subject: Pros And Cons Of Hiring A Real Estate Agent [print this page] Selling a home is an important endeavor, especially if you are also planning to buy a new one. When considering whether you should or should not hire a real estate agent, here are a few things to consider along with what criteria you should use if you do hire one.
1)Selling a home always takes more time than you think it should. An agent takes care of every process involved in selling a home, from listing to advertising. If you do not have experience in advertising, it can be a lot more trouble than it is worth to learn how.
2)Hiring an agent can help insulate you from the buyer. Most buyers are trustworthy, but others either don't have a clear picture of what they're doing or may seek to take advantage of you. An agent helps you negotiate your contract, protecting you from a potential lawsuit down the line if you make a mistake.
3)Even if you can manage everything yourself, you may be worse off when you get to the bargaining table if you don't have an agent. After all, buyers aren't stupidthey know that if you decide to go it alone with an FSBO, you are spending less money and therefore can accept a lower price than someone who did not. Despite the large commission involved, don't think that you can get it all back (maybe closer to 75% or even 50% depending on the situation) if you go it alone. Instead, consider a more realistic amount you'd save and make your decision based on that.
