Maybe. Maybe not. 
Let me draw a parallel.
I often hear from sellers that are choosing to go unrepresented that they can do just as good of a job as an agent. After all, it isn't that hard... and they can save a LOT of money. Right?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Since many of my readers are car people, I'll put it on those terms.
Anyone can run up to Home Depot and pick up a nice little 110v Lincoln Welder. Walking out of the store about $500 lighter with the welder, helmet, wire, gloves, grinder, and assorted consumables and other stuff seem a lot cheaper than paying someone to weld a bunch of things... like frame cracks. And the little Lincoln will do it.
A few minutes on Google and one will probably run across MillerWelds and their incredible forums. Ask any question, and users that are VERY good will give answers... and honestly, just about any question one could ask already has been answered there. All of the information needed to use one of these things effectively is right there. Free.
Or, one can call up the local tech center and take a class. Over a few weeks, an instructor will provide instruction and guidance. Critique welds to make sure they look good and seem functional. 40 or 50 hours and one has a pretty good grasp of it.
But are you ready to weld up the cracks on the frame of the car your kids ride in?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Why pay $300 for a top notch brake job on your car... the parts are $75 at the local parts supply house. The tools are cheap. One brake job pays for the tools. Even the shop manual that walks one through the job.
Is that enough to skip the trip to the shop and do it at home?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Honestly, I weld, and I am building a frame for my Jeepster. I started with rectangular tubing, and I will end with a frame... and there is a lot of other welding that will go into that project before it is done. I also do most of my own other work, including brakes. I have done it for years... 26 years now... and I am comfortable doing it.
But I don't change my own oil... different issue. Not worth my time. In effect, I pay a few dollars for someone else to have the headache, and I can more than make up for the money I spend by working during that time.
For some people, selling their own home makes sense. For others, it doesn't. But, like learning to weld, or doing mechanical work, or many other tasks... finding info on how to do it is easy, but being able to do it isn't as easy.
Here are a couple of statistics:
- 14% of homes sell without an agent.
- 70% of those homes that sell without an agent are sold to someone the seller knew, like family or a friend or co-worker.
- That means that less than 5% of people that sell unrepresented (FSBO) sell their home by advertising it.
And here is a final thought. the people that look for FSBO homes to buy generally do so for one of a few reasons:
- They want to save the same commission the seller is trying to save.
- They think they can negotiate better than an unrepresented seller and can take advantage of them.
- They have a challenge that doesn't allow them to use conventional financing, and an agent doesn't want to spend countless hours looking for a desperate seller willing to carry a note (mortgage) on their property... knowing that most seller's agents won't recommend that path since there are a lot of risks.
Can you do better selling your home without an agent?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Unless otherwise noted, all content of this blog is the property of Lane Bailey, ©2012 Lane Bailey.
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