May 14, 2012

What are the advantages of an hiring agent versus selling privately?

Zoocasa Ask the PROS Question of the Week:

“I am thinking about selling my home. I am thinking about doing it privately. I see many realtors on this site bashing private sales and phrases like “people are forgetting the true value of an agent” but I have yet to find an answer as to what those values are?”

This week’s featured answer:

Are we “bashing” private sales or perhaps giving you food for thought about why it may not be the best plan to go it alone?

Our role as realtors is to maximize the return for our clients while protecting their interests. It includes many intangibles that a private seller may not give any consideration to.

However, these intangibles often in the end provide a return that far exceeds the Seller’s expectations. If you have extraordinary knowledge about the industry and what it takes–go for it and I sincerely wish you good luck.

If on the other hand you use professionals in virtually every other significant aspect of your life, why do you want to take a shortcut with the largest single asset you own? Yes, the commissions are significant. And thousands of us make a good living collecting them. Do you think that would be the case if we were not proving our worth to our clients?

As I always say: “The right agent does make a difference.”

See the original post and get more real agent answers to this question.