Thinking about selling your own home without the use of an agent? Are you thinking going the FSBO (for sale by owner) route will put more money in your pocket? Can you actually save money by not using a real estate agent when you sell your home? There are a few things you should know before selling your home as an FSBO.

Of course, it’s possible to sell your own home without the use of a skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable real estate agent. Many people have done it. In most cases, the belief in going the FSBO route is to save money on the commission you’d pay to an agent.

In this current market, where sellers are in the driver’s seat, it’s even more tempting to want to do an FSBO. Why use an agent when the current market makes it so easy for sellers to come out on top?

I’ve chatted with a few people that decided to sell their own homes. One individual believed it’s no different than selling a car on Craigslist. After all, who knows a home better than the actual owner, right?

I’m going to come out and say it-selling a home is quite a bit different than selling a car, a boat, or a motorcycle. In fact, it’s a lot different. Let’s break it down a bit. This way you can see what you’re getting into when you decide to sell your own home without an agent on your side.

For Sale by Owner Explained

A for sale by owner (FSBO) is when the owner of a house decides to sell it without the use of an agent for representation. Consider it the same as being your own legal representation when going into court. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a whole lot of work, and a bit risky, if you ask me.

Many people decide to do an FSBO to save money on commission or they already have a buyer lined up. Often people assume it’s a simple job they can manage.

Is your driving motivation for selling your own home without an agent to save money on commission? I’ve got news for you. You will actually lose money when you sell your own home. Let’s get that out of the way. Selling your home without an agent will end up costing you money.

Yes, you can sell your house without a realtor, but why would you want to risk losing out on thousands of dollars? You wouldn’t, which is why you are continuing to read this. That’s why it’s so important to work with a real estate agent when you decide to sell your home.

If saving money doesn’t convince you to work with an agent, I’ve got a few more. Here are 7 reasons why you should hire a real estate agent to sell your home rather than do it on your own.

Reason #1. You Lose Out on Potential Buyers

This might seem a little backward. Especially in the real estate market we’re currently in with low inventory. An agent knows that in an FSBO transaction, there will not be agent representation on the side of the seller. This can be challenging to work with.

That means if you’re selling your own home, you’re missing out on plenty of potential buyers. All because you don’t have an agent showing your home. The only way to get a bidding war going on your home is when you’ve got many people interested.

Get your home seen by as many people as possible by using an agent. This market has plenty of buyers. You want as many of those buyers to see your home. That’s the best way to get the highest and best offer for your home.

Reason #2. Realtors Don’t Like Emotional Sales

We’ve all experienced that feeling when you believe an item to be worth a certain amount. Then a potential buyer comes in and says, “No, it’s not worth that. In fact, it’s worth half of that to me.” It can be downright offensive.

Now imagine someone doing that to your home. It’s hard to hold back the emotions when it comes to the value someone puts on a home that holds so many memories for you. That’s what happens when doing an FSBO. Your emotions take over and you miss opportunities.

Using an agent keeps the seller removed from any criticism or negative comments. Consider them your filter. An agent is able to take the emotion out of an offer and give you the facts so you can make a logical, informed decision.

Selling your home is an emotional experience. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Use an agent who will help you focus on the facts and is there to get the best offer for your home.

Reason #3. Selling Your Home Is a Full-Time Job

Ask any real estate agent and they’ll tell you that it’s a 24/7 job. Potential buyers want to see the home at 2 in the afternoon. If you can’t get there to show it, you lost a sale. Any text or email you get about your home needs an immediate response.

Do you have the flexibility in your schedule? Are you up for showing your home and answering the same questions over and over again? I’m guessing not. Selling a home is a full-time job that doesn’t stop in the evenings or weekends.

Agents are there so you don’t have to be. No need to take time off of work to show your home. An agent will make sure it gets done and you can move on with your day.

Reason #4. Agents Have Access to the All the Major Networks

When it comes time to list your home, you want to market it in as many places as possible. These include sites like Zillow, Redfin, and the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). An FSBO can market their home on all these channels but is that enough?

Real estate agents have access to other agents, clients, or real estate agencies. that can drive even more traffic to your listing. The more people that see your home, the greater chance you have to increase the sale price.

It’s not uncommon for agents to market listings within Facebook groups for agents. Don’t miss lots of opportunities with potential buyers because you didn’t use an agent. Use a realtor and get your home seen by as many people as possible.

Reason #5. Agents Can Weed Out Unqualified Buyers

The last thing you want is your time wasted on buyers that aren’t actually qualified to buy your home. That’s another reason why you should use an agent to sell your home.

An agent can do the digging to find out if a curious buyer is actually ready and willing to buy your home. Or are they the dreamers that are killing a Sunday afternoon by checking out the open houses?

Did you know that agents learn how to interact with buyers to see where they’re at in the home buying process? The answers to these questions give the agent the best insight into how ready someone is to put in an offer.

It’s also known that homeowners shouldn’t be around when prospective buyers are viewing the home. If you’re acting as the selling agent for your own home, it can make a future buyer feel uncomfortable. Often they rush through the house and don’t ask the important questions. Even worse, they end up moving past the home altogether.

Don’t be the roadblock in your home’s ability to sell for top dollar. Let an experienced agent do the behind-the-scenes work. They will get you a buyer that’s ready, willing, and able to put in an offer.

Reason #6. It Takes Actual Skill to Negotiate on Price

This isn’t the kind of price negotiation you do when you list an item up on Facebook Marketplace. This is your home. It’s the most valuable asset you’ve got. Negotiating a price that satisfies both you the seller and the buyer is not an easy feat. Especially in this market.

Even if your full-time job is in sales, negotiating the value of a home is more than a dollar amount. It’s about understanding the current market conditions and the comparables. As well as knowing what’s coming on the market soon. You don’t have all this information. A skilled, knowledgeable agent does.

There’s another piece that’s important to mention. The buyer will have adequate representation with their agent. There’s a lot of information, legal terms, and conditions that make up real estate contracts. If you aren’t familiar with them, there’s a chance you could end up with the short end of the stick.

While price plays a major role in the negotiation process, it isn’t everything. This is another benefit of using an agent when you list your home. An agent will make sure your needs are met in the negotiation process.

Reason #7. You View Your Home Through Rose-Colored Lenses

You know it’s true. It’s your home, after all. Someone will have the same amount of appreciation and value for all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into your home. Right? Wrong. Sorry to be the one to tell you.

An agent is aware of what’s on the market, styles that are selling at a higher price point. You love your maple cabinets and dark granite countertops. After all, you picked them out. A buyer could have a different opinion and see it as a kitchen in need of a complete remodel. It’s very hard to be objective about something that you designed yourself.

When you use an agent, they can show you comparables and where your home stands in relation to those homes. Agents tour homes so often they know what’s considered in style, and what’s considered out of date. The last thing you want to do as an FSBO is to overprice your home because you aren’t able to be objective.

It’s clear that selling a home takes more skills than selling your used sofa. Get an agent on your side and get the highest price for your home. Don’t let a commission cost you thousands of dollars at the end of the day.

List your Kitsap County, WA home with confidence and list with Wendy Bathgate. In the real estate industry, timing, pricing, and promoting make all the difference. Wendy has the tools to list your home and get you the best price the market will allow. Connect with Wendy today and list your home with assurance.