Top 5 Reasons to Use an Agent When Selling Your Home

1. Objectivity – You are too close to your home to see it objectively. This could prevent you from pricing it realistically, and it could also make you blind to any improvements that are needed, not to mention your assumption that certain improvements are in fact expected by most buyers. Listing agents can actually point out things that as a seller you may not have noticed otherwise. An agent will help you see the big picture and understand the current real estate market.

2. Pricing — We touched on this in the previous paragraph, but it needs more attention. Overpricing is one of top three reasons why homes don’t sell. (Weak marketing and a lack of preparation are the other two.) In fact, I would argue that pricing is the most common problem for homes that stay on the market for a long time. In many cases, homeowners are simply unable to price their own homes. They attach a lot of emotional value that doesn’t translate into real value. Your agent will help you determine a price based on actual market data, including recent sales and current listings.

3. Marketing — As a homeowner, you can only do so much to promote your house. A selling agent can do much more. Your agent will put your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other high-visibility websites. If your agent is a Realtor, he or she will also add the listing to Realtor.com. Most real estate agents have large networks to work with as well. This means you’ll attract more buyers, than if you had sold it on your own.

4. Negotiations — When selling your home is always best to have a third party who is a trade expert to assist you.  It removes haggling and prevents you being in a position to make an instant decision.  It is in the sellers best interest to have someone else acting on a sellers' behalf.

5. Stress Factor — When you’re selling a home, there are usually 50 other things you’re doing at the same time. Packing and cleaning. Having garage sales. Making trips to the Goodwill. Working on the details of your next house or apartment. And so on. It’s a lot to have on your plate at one time. By relying on a real estate agent for the selling side of things, you’ll reduce your stress considerably. It’s hard to put a price on this.

These are certainly not the only reasons to use a real estate when selling your home. But they are some of the biggest reasons, and they’re enough to give you a “nudge” if you’re sitting on the fence. Make things easier for yourself. Sell the home faster. Use a listing agent!