Is it a hassle to sell your house without an agent?

Question

I live in Texas and planning to put my house on the market. I'm trying to save as much money possible.

Answer 1

A am a Real Estate Broker so my opinion is biased of course. I believe when you market your home and sell it without any representation you may agree to a contract that does not net you what you expect.

People can convince you that it is normal for you to pay things when that is not true. People can also try and depress you and hope to depress the price of your home as well.

You can put a sign outside that you buy at the hardware store and place an ad in the paper. You can also contact some guy and for a fee put something in the Realtor MLS. None of that is representation.

The hassle is not finding a buyer. (My gosh there are those guys that buy ugly houses begging you to sell to them!). The hassle is finding the right buyer and getting the net dollar you should.

I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 2

Yes it is especially in this market. The agent has the ability to pull up comparables in order to price your home correctly. They also know the market through their contacts and the MLS. These days no one relies on open houses. More important the agent takes pictures and puts your home onto the internet in the form of a virtual tour. Most people won't look at a home today if they can't see a virtual first. Agents also have home stagers to help get your home in the best possible show condition....very important. If you are concerned about the agent's fees, shop around. We interviewed three before making a decision. Our home was sold in 8 wks. We would not have had the numbers of people wanting to tour our home without the agent's hard work and his ability to understand the negotiation factors. Do yourself a favor and get an agent. It could mean the difference between selling yourself today or 6 months from now.

Answer 3

I use www.Clarkselect.com here in the DC area. They enable me to get my property onto the MLS and onto www.Realtor.com. Both systems are the best way to get your property out to realtors and to the general public. Look up "FSBO Texas" on Google and find a local realtor that is willing to put your property in the MLS. It will cost you somewhere around $350-500. Don't let them sell you lockboxes and signs. They overcharge for that. You can buy your own lockbox at Home Depot for $30 and you can buy a For Sale sign also if you want.

Also, when you list your property as FSBO be sure to mention that the commission is 3% co-op. That way the buying agent will do all the paperwork. Hopefully, you at least have a friend to look over the Contract. Otherwise, read it very carefully before signing. By not having your own agent you are at risk of being unrepresented and possibly not getting the best terms on your sale. But I would still encourage you to sell it yourself. You will save a bucket of money.

I would also recommend using www.craigslist.com. It has free home sales. Just resubmit every 2 weeks.

Answer 4

The good thing about having an agent is that you will really have your home out there being advertised. He wants to sell your home. On the other hand, you won't have to pay the fees for an agent. But you may run into some legal issues that an agent will be able to deal with.

Answer 5

Any house can sell if it is market ready, well advertised and priced appropriately. Most office supply stores will have boilerplate forms you can use for the transaction. If any potential buyer brings you a contract with alot of contingencies or one that was prepared by an attorney, take the contract to your own attorney.

Answer 6

In this market, it won't sell itself. You would be luck to sell it FSBO.