5 Reasons to Hire a Pro to Sell Your Home

Fired my agent

Sorry to here of your experience. It is a negative reflection on all who provide quality and value within their services. In every profession you might find a less than competent service provider. I can only speak for myself when I say this is a service based businss reliant on referals. If I dont do a good job for my clients I'll be out of business. I like a majority of other agents have an excellent history of referals from satisfied clients.

Sincerely

Michael Mortimer of IN @ Jan 23, 2009 15:17:17 PM

To Jennifer - that's just one

I wonder if one man cheated on you... would you stay single for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. And say, NEVER date again.

This realtor just misspelled some words, her assistant got the pictures bungled and you say NEVER work with a professional again. Far from cheating on you.

Yet, if a man cheats on you, you gladly move on and find someone more dependable. Why the bias.

observer of NV @ Nov 02, 2008 23:09:44 PM

This is a Service Industry

I'd like to start by saying that I'm glad that this is a free country and that we all have this kind of a forum to express our opinions.Let's keep our country this way!

I am a bit bias in my opinion because I am a Realtor and have been in the business for over 7 years.What I can tell the FSBO people is that there is a lot more to selling a home than they might think. Admittedly about 24% of FSBO's do sell their own home,which means that 76% turn to a Real Estate agent after they can't go it alone.

It is also true that a person can get a Real Estate License to sell a home by going to school, but what nobody mentioned is that he (she)can't do it without being under the guidance of a Real Estate Broker.I'd also like to mention that when the market was HOT, we saw every person that had a pulse get a license and start selling homes to make a quick buck. That's over, and what is left are the people that are serious about their career and experienced enough to have stuck it out.With the market the way it is now, we also have to work twice as hard to make a living.

This is a Service Industry, and we provide a service of selling homes and yes, we do more and know more about this business than most people.Like wise, you can fix the brakes cheaper on your car and hope they work or go to a mechanic; you can replace your roof cheaper and hope it doesn't leak or hire a roofer; you can fix that water heater or hire a plumber.

I'd like to make one final point, there are crooks in all professions; who here has never felt ripped off by a car dealer, phone company, wireless company ,paint store, restaurant etc...

You have the choice of trying to sell your home by yourself, but be careful of that person walking through the door who is an investor and has probably bought and sold many homes by himself and loves the FSBO people because they are the easy ones and that's where they can get the best deal.

If you choose to sell your home by yourself you have that right, but let's be fair and not bash the people who choose to make this their career.

Steve Keener of FL @ Jul 19, 2008 07:42:17 AM

Fired My Agent

After two weeks of "working with" my agent to sell my home, at 7% commission with a national firm, I fired her because even with her so called "20 plus years in the business", she was taking pictures of the wrong home, misspelling multiple words that were put on the internet on Realtor.com representing my home, and I had to tell her how to take the best pictures of the interior to best hilite the assets of the rooms of my home. I thank God this happened because it was then I learned how to sell my home FSBO and have done a 100% better job representing and handling my own home. I'll never think of selling another home with a real estate agent--NEVER!

Jennifer Brunfeld of MI @ Jun 27, 2008 21:50:52 PM

I've sold 2 of my homes twice BY myself

WHY NOT . Who knows your home better than yourself anyways. You'll have appraisers and surveyors out the anyways to do the guess work for you no matter what. So concrete answers come out in the end anyways. I sold mine in three weeks of course not in these markets these days but i just put a couple signs out and that was it. Not much money involved there. Hired a Lawyer for 500 bucks and the rest was history done deal. All questions after the showing were between my lawyer and the agent. That way both felt comfortable and also your price negotiating is more of a deal to both parties. it's taking the middleman out and putting more money in your pocket for future home improvements or furniture or whatever your choice. All homes must be inspected so your answers come out in the wash anyways . Agents just there to make you feel more comfortable with paper work but let a lawyer do it same thing but not at 6%

Dan Burns of TN @ Jun 27, 2008 21:00:06 PM

Let's meet in the middle

o.k. It is true that a homeowner can do most of what a realtor can do in terms of selling your home. However, it's not usually the listing agent who brings the buyer to your home. Many times, sellers are turning away potential buyers because they do not want to pay ANY agents- including the buyer's agent. Most first time home BUYER'S have an agent. Why? Why the heck not? They're not paying anything to have one, it's the SELLERS who pay the agents. Also, I'm guessing most agents wouldn't be so eager to show their client that cute FSBO in the neighborhood, since they more than likely would be receiving ZERO compensation for doing so.

Jillian of MI @ Jun 24, 2008 22:14:40 PM

Many Realtors Are Hardworking People

Wow...such venom toward an entire industry. I am a realtor who works very hard. I work 14 hour days. I spend a lot of money marketing my clients homes. I help them present their homes to be more marketable. I really care about them! I work with their lenders and the appraisors. We meet the different vendors to make sure that the client does not need to and so the transaction is smooth for the client. I take the risk spending marketing dollars, spending time, energy and effort and if the homeowner changes their mind and does not want to move....I don't get paid.

I would never slam an entire industry. I wok hard for my money and deserve every cent!

HJR of NJ @ Jun 05, 2008 20:09:51 PM

Another opinion

It's not a divine right. It is a sometimes negotiable amount that is paid for a service. I'm saddened that you have had a bad experience with or have never enjoyed the benefits of having someone that is working in your best interest to help you make a move.

I am a Realtor and have been in my profession for 14 years. I have many past clients that will attest to great service and savings for them personally. We are all entitled to our opinions and voicing them. Wishing you the best.

Realtor New Mexico of NM @ Jun 03, 2008 16:51:38 PM