Life is full of changes, and where you live today may not be the right fit for you in the near future. If you are preparing to put your home on the market, but are unsure if you should hire an agent, that’s ok! We meet and chat with Vermonters every day, and you are not the only one who is contemplating this. In short, can you sell a home on your own without an agent? Yes, however, you may miss out on maximizing the value of your home sale. Below we outline how leveraging the skills and knowledge of an experienced real estate agent can help you find more success when selling your home. 

 

Is My Pricing Right?

One of the most crucial mistakes we see homeowners make when trying to sell their own homes is pricing their property correctly. Setting an accurate price from the get-go is essential to a quick and profitable sale. Many homeowners will overprice their property, which tends to lower the number of potential buyers and lengthen the time the property sits on the market. A home sitting on the market for an extended period will often need a price adjustment. However, if your pricing changes too many times, buyers may become deterred and question if there are issues with the home. A well-established real estate agent has the tools and experience to help you accurately price your property for its size, location, conditions, etc. The best time to get attention on your property is right after it is listed, so you want to start your process with a price that will entice buyers to view the property and make an offer. 

Making Your Property Shine

Beyond pricing the property, the other major thing that sellers miss out on when attempting to sell for sale-by-owner (FSBO) is getting the word out about their property. Many owners believe that a simple "for sale" sign or simply posting the home on Zillow will have buyers chomping at the bit to purchase their property. Unfortunately, this often results in very few inquiries from buyers. When working with a professional agent, they have access to a huge realm of pre-qualified buyers ready to purchase a property just like yours. They will market your property to this pool of potential buyers and drive qualified traffic to your home. Additionally, most good agents will advertise your home across hundreds of real estate search websites, their websites, social media, and more! The goal is to cast a wide net to find a handful of serious buyers willing to pay you top dollar for your property. 

Time Flies When Selling Your Home

The last item on our list that is often glossed over is the amount of time dedicated to getting a property sold. From prepping the home for sale to getting all of the legal documents in order, meeting potential buyers for showings, negotiating with buyers, and reading contracts, the list goes on and on. As the age-old proverb states, time is money, and real estate sales can consume a ton of time. It is a complex process with many steps along the way, and each stage has a list of steps that need to occur promptly. While it may feel like you can handle everything yourself, you may be surprised at how much work a real estate agent puts into getting a home sold, and they are doing it 24/7/365. Another way of thinking about it is to look at what you may be passing up by focusing your efforts on selling your home. 

If you'd like to get more information on what our real estate agents can do to help you maximize your profitability in a timely manner, schedule a complimentary consultation! Call (802) 735-2167 or email us at info@strongwillvt.com