Do I Need a Realtor to Sell My Home, Or Can I Handle It Alone?

Your day job could make it difficult

Will you be able to drop everything to respond to homebuyer showing requests when you’re in the middle of an executive review or crunching numbers on a spreadsheet?

We didn’t think so. And you’re not alone.

With the average American professional working more than 34.7 hours per week, and 70% of married-couple families with children having both parents in the workforce, the intensity of our work culture remains strong.

Juggling the tasks of listing your home, scheduling showings, and handling paperwork alongside your daily responsibilities can feel overwhelming. As a result, 89% of homeowners chose to work with an agent to sell their home in 2023.

While the life of a real estate agent might seem glamorous with champagne-filled open houses, the reality is that it involves a lot of hard work and everyday challenges.

Many people are unaware of the intense workload of selling a home and have misperceptions that being an agent is an easy, part-time gig.

“Full-time Realtors like myself, this is what I do every day — nothing else,” says Martin Tokos, who has 21 years of industry expertise selling homes 54% faster than the average agent in Malden, Massachusetts.

Tokos notes that many people imagine real estate agents as individuals who earned their license simply because they enjoy viewing houses and have assisted a few friends.

These are just some of the tasks that your agent typically handles:

• Coordinate appointments, showings, open houses, and meetings
• Respond to texts, emails, and phone calls from prospective buyers
• Staging, taking photos and making videos
• Creating listings on MLS and other platforms
• Creating and distributing flyers, newsletters, listings, and other promotional materials
• Sharing on social media and client network
• Fielding offers and navigating negotiations with buyers
• Processing real estate documents, agreements, and lease records
• Coordinating appointments, showings, open houses, and meetings
• Developing marketing plans for listings
• Researching listings to develop comparative market analysis (CMA) reports

Having an agent in your corner makes for a more efficient and stress-free process, allowing you to focus on your latest stock gains or perfect your fantasy football lineup while your agent handles the daily duties.

You want to sell for the highest price

Most homeowners consider selling solo to save money. By ditching an agent, they assume they can leave the commission costs at the door and generate a higher return on their home. However, this is not always the case.

Recent reports show that homes sold as For Sale By Owner (FSBO) have a median selling price that is about $95,000 lower than those sold with the help of an agent.

Remember that 5.8% commission you were worried about? Without an agent, you can lose that money by underselling your home. And without an agent acting as a buffer in the negotiation process, many homebuyers see FSBOs as a surefire win for them.

Tokos notes that many sellers lack a complete understanding of market conditions or the intricacies of the negotiation process, which can provide the buyer’s agent with an advantage and enable them to negotiate a significantly lower price from the seller.

In addition to years of professional experience fine-tuning their negotiation skills, the buyer’s agent has expertise in the local market and industry transactions, giving them a significant advantage.

Tokos explains how he also assists homeowners in protecting their price by preparing the house for inspection to prevent buyers from negotiating for credits later: “Buyers are so knowledgeable these days, you also need to know how to prep the house for the market,” adding, “If I’m prepping the house for the market, I’m getting it ready to be fully inspected so that the buyer can’t negotiate it down.”

You prefer an expert managing complex paperwork

While it varies by state, a real estate transaction can require up to 180 pages of paperwork — which can feel daunting for many sellers to sort through independently. Having an expert to ensure the accuracy of every dotted “i” and crossed “t” will save you the hassle now and the headache later.

Mandatory disclosures are another piece of the puzzle that requires a lot of pertinent paperwork. A slip-up can result in the seller being held liable for not disclosing important information to the buyer.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 13% of home sales were delayed or terminated in June 2024 due to various obstacles surrounding contracts, inspections, titles, appraisals, and financing. The documentation associated with each process is complex and extensive — and any mistakes or misunderstandings can negatively affect your end goal: closing the deal.

Understanding the paperwork is also reported as one of the most difficult tasks for FSBO sellers, which is why the services offered by your agent in most states include an evaluation of all the paperwork you receive. From reviewing offers to finalizing the deal, your agent will guide you through every step, making sure you fully understand the details of your disclosure documents and the fine print of your inspection forms.

Working with a real estate agent often results in fewer billable hours from your attorney. This is because your agent handles many aspects of the transaction, such as negotiating offers, managing paperwork, and coordinating with other parties, which can reduce the need for legal intervention. By streamlining the process and addressing issues upfront, your agent can help minimize legal costs and ensure a smoother, more cost-effective transaction.

You need to sell fast or have a move-out deadline

Selling within the planned time was reported as one of the most difficult tasks for FSBO sellers, which is not ideal if you need to sell quickly due to a job relocation, financial reasons, or other urgent circumstances. Navigating the FSBO process on your own may exacerbate the stress and uncertainty of meeting your deadline. Without the help of an agent, finding a buyer is one of the biggest challenges of FSBO.

Beyond their exceptional negotiation skills and extensive industry knowledge, one of the greatest advantages an agent offers a seller is their established network. A top agent comes with a roster of current clients and potential buyers who are prepared to act swiftly on finding their ideal home.

This level of exposure is beyond what solo sellers can achieve, no matter how impressive their social media presence is. According to Tokos, the key benefit of working with top agents is the enhanced exposure they can provide for the home.

If you see an FSBO that sells fast, chances are it’s because the seller already had a buyer lined up before they listed the home. According to NAR, 57% of FSBO sellers sold to someone they knew in 2023, whether a neighbor, relative, or friend.

Pricing challenges without an agent

Pricing your home with precision is a priority and requires assessing all the elements contributing to your home’s value. While home value estimators are helpful tools, understanding how to price a home correctly is one of the biggest challenges for FSBO sellers.

Tokos shares how pricing can be a challenging and nuanced process for some sellers, who “might not understand the impact certain elements have, such as a slightly wider driveway, or the slope and size of your lot.”

While your home might look identical to your neighbor’s, there often are subtle differences that drastically change its value. Proximity to a noisy highway or nearby airport are examples of features that lessen the value of your home — and make pricing a challenging and nuanced process.

Enlisting the help of a real estate agent to assess the value of your home will ensure you hit the mark on your pricing strategy with precision from the get-go.

Evaluating your home’s value involves more than just assessing its features; it requires a comparative market analysis (CMA) or “comps” to accurately gauge its market worth. Finding relevant sales data, ensuring all details are considered, and conducting a thorough CMA can be complex and challenging. Although it’s possible for those with some real estate knowledge and excellent research skills to manage this on their own, partnering with a professional often offers a more effective and valuable solution.

Tokos also provides valuable advice to his sellers on strategic improvements to enhance their home’s value before listing it. This guidance includes recommendations for minor repairs, cosmetic updates, and improvements that can make the property more appealing to potential buyers. By focusing on key areas such as fresh paint, landscaping, and minor renovations, Tokos helps sellers maximize their home’s market potential and achieve a higher selling price.

Emotional attachment can make things difficult

Selling a home is a significant milestone that can evoke strong emotions, even if you try to remain detached. If you find yourself overwhelmed and questioning whether you need a Realtor, the answer is a definitive yes.

Negotiating with emotional involvement can complicate the process, often leading to overpricing and inflexibility. An unrealistic asking price might result in frustration and an unwillingness to negotiate, potentially derailing the sale. A real estate agent maintains an objective perspective, focusing on professional strategies rather than personal emotions.

Tokos explains that emotional reactions during negotiations can lead to poor decisions and challenging transactions. At worst, these reactions could cause the deal to fall through entirely. Beyond pricing, a Realtor also provides valuable constructive feedback and buyer insights, leveraging their expertise to help you maximize your profit.

A skilled agent can ease stress and simplify your life

There’s no law requiring you to use a Realtor to sell your home, but only 7% of sellers choose to go solo for a reason. An agent helps you sell at the highest price, navigate state-specific selling requirements, and manage buyer interactions to keep your stress levels in check.

However, as Tokos explains, “The real estate industry is indeed a mixed bag, and not all agents are created equal. You may be on your way to something successful — or real estate doom,” adding that it just depends on who you have on your side.

To ensure your agent selection is both targeted and effective, it’s important to do your research. At HomeLight, we analyze millions of transactions and customer reviews to pair you with a top agent in your area. While selling a home and finding the right agent can be daunting,

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