The National Association of Realtors says that independent sellers accounted for 12 percent of all homes sold in 2007, down from 18 percent in 1997. It's much more complicated than just putting an ad in the paper and showing your house and having someone buy it. The value that a Realtor brings to the transaction is that they are able to provide services on so many different levels-things that sellers can't even anticipate in many cases-because they have that kind of professional experience.
Setting the asking price, marketing the home, arranging open houses, enlisting a real estate attorney to handle legal documents, negotiating with buyers, and so on-that self-starting home sellers couldn't do for themselves. But since the process is filled with time-consuming and tedious hassles, independent home sellers have to earn every penny they save by cutting out agents.
When considering selling yourself, ask yourself this question- Do you have the time and energy to take on a part-time job that pays roughly 6 percent of the selling price of your home? If the answer is yes, consider going solo. If not, hire a pro.
On Your Team.
Irena Popilevsky
Appleseed Homes
(917) 579-4455
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