Should I Sell it Myself?

Did you know?

• 85% of FSBOs ultimately give up
  
  
• The typical FSBO home sold for $153,000 compared to $211,000 for agent-assisted home sales.
  
  
• Home owners that try to sell their home "by owner" give up and list with an Agent within the first 30 to 45 days
  
  
• FSBOs accounted for 13% of home sales (in 2008)

Unless you know a buyer, or are willing spend every weekend for months on end doing open houses (someone I met recently here in Spokane did this and actually was successful at it after months and months on the market, but said he now understands how hard agents actually work and that we earn every penny, then he went on to say that he would never sell again without an agent!) and lots of time and money handling the marketing and legal issues, it really doesn't make any sense to go FSBO. Not to mention the fact that many agents with qualified buyers out looking for homes are less likely to look at yours especially if you aren't paying a buyer's agent in your offer package. Even then, you aren't really able to fully take advantage of a firms vast marketing might and connections to the relocation segment of the market. Then there's the pile of paperwork that must be signed and a seller going it alone will want to hire an attorney to help, further adding to the expense. So when you get down to it, figuring in all the costs and the value of your time, do you really come out ahead? Are your negotiating skills polished and sharp? Do you know the market inside out? What advantage might you have with good quality representation with an experienced professional who works full time selling homes?

Ultimately one has to weigh the costs and advantages and then make a decision. In today's market with thousands of listings and only a few hundred selling each month, you don't want to get lost in the shuffle and loose your turn in the game. A qualified agent like myself can help you position yourself in the market and knows what it will take to get your home sold. .

I am happy to sit down with you and explore your options. Ultimately my goals are the same as yours. I want you the homeowner to reach your goals in a timely manner and get the very best deal that the market will allow. Am i worth my small cut in the deal for my time, effort, education, skills and knowledge? You bet I am! Is my brokerage firm worth their part for what they bring to the table after 80 years of being in business helping people buy and sell homes? That has obviously stood the test of time.

It pays to get the facts.