Hiring an Agent vs FSBO Blog

When you choose to sell your home, you have several decisions to make, but the most important decision is whether to list with a Real Estate professional or sell the home yourself- also known as “for sale by owner” (FSBO). While it is tempting to try to go at it on your own and “save” the money you would pay in commissions, the risks in selling your own home likely outweigh the benefits. In today’s real estate market, it is more important than ever that you are aware of your options and have the most experienced people working on your behalf. LevelAgent has combined the best of both worlds by providing homeowners with an opportunity to find the best Real Estate Agent with the best proposal to maximize your earnings and sell your home quickly with the least amount of stress. 

If you are on the fence as to whether you should hire a Real Estate Agent or try and go the FSBO route, there are a few things you need to take into consideration before making your decision:

Buyers Agents may not show a “For Sale by Owner” Home

In a FSBO deal, the Buyer’s Agent knows that there won’t be a professional colleague on the other end of the transaction. Professional Real Estate Agents have gone through extensive training to understand all the complexities that come with selling a home. Buyer’s Agents will want to deal with someone that also fully understands the process. They will want to make sure that they will be compensated for their work and having your own Real Estate Agent will make this process go much smoother.

Agents Have Access to a Large Network

FSBO homes are also at a risk of not being seen by the right buyer. Many Buyer’s Agents only search the multiple listing service (MLS) listings for their clients, and if you are not represented by a licensed Real Estate Agent your home will not show up in these searches. Even with selling sites such as Zillow, Redfin and Realtor.com you are still running the risk of cutting out a large pool of potential home buyers. In addition, Real Estate Agents have a large network of fellow Agents working together to close a deal. Without this network, you run the risk of longer listing periods as well as not making the money your home is worth.

Selling Your Home is a Full Time Job

People today are busier than ever, so before you decide to list your home yourself you need to make sure you are up to the task.  You need to consider whether you will be able to rush home from work or errands every time someone wants to see your home. Or whether you can excuse yourself every time your phone rings with a potential buyer. Do you have the energy it takes to take advantage of every potential opportunity to market your home? Full time Real Estate Agents have years of experience with selling a home and can take the burden of the process off you.

Exposure to Legal Risks

There is a lot of paperwork involved with a home sale, and it needs to be completed correctly by an expert. Unless you are well versed in legal documents you could overlook a required form or disclosure that may result in a law suit after closing. A Real Estate Agent knows the ins and outs of home selling and can help you avoid having any legal issues.