Pros and Cons: For Sale By Owner or the Realtor Route?
When it’s time to sell your home, many people decide to have a real estate agent help them with that process. There are some hardy souls, however, who decide to sell their homes themselves. Which is a better decision? If you’re thinking about selling your home, here is what you should know about the difference between hiring a realtor and going the for-sale-by-owner route.
Saving Money
A listing agent’s commission is generally around 6% of the sale price. There are homeowners who choose to go their own way to avoid having to pay that fee. The truth, however, is that because the agent knows the area and how to price a home to get it to sell, you may not get as much for your home if you choose to sell it yourself. Even saving yourself that 6% commission, you could still potentially be leaving money on the table.
Having More Control Over Timing
Some home buyers prefer to be the ones to set up showings and open houses to fit better around their schedules. Real estate agents, however, do work with homeowners to determine the best times to set up showings and open houses. In addition, potential buyers are often more comfortable viewing a home if the current owner is not present.
Preparing Paperwork
There are several complicated steps in preparing the paperwork necessary to sell a home – there can be more than 20 pages of paperwork. If you want to avoid legal problems, it’s usually a good idea to have a professional involved in this stage of the process.
Another Alternative
Experience Homes in Amarillo offers a Home Trade-In Program, where we will purchase your home and move the equity directly into a brand-new home. You won’t have to worry about finding an agent, staging or listing your home. You can also stay in your old home until the new one is built, saving you from having to figure out where you’ll stay in between selling one home and buying another.
When it’s time to sell your home, consider what will work best for you. An agent can ensure you get the most money for your home and that the paperwork is done properly. But our Home Trade-In Program can save you many of the hassles of the traditional buying and selling process.
