The real estate market has gotten really heated lately - lots of people wanting to buy, and limited inventory available for sale. Our local news is featuring stories on people choosing to sell homes on their own. The idea is to "ditch your Realtor" and avoiding paying fees since the market is so hot. 

Even though record buyer demand and low inventory might make it easier to go it alone, selling a house privately to avoid a fee has some hidden consequences. Think about it: Focusing on a small local subset of potential buyers completely misses the whole market and can literally leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table, even after paying the dreaded commission. 

This has never been more true than in our white-hot market.

Preparation. Pricing. Exposure. Marketing. These are the things that skilled professionals with access to the right technology and tools will deliver for you. Working with a broker who understands the nuances of your local neighborhood but who also has access to a larger universe of buyers gives you the best chance of generating the highest price and a strong return. 

You do not get exposure to the complete market and the highest return by posting your home on the neighborhood listserv and sticking a sign in the yard. I can guarantee you are missing the multiple relocating buyers from out of town with cash and a mission to move to our wonderful city. And you’re losing the chance for multiple, competitive bids.

And don’t forget that a good real estate broker’s job is to manage risk and limit a client’s future liability. This may be the most important role of all. You do not want to be on the hook later for a mistake.

If you have any questions, we’d love to sit down and talk and tell you more about real-world examples and bottom-line numbers.