Are you a homeowner and ready to sell your home? Thinking of being a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) without the help of a real estate agent? Let’s go over the pros and cons of selling your own home.

FSBO Advantages

1. You save money on commissions because you don’t have to pay a commission fee.
2. You are in control. You can choose the appointment times, how to negotiate with the buyer, etc.
3. You can choose the price from your own real estate listing.

Cons of FSBO

1. You will probably sell your house for less than it is actually worth. Without the representation of a broker, it’s hard to price your home right without all the tools and resources an agent has.
2. You may have a few places to market your home, but you won’t get the best exposure in the real estate market. Real estate agents have programs, devices, and methods on how to fully expose and view your home while it’s on the market.
3. You do not receive reliable feedback on how your listing is rendered. Other industry professionals can be friendly but not always honest about how you could improve your home to sell faster.
4. You are responsible for all legal forms and assume the risk of legal and financial liability.
5. Things can also get very complicated in a real estate transaction, so educate yourself on all areas of home selling. You will need to know who to contact for legal advice, home repairs, title companies, inspections, etc.
6. It will be difficult for you to decide who is an interested and qualified buyer, without previous experience.
7. When you find a qualified buyer, it will be difficult for you to easily negotiate and close the deal, since the buyers have a professional representative who negotiates for them and you don’t.
8. Almost every transaction has some hiccup or bias that complicates the deal. This is where a professional agent really comes in handy because their job is to keep everything in order and eliminate these hassles with their real estate knowledge. Selling your own home without an agent can be stressful and difficult from listing to hiring and closing.

Yes, there seem to be more cons than pros when it comes to selling your home via FSBO. However, don’t be discouraged if you still want to do For Sale By Owner. Just try to educate yourself as best you can about real estate and transactions and realize that you have your work cut out for you. It is highly recommended that you hire a professional if possible. The process will be less stressful and complicated for you, making selling your home an enjoyable experience.