Do I Need to Have a Realtor?

26 May Do I Need to Have a Realtor?

One of the most important considerations home sellers face is whether they should sell their home on their own or whether they need a real estate agent to manage the sale process.

Many people who are looking to sell a property turn to a real estate agent to manage the responsibilities of listing, marketing, price negotiation, and executing the closing paperwork for the sale of a home. If you opt for a for sale by owner (FSBO) transaction, you take on all the responsibilities of a realtor.

So, before you decide if you need to hire an agent, make sure you know all of your options.  Your state’s requirements are a good place to start.

Do I need a real estate agent by law?

Many people think they need a real estate agent in order to sell their property, however, there is no requirement or law that mandates you to hire any type of agent to sell a home. Some states do require you to have a real estate agent in order to manage the paperwork required at the closing of a home sale. Check your state’s individual laws through  The Department of Justice to see if you need the help of a real estate agent to close the sale of your property.

How much money can I save by not using an agent?

On average, you can save about 6 percent of commission on the sale of your home if you handle the listing, marketing, sale and closing of your property.

For a $300,000 home, that’s about $18,000 of savings.

What are my options if I don’t want to use an agent?

Traditionally, the only option available outside of hiring an agent is to to sell your home in a FSBO transaction. If you choose to try to sell your home FSBO, you may be able to recoup more cash from the sale of the home because you will avoid the cost of commissions. However, choosing to sell your own home also makes you responsible for following the real estate laws in your state as well as the listing, marketing, showing, negotiation, and sale and closing paperwork.

At Housale, there is a better way.

We provide an alternative sales option for property owners founded on the belief that you should be able to sell your home at a fair price without the cost of an agent or the hassle of the FSBO process.

 Simply give us a few details about your home and receive a fair offer from our expert real estate appraisers within 24 hours at absolutely no cost to you.  The offer is yours to accept and you can close as soon as 24 hours or up to 90 days later.

Learn more about how Housale works