If you’re considering selling your house
on your own as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), you want to think about if
it’s really worth the extra stress. Going this route means shouldering a
lot of responsibilities by yourself – and, if you’re not an expert,
that opens the door for mistakes to happen and can quickly become overwhelming.
A report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows two key areas where people who sold their own house struggled the most: pricing and paperwork.
Here are just a few of the ways an agent makes those tasks a whole lot easier.
Getting the Price Right
Setting the right price for your house is important. And, if you’re selling
your house on your own, two common issues can happen. You might ask for
too much money (overpricing). Or you might not ask for enough
(underpricing). Either can make it hard to sell your house. According to
NerdWallet:
“When selling a home, first impressions matter. Your house’s market debut is your first chance to attract a buyer and it’s important to get the pricing right. If your home is overpriced, you run the risk of buyers not seeing the listing.
. . . But price your house too low and you could end up leaving some serious money on the table. A bargain-basement price could also turn some buyers away, as they may wonder if there are any underlying problems with the house.”
To avoid these problems,
team up with a real estate agent. Agents know how to figure out the
perfect price because they have a deep understanding of the local
housing market. And they’ll use that expertise to set a price that
matches what buyers are willing to pay, giving your house the best
chance to impress from the start.
Understanding and Performing Paperwork
Selling a house
involves a bunch of paperwork and legal documentation that has to be
just right. There are a lot of rules and regulations to follow, and that
makes it a bit tricky for homeowners to manage everything on their own.
Without a pro by your side, you could end up facing liability risks and
legal complications.
Real estate agents are experts in all the
contracts and paperwork needed for selling a house. They know the rules
and can guide you through it all, reducing the chance of mistakes that
might lead to legal problems or delays. As an article from First American explains:
“To buy or sell a home you need to accurately complete a lot of forms, disclosures, and legal documents. A real estate agent ensures you cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ to help you avoid having a transaction fall through and/or prevent a costly mistake.”
So, instead of dealing
with the growing pile of documents on your own, team up with an agent
who can be your advisor, helping you avoid any legal bumps in the road.
Bottom Line
Selling a house on your own can cost you a lot of time and stress. Let’s connect so you have help with all the finer details, including setting the right price, handling all the paperwork, and so much more. That way we can take that stress off of your plate.
Sally Heldman
Broker Owner
Metro Brokers / Heldman Real Estate
303.475.4508 CELL
sally@sallyheldman.com