You may have seen a "for sale by owner" (FSBO) sign when driving around on a Saturday afternoon and say to yourself, "I never knew you could sell your own home!" It's true; you can sell your home without the assistance of a licensed agent. In some cases, it may save you money. However, it will likely not save you any time, effort, or stress. 

Selling your home FSBO puts a lot of extra pressure on your household to get everything in order.  We recommend interviewing agents and choosing an agent you're comfortable with and has experience selling homes in your area. Not only will it speed up the selling process, but it takes much of the work out of your hands and places it on the realtor (it is their job, after all). 

Take a look at some of the primary reasons we recommend finding a great selling realtor to help sell your home:

Realtors Offer Experience and Expertise

Taking the stress off of yourself and your family members is enough reason to forego the idea that using an agent isn't worth the price. If you need more convincing, consider how helpful it would be to have someone in your corner that knows the market. They can tell you what is selling faster than others, then help you position your home on the market appropriately. 

Someone who has been helping other people sell homes in the area can tell you what buyers are looking for right now. They can also give you a better idea of a fair listing price based on several different factors. They may have access to an automated valuation model (AVM) that uses the same variables as appraisers to determine the value of your home. They can also emphasize your home's popular features that you may not have considered before meeting with them. 

Also, licensed real estate agents are professionally trained and certified to sell homes in your state. Their extra knowledge and experience could lead to a quicker and easier sale. They can work through all of the rough patches and offer recommendations based on their experience. In all, it's always helpful to have another person helping you make big decisions. 

Agents Can Conduct Buyer Screenings

Real estate agents have screening processes where they can verify the buyer's identity wanting to tour your home. In other words, they serve as an extra security barrier for your home. Sometimes, making a sale without a professional involved can be tricky. 

As much as we would like to deny it, there are people out there who wish to take advantage of others. Knowing this, agents have ways to confirm the identity of a prospective buyer and ensure that everything is safe before they enter your home. Selling your home FSBO could mean less security. Inviting strangers into your home could be dangerous without the right levels of preparation and protection.  

Also, selling agents can work with buying agents to double-check that the person is correctly identifying themself. In other words, if a buying and selling agent is involved, there is an extra layer of protection. Agents can make appointments with buyers before the tour to get a better read on the individual before letting them enter your home. 

To prevent individuals from knocking on your door and ask to tour your home, you can ask your realtor to post a "Do Not Inquire Within" sign on the for-sale sign in your yard. 

Agents Have Networks

The agent may work for a brokerage with many other buying agents looking for a home for their clients. They scan the listing site for their clients' homes and communicate to help their clients find the best houses. This is one of the most significant advantages of listing with an agent. They can speed up the selling process and get a ton of interest in your property if the conditions are right. 

Even if the market is slow or they don't have an extensive network, there is still an advantage to having a realtor. Getting a selling agent gives your home credibility among other agents. There is a certain level of trust among real estate agents. For example, if your home is listed FSBO, a buying agent might be skeptical about contacting you for their client. Although, if you have an agent, they either already know your agent and are comfortable contacting them, or they will reach out and get to know them. Either way, having an agent puts you on a level playing field among buyers' agents. 

A Realtor's Fiduciary Duties

Finally, all real estate agents must maintain a specific level of responsibility to keep their license. These duties are all geared toward making sure your best interest is behind every decision. As the seller, you are protected by ethics laws that ensure your sale goes smoothly and with your safety and satisfaction in mind. 

Here is a list of fiduciary duties that real estate agents must follow to keep their license:

• Care: You show reasonable care for your clients in the transaction, which could very well include their safety.
• Obedience: You obey your clients’ wishes—most want to keep themselves and their belongings safe.
• Loyalty: You are loyal to the client, which means placing their interests above your own. You are their guardian in this transaction.
• Disclosure: You disclose relevant facts to the transaction, and safety for buyers and sellers may be an important disclosure!

6/24/2021