) to resolve it. This means less hassle for you and more peace of mind knowing that someone else has your back.
4) Liability
A home is one of the biggest investments that you will make in your lifetime, so it’s important to protect yourself when selling. The purchase contract for a seller who chooses not to go with an agent would need to include language protecting them if any issues arise between buyer and seller during the sale process. This means having some sort of indemnification clause in the contract, which is just another part of having an agent represent you.
When you sell your home through a real estate professional, they are responsible for protecting both parties involved with various liability clauses within their contracts. If anything goes wrong or there is any sort of dispute between buyer and seller during the sale process, it will be up to the broker to resolve it. This means less time and money spent on you as a seller, so that you can focus your efforts elsewhere!
In conclusion,
There are many benefits of selling via an agent rather than going with ‘for sale by owner’ (FSBO). In order to avoid any unnecessary stress during this process and ensure that everything goes smoothly, it’s best to choose an agent and list your home for sale with them.
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