FSBO - When is it Time to Hand the Sale of Your Home to a Real Estate Professional?

It is understandable that homeowners might want to keep as much of the profits of the sale of their home in their pockets, and try to avoid paying a commission to a real estate broker. The sale of a home might have some curves and steep roads, become overwhelming, or simply, call for extra help sometimes. Many FSBO's would like to hold on till' the end, in hopes of selling their home; however, a realistic approach may save the day on time.

So, when is the right time to hand the sale of your home to a Real Estate agent? The answer to this question is very particular to each case.

Moving - Many times, people have to move due to a job offer, illness of a parent, or other urgent situations, and might not have much time to play selling house, as they need to sell the home as fast as they can to avoid two mortgages. People who want to move to another state, downsize, or retire, have more time in their homes, and they can attempt to sell the home on their own.

No time - Some people have extreme time constraints and full schedules. These people do not have the time to do the job properly; so it is best to hand it to a real estate professional.

No knowledge - People may not have all the knowledge and tools available to sell and advertise their own home. Maybe, they don't have some needed skills - technological and/or other - or not enough time to learn the process. To avoid running into sticky situations, it is best to leave it to a professional.

No traffic - Despite the many ads in the papers, online, and all the flyers ... there is no traffic of prospective buyers moving through the doors. Why? There could be many answers to that. Many times, this is due to appearance of the home, curve appeal, neighborhood, market conditions, overpricing, availability for showings, personality traits, parking, home history, taxes, and many other reasons. A real estate professional can help you analyze those areas and improve the chances of selling your home.

Need to sell or foreclose - Many homeowners are going through some hardship situations, and the need to sell a home fast is urgent. In this case, there is no time to play with this issue. A real estate agent can help explain the many choices available to a seller in need.

The home has been FSBO for a while, and nothing is happening. Real estate agents will bring more traffic, more contacts, a bigger network, but also help you navigate a difficult market much better.

To sell FSBO or not to sell FSBO, that is the question.