In the United States, there is a strong independent and do-it-yourself (DIY) streak. While this is understandable given the country's long history of fighting for its independence and relying on its strengths to survive and thrive, there are a number of instances when it makes better sense to turn to the professionals. This is especially the case when it comes to selling your home. Here's why hiring a real estate agent is usually a better idea than going the for sale by owner (FSBO) route.
1. A Real Estate Agent is Objective
Most homeowners have a sense of loyalty and belonging to their home. After all, it's where memories and good times were made. This emotional attachment can also cloud your views concerning the improvements the home might need and the price that you can realistically expect to get for it. A real estate agent can separate the fact that the house is important to you from the reality that you want to the right offers to come to you.
2. They Know What's Important to Home Buyers
A homeowner who shirks the use of a real estate professional when it comes time to sell their home is likely to focus on the wrong things. For example, a bathroom remodel might make sense if you and your family have struggled with the current arrangement since you moved in.
However, a real estate agent doesn't have that perspective. Instead, their focus is on making sure that people make the best first impression of your house as possible. As they drive up, walk to your front door and see an appeal and impressive home from the outside, once they step inside the front door, they'll look for things that justify their positive first impression.
Your return on your investment (ROI) is what should drive the decisions you make regarding home improvements. A professional real estate agent is the one who knows these criteria and who can give you the type of in-home consultation that will make it sell.
3. You'll Have Access to Diverse Services
If you're like many homeowners who go the FSBO route, your marketing efforts consist of hopping on your favorite social media sites, uploading pictures and details about the house and asking your friends to share the information. Adding a "For Sale" sign to your front yard helps capture the drive-by traffic.
Contract with a real estate agent, though, and you'll be entitled to a whole range of services that are all designed to not only get the word out about your home being for sale but to also put it in the best light possible. From the marketing standpoint, a real estate agent has experience in effectively capturing the best elements of your home in vibrant pictures that entice a positive reaction. If they can't, then these professionals have a go-to photographer that they count on. Your home will also be featured on real estate websites and listing services -- complete with descriptions that capture all your home's best attributes.
The most important reason why you shouldn't rely on FSBO is that you'll nearly always make more money using a real estate agent. This is true even when you account for the commission you pay to them for their expertise.
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