Have you ever been mountain climbing? If you plan to sell your home without representation, that kind of experience could come in handy. Extensive preparation is needed if you expect to reach your goal. You might feel like you’ve reached the peak when you get an offer, but you’ve only made half the journey. To come back down, you have to successfully bring the transaction and post-contract activities to a close.
On the way up, you must be sure to properly disclose the condition of your home, take care of needed repairs and cosmetic considerations, appropriately price your home, and develop a marketing plan that will attract qualified buyers well suited to your offering. If you do receive an offer, there could be as many as twenty additional steps to a satisfactory conclusion.
According to a 2005 report from the National Association of REALTORS®, only 13% of home sellers sold their property without representation. Even more informative is the fact that only half of those said they would try it again.
After all, selling homes is a full-time job. The average homeowner might sell three or four homes in a lifetime, while real estate agents sell hundreds, even thousands during their careers. It makes sense to take advantage of that experience, and you can expect a much higher final sale price as a result.
