Selling Your Own Home - Is It Worth It?

Thinking about trying to list your home yourself? Be sure the to think it through; a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) may be tougher than you think. Here are just a few reasons to get the help of a professional realtor:

• Homeowners often lack the knowledge to price their own home. A trained realtor has tools not available to the general public. These tools enable a realtor to perform professional market analyses to determine the best price for your home without overpricing it and scaring away potential buyers.
• Homeowners are not objective about their home. Face it, everyone thinks their home is a gem and is worth much more than the market would indicate. A realtor can find and justify a good price for your home without scaring away potential buyers.

• Homeowners may spend money on needless repairs. How often have you talked to someone who is wanting to sell their home and heard: "But first, we just need to make a few repairs"? Or, how often have you heard a sales pitch for new windows or gutters that ended with "And it will value to your home"? A realtor can tell you which repairs really will help you sell your home and which repairs are a waste of time and money.
• Homeowners may lack negotiating skills. A realtor can help with the fine art of salesmanship; knowing when to make a counter offer and how much that counter should be. If a potential buyer works directly with the seller, they may sense an urgent need to sell and use that against the seller. A realtor deals with the buyer for you.
• Homeowners may find their life turned upside down. Selling a home really is a full-time job, with potential buyers wanting to look at all hours. A seller may receive calls at all hours of the day and night and be asked to accommodate odd hours. Again, a realtor takes the hassles off your shoulders.
• Do you really have the resources? Marketing a home appropriately is a science. With a firm like Gentry and Associates, you have one of the hardest working realty firms in the city at your fingertips. We know how to get the word out on your home. But, suppose you decide to sell your home yourself anyway and suppose you even get an offer? What's next? Straight to the closing? Nope. The home will have be inspected. There may be items that have to be fixed prior to closing. A professional realtor knows the best (and worst) contractors in the area and can help deal with those headaches too.

The bottom line is, a professional realtor like Gentry and Associates can save you many headaches and help you get the best price for your home.