Here are just some of the ways Realtors provide value to sellers.
One of the biggest hurdles of selling your home yourself is gaining access to an audience—how are you going to get your home out to as many people as humanly possible? There are several ways you could do this, which may include sending out mailers or listing it on a couple of FSBO sites (though you’re limited on the number of sites you can use). Do you have a marketing budget and an ability to get your home out in front of the right audience?
“If you’re not readily available, buyers might skirt off to the next house.”
Another challenge is timing. Do you have a full time job? Will you be available whenever it’s convenient for potential buyers? Time is maker or breaker of all deals, and if you’re not readily available, buyers might skirt off to the next house.
Don’t forget about your evaluation; how did you settle on that price? Is your list price at market value, or will the home languish on the market because you set it too high? I’ve seen some sneaky tactics where folks will ask a Realtor to come over and give them a value for their home and then not use that Realtor’s help to sell it. This is a shady practice that wastes the Realtor’s time and money, so don’t do this.
That being said, why should you use a Realtor in the first place?
1. Access. We syndicate your listing out to many websites—anywhere from 350 to 700—they get it out in front of the 96% of people who search online before even consulting a Realtor. This type of access costs money, and most FSBOs simply don’t have the marketing budget needed to broadcast their listing as effectively. In addition to listing sites, we leverage an ad budget to get your home on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Google.
2. Increased value. According to nationwide data from the National Association of Realtors, the average home seller can get 18% more value on their property by listing it with a Realtor. That’s because the expertise and analysis a Realtor brings to the table ensures that your home will be priced properly from the jump.
Hopefully, this information proves useful when it comes time for you or someone you know to weigh their home selling options. We’re still seeing multiple offers in our market, and having a Realtor’s insight can make all the difference for the outcome of your home sale in those situations. If you have questions on this or any other real estate topic, reach out by phone or email. I’m always happy to hear from you!
