There is a lot of discussions everywhere today about the benefits of selling your home on your own. Some folks instantly equate that to easy money. But it’s not a simple as it seems.
Anyone can sell a home but to sell a home without making expensive mistakes (and they can be very expensive), takes a real knowledge of real estate.
Don’t fall into the trap thinking that you can learn what a real estate agent knows in a few hours and Google. It just won’t happen. The piece of mind you get with the skills and knowledge an experienced realtor has is worth quite a bit in the long run.
I have compiled our version of the 6 most cited reasons to contract with a agency to market your home:
1) Price:
In numerous real estate surveys, the number one For Sale By Owner (or FSBOs as they’re called) concern is determining the end price. Expect a long time on the market if you list it at a high price. Too low, you don’t get your home’s true value. If you hit the right price for your area, you get the best mix of money and time.
2) Price:
Real Estate Agencies, having sophisticated software, access to Local Property Sale data and Special Sauce (working knowledge of the local market); generate a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) for your home. These tools and expertise allow realtors to get that magic mix of the best price in the shortest amount of time when selling your home. That is what they do.
3) Price:
The Time Value of Money: About 12% per year (or 1% per month) is the average cost to carry a home between listing and sale. Agents have the skills to price your home to sell at the highest price in the shortest time. Can you afford to wait for 1% per month?
4) Marketing:
Real Estate Agencies have access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which sends out all current listings to all the trained and State licensed Agents in the Rock Hill SC area. You have to consider this is not a part-time venture for them. Generally if you can even get MLS, it can be costly for the DIY’er. (Local to Concord NC, “MLS Only” Companies frequently cost somewhere between $295 and $995, but I’m sure you could pay more.)
5) Marketing:
Agent-To-Agent Network. The huge majority (90% or better) of sales are made by Realtors. They know where the leads are. Realtors can email the top 25-50 agents in your area, who undoubtedly have the best qualified buyer leads.
6) Marketing:
I don’t think you could build an effective arguement aginst the idea that Realtors know the right advertising places. With over 75% of home buyers starting their search for a home on the Internet (and almost 60% using the Internet at some time in their home search), do you plan to effectively advertise your home on the Internet and push it out to Google Base, Zillow.com and all the other Search Engines? How will your Realtor advertise? Will they use signs? Flyers? The ‘Net?
Are these things you’re comfortable handling without loosing money? Realtors can make the difference and save you a lot if you can’t.

