It’s hard being a real estate agent nowadays. Not only is the internet an amazing place where we can find all kinds of information on any topic, but everyone seems to think they’re a pro because of it. But sadly, real estate isn’t as straightforward as “experts” think.
It’s actually quite hard to buy or sell a house on your own. FSBO advocated will tell you otherwise, but you’ll be losing more money by going FSBO. So that’s why we’re here to finally tell you why a real estate agent will actually save you money.
With all that said, let’s begin.
An Agent Will Price Your Home Right
FSBO sellers have a surprisingly difficult time pricing their homes. While everyone has access to local prices, not everyone knows the many other factors that need to be taken into consideration. A real estate agent, on the other hand, is an expert that knows how to choose a competitive price that will attract more house buyers.
By going with an agent, you will have a much easier time selling your home thanks to the access to information they provide. Ultimately, pricing your home right will make it easier to also get more money for it. If you go too high, buyers will be discouraged from making a bid.
An Agent Knows How To Stage Your Home
One way to save plenty of money is to stage your home. Home staging simply means showing the property in a way that buyers can imagine themselves living in it. One reason why you should always go with an agent is that they know exactly how to stage your home.
On average, home staging affects home buyers 49% of the time according to this infographic. More so, 81% of homebuyers say that home staging helps them visualize the property as a future home. So all in all, home staging does prove itself to be quite effective.
Naturally, you want to do it the right way. Real estate agents are trained to do exactly that. But the most surprising fact that many overlook is that the agent is the person who pays for the service. So you’re not only attracting more buyers, but you’re also doing it for free.
An Agent Knows How To Negotiate A Better Deal
A higher price for your home means your agent gets a higher cut. Naturally, getting a higher price or more funds for your home motivates both seller and agent. By going FSBO, you are indeed cutting on agent costs. But does that outweigh what the agent brings to the table?
What FSBO sellers are forgetting is that they’re not experienced enough to negotiate for a better deal. They might consider themselves expert negotiators, but selling a house is vastly different from any other deal. A real estate agent has years of experience in the industry and knows how to get you the best possible deal.
Regardless if you’re selling or buying a house, it takes expertise to negotiate with a buyer/seller. Chances are, you have none of that and you’ll be losing money by not getting a better deal.
An Agent Has More Connections
There is a reason why the saying “time is money” is so important nowadays. Most sellers sell their homes because they’re on the market themselves for a new one. When that’s the case, selling your home in the fastest time possible is even more important. If you don’t have the money to play, no one will take you seriously.
If you’re waiting to sell your home before you can submit an offer yourself, then going FSBO is an obvious mistake. When it comes to going with a real estate agent, do know that you’re getting so much more than a friendly face that welcomes potential buyers.
Real estate agents have connections in many places and they’ll market your home to sell fast. By going FSBO, the only realistic options are Facebook and a couple of listing websites. But chances are, your Facebook friends aren’t in the market for a house.
So what that leaves you with is plenty of frustration and plenty of missed opportunities. Don’t make the obvious mistake of selling your home yourself and instead go with a real estate agent who will save you plenty of money and time.
Finishing Thoughts
If you’re interested in buying a home or selling your existing one, don’t waste money or time by going FSBO. There are plenty of reasons why going with a real estate agent is a better option. Not only will the agent assist you throughout the process, but they’ll take care of everything. A real estate agent will also help get you the best possible deal and ultimately save you more money.