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Originally Posted by joshgirls
an agent has some benefits.
they get you listed on the local MLS. buyers are lazy, they just go into an agency & ask for a customized list off the MLS. you will lose access to these buyers.
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You can pay $250 and do that yourself...
Quote:
Originally Posted by joshgirls
(good) agents know the homes in the area, what things are selling for. They have value helping you negotiate an offer with this knowledge.
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Every single one will tell you to pay for an appraisal out of your own pocket.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joshgirls
agents know what trends buyers are looking for, can help you stage your home.
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A little Internet research or watching some TV can remedy that. It's not that difficult and with the cash you'll save you could hire some professional stagers to come in and even rent some additional furnishings if you need.
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Originally Posted by joshgirls
agents can refer competent inspectors/title people/attornies.
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You can get recommendations from other buyers/sellers in your area. Often times Realtors recommend people based on the referral payout they get.
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Originally Posted by joshgirls
i guess bottom line is that if you feel competent in these areas, go it alone. Agents do bring value for people who know nothing about real estate & home values.
make sure you speak to an attorney about proper disclosure of any issues. thats where you can get hit for fraud if your sloppy.
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Definitely get an attorney! But 6% can be a lot of cash depending on the value of your home... definitely not worth it my opinion. Especially considering places like ForSaleByOwner.com offer 100% money back guarantee if you house doesn't sell and you end up going with an agent.
Additionally something like 90% of all homes sold are found by searches on the Internet these days. I guarantee all of us here know a thing or two more than any real estate agent about keywording and positioning content to place well in search engines (or what sites get the most traffic [by doing actual research]).
Real estate agents are becoming less and less valuable. They're going to have to lower their take if they want to stay competitive.
My personal game plan is to photograph my own place, the property, and the view to create a nice little mini website that has a walk through. No realtor would ever produce a better tool online... and I'll save $30k.