Are you thinking about selling your home? If so, you may be weighing the pros and cons of working with a professional real estate agent. Let’s take a quick look at three great reasons why you won’t want to handle the sale yourself.

You Won’t Save As Much As You Think

Let’s start with the most common and obvious reason that homeowners try to handle their home sale: the cost. It’s true that selling your home using the services of a real estate professional isn’t going to be free. Depending on the value of your home, their commission might range from two to four or five percent of the final sale price. However, the entire reason you’re paying commission is that you’re contracting with a professional to do a job. Your real estate agent is there to both share their experience and handle all of the tasks and responsibilities with your sale. Without them, you’ll be responsible for everything from creating an online listing for your property to figuring out how to host an open house.

So while you may believe you are saving money by not paying commission, you’re going to be burning a lot of your time. If you’re already busy in your career or as a parent, that may end up costing you more in the long run.

A Professional And Objective Eye Is A Huge Plus

Objectivity is another great reason to work with a real estate professional when selling your home. If you had to answer right now, would you say your home is better than your neighbor’s? Better than all the houses on your street, even? The majority of home sellers do believe their home is “above average,” which is of course statistically impossible.

When someone has been the one painting, renovating and putting love into her home for so long, it is no surprise that she becomes attached to it. A real estate agent’s objective eye can offer a nice dose of reality and help to keep the sale moving.

Many Buyers Will Automatically Avoid Owner Sales

Are you a professional salesperson? If not, do you have experience dealing with the public? Selling your home is a significant financial transaction in which you’re going to have to meet with buyers. Moreover, from their perspective, it’s likely that your home is not the only one they’re viewing. Many homebuyers will prefer to work with a seller agent as they know the process will be smooth and professional rather than trying to negotiate directly with an owner.

These are just a few of the reasons you won’t want to go it alone when you sell your home. For more information about local home sales, contact your local real estate professional today.

Most homeowners are so enthusiastic about putting their home on the market and getting the price they’re hoping for that the expenses involved in selling a home are forgotten. However, it’s often said that one has to spend money to make money, and selling a home is no exception! If you’re wondering what kinds of overlooked expenses will cut into your home sale, here are some costs to consider.

Minor Renovations

There are always a few things to fix-up when it comes time to sell your home, but by establishing what will best increase your home’s value, you can make it a good investment. Instead of going it blind, create a renovation budget so any cost you incur will pay for itself.

Staging Your Home

It’s possible you may be able to get away with minimal costs when it comes to home staging, but adding a few small details can improve the overall impression of your home. Instead of spending an abundance on dressing up your home, put your time into cleaning and de-cluttering for ample effect.

Closing Costs

It goes without saying that closing costs can add up to a lot of money at the end of the day, but many people forget they’re part of the transaction. Closing costs can include anything from transfer tax to title insurance to escrow fees so it may be worth talking to your agent to see if they can give you a deal.

Real Estate Commission

It’s easy to forget, but using a real estate agent to sell your home will require you to pay a portion of your home’s sale to them. While you may be able to negotiate this percentage with your agent, it’s worth realizing that an agent will help you garner a higher price and will do a lot of the leg work for you.

The Moving Van

It might be too soon to think about, but if you have a lot of stuff and don’t want to take on the task yourself, you’ll need to hire a moving company to help you relocate. Instead of leaving this to the last minute, contact a few popular movers to get pricing, and don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your move. If you’re desperate, you’re likely to pay more.

Selling a home can be a financial boon, but there are many expenses that can come along with it. If you’re currently preparing to put your home on the market, contact your local real estate professional for more information.