Most people think you need an agent to sell your home, but we want to prove otherwise. We want to share with you the advantages of selling your home yourself!
The first one might be a bit obvious, but….
NO COMMISSIONS!
Real estate agents can charge 6% upon the sale of your home, even if you end up selling the home yourself. This is in addition to the agent fees, administrative fees, marketing fees, photography costs, etc, etc. When you sell your home directly, you will often save yourself TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on a typical Hawaii property.
Sure you will have to do the work of advertising and showing your home, but when you are moving into a new house, having that additional cash can save you a ton of stress! There are always additional costs when you are moving, that’s just life. And keeping some hard earned money in your pocket will make everything go smoother.
You Run The Show
You don’t want showings this Saturday? Ok, don’t schedule any. When you are working with an agent, often times they will be the one calling the shots. Of course, you are ultimately the owner, but if you hire an agent to sell your home, (hopefully) they will do their job and bring lots of people to see it.
This means weekend showings where you will be asked to leave, evening showings, etc. All of these can occur at the drop of a hat, so you will have to keep your home in tip-top shape while it is on the market.
Your Terms, Your Way
An agent will always be looking at what they can make off the sale of your home – while also hopefully performing their responsibility to you. This means they may stand firm on the price in situations where you might be open to negotiation. Even if you are eager to sell, an agent may try to make as much as possible. Will they really have your best interest at heart when so much money is laying on the table? It depends on the agent, of course – we’re not throwing all agents under the bus. But understand how commissions works, and you’ll know that there stands the risk of a conflict. If you’re willing to take a lower offer for personal reasons, then be prepared to be firm about it. If you do decide to work with a real estate agent, respect their professional opinion but also be sure they are willing to listen to you at the end of the day.
In addition, you can decide all of the dates. When the new homeowners can move in, when you have to be out, when you close, etc.. You can set the terms as to what you will fix, what you won’t, and how much you are willing to spend to fix things. When you choose to sell on your own, you call the shots when it comes to the contract, without any influence from an agent who may only have their best interest in mind.
Few Cash Sales Fall Through
As they always say in real estate, “cash is king.” If you are able to find a cash buyer for your home, you will save ample time and money. Closings typically take only a couple weeks as opposed to a couple of months when you work with a bank. Plus you won’t be waiting for your buyer to secure financing. A cash buyer will pay directly, without any red-tape from the banks. These deals rarely fall through and you end up saving a fortune on repairs, staging, and other sales related expenses.
Selling your home yourself will save you time which equates to money saved. Think about all the extra cash you will save on taxes, utilities, insurance and the mortgage by selling your home faster! While a cash offer might be lower than what you would list it for, many times you end up with more money in the long run after all of the fees, commissions and other costs are taken out. Not to mention the stress and headaches of having your home on the market. (imagine people driving by constantly some even peeking in your windows! It happens!)