Occasionally, one can see "For Sale By Owner" signs, and some owners think that selling their own home will not only save them money, but believe they have an advantage over the sellers that have their home listed by a reputable Real Estate sales professional.  Before you decide to take on this very important and legally complicated process…remember not even most Real Estate Lawyer’s recommend selling your own home yourself in today’s market. Here are a few of the reasons why:

1. You are limiting your exposure to potential buyers (less than 10% of what a good realtor will generate) which theoretically means your home will take ten to fifteen times longer to sell on the market.

2. The longer a home is on the market the lower the selling price is. Why? Because most buyers think that if the home has not sold after a period of time…there must be something wrong with the home.  Also, as a seller, it is very stressful when selling and who wants the stress of showings, answering calls, cleaning house to go on forever.  The once great idea of selling yourself is now wearing thin!

3. The selling/buying process really begins AFTER the buyer leaves your home. Most sellers think that all it takes is for someone to see their home, fall in love with the great decor… and the offer automatically will follow.  Remember, the buying process starts once they leave your home. If a Realtor does not represent the buyer, and they are looking on their own…they usually leave the home and start to talk themselves out of the buying process (It's a common reaction of buyers to avoid the reality of action). If the buyer is represented by a Realtor, the Realtor is experienced on how to overcome buyers remorse--and can reassure the buyers on their decision to buy.

4. Because of the limited exposure you will very likely end up with a lower selling price. Remember, there is a direct corolation between the price and the amount of exposure a home receives. You need the maximum exposure possible, to generate the highest price possible.

5. Most buyers find it extremely awkward to even to talk directly with sellers and in negotiations they want the professional services of Realtor's and therefore avoid FSBO properties.

6. Lack of negotiating experience and lack of pertinent information often will result in a lower selling price, or worse yet, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits.

7. The majority of qualified buyers are working with experienced Realtor's.  It costs them nothing more for the professionalism of their Realtor.

8. Many serious buyers will pass by a FSBO home merely because they recognize that it is not in the real estate mainstream, which can make them wary for a variety of reasons.

9. Even the buyers that will approach a FSBO home usually retain an experienced Realtor to represent them as their buyer-agency, so you will probably be negotiating against an experienced professional.

10. Expected savings in Real Estate fees will also be greatly reduced if you offer a selling commission to entice real estate agents to bring potential buyers.

11. If you are planning to use a Lawyer to help you negotiate the offer, then the lawyer’s fees are usually considerably higher.

12. Full time Realtors have access to the up-to-date market information. News reports cannot approach the timeliness or specificity available to agents. Further, real estate agents are involved in home sales much more frequently than the average homeowner is. This familiarity leads to a degree of expertise that provides an overwhelming edge on negotiating and successful selling.

13. You only pay a commission to the real estate broker, if they successfully sell your home at the price you are happy with.

14. Accepting an offer is one thing, ensuring a safe and successful closing is quite another. Real estate transactions quite often have problems on closing. At times, expecting the Buyers and Sellers Lawyer’s to fight it out or resolve the problems, can sometimes mean the deal is lost. This is the time that your experienced real estate professional, can be the most important. A Real Estate professional can act as a great mediator. Lawyers MUST act only on their client’s instructions and are not paid to negotiate.

The bottom line is that in considering hiring a Realtor or going it alone is not a decision to be taken lightly.  The short term gains of any Real Estate fees savings are usually at the cost of the long term consequences of receiving a lower price for your home.  This can be thousands of dollars, which we are sure you would rather have for yourself.  Call us for a free consultation, there is no fee or obligation, just the chance to discover the true value of the services we offer.