As Frisco real estate agents who talk to many people wanting to sell a home, we often get asked if trying to sell your home yourself is a good idea. We understand that frequently, those considering the sale of their homes think they will just keep the real estate agent’s commission for themselves – and why not? If you ever notice when you are out driving around on a nice Sunday afternoon, 90% or more of the homes you see for sale are listed with a North Texas real estate company. There must be a reason, right?
Here are just a few reasons why selling your home yourself may not be such a great idea after all:
When you go the FSBO route, you have a huge responsibility on your shoulders. Some of the tasks a realtor would handle include fielding phone calls, effective marketing, hosting open houses for potential buyers, handling negotiations and most importantly, closing the deal.
Would a potential home buyer feel comfortable talking to you about what they like or don’t like? Not likely. Those who are in the market to purchase a home know that the agent has no emotional investment in the home, and will likely ask more questions or give their opinions on certain features of the home.
Those who choose to sell their homes on their own often have no idea how to determine a selling price, and therefore may ask too much, meaning it takes longer to sell a home or worse, it doesn’t sell at all. The opposite is true as well; you may set a price that is too low and sell your home quickly, but how much could you have sold it for?
It is nearly impossible for a homeowner to show a prospective buyer their home objectively. An experienced Frisco realtor has the ability to be objective; if you show it yourself as the homeowner, it’s likely you will talk about various features of the home from your own point of view which may turn off buyers.
Are you ready to show your home at any given moment? Most people work and have other commitments to tend to. If you decide to put your home on the market “for sale by owner”, be prepared to have your schedule interrupted often – sometimes by prospective buyers who never show up for the appointment.
Selling a home takes good negotiation skills, which many people who are not realtors just don’t have. The right price is essential in making sure your home sells quickly, and that you get top dollar for it. Most potential homebuyers aren’t just going to agree with your asking price without negotiating – but how low can you go?
These are just a few of the many reasons that going the FSBO route isn’t a good idea in most cases.
If you’re looking to sell your home, trust the Frisco real estate agents at Team Nelson to handle everything for you – and if you buy a home through our team, we will sell your home for free!
