assetbest 
We’re moving and I’m hiring a realtor. We’re not selling the house ourselves, even though some advise doing so. My family has a background in real estate, I’ve bought and sold investment properties and our own home several times, and my neighbor plans to sell his place on his own — but we’re choosing an agent.
I did consider selling it myself. That would mean staging the house, marketing it, handling inquiries and showings, negotiating offers, and managing all the paperwork and closing details. And I’d have to do all of that while decluttering, packing, cleaning, and keeping the place ready to show around the clock.
Here’s why I’m hiring a realtor:
1) Selling a home takes a huge amount of time and effort. A realtor handles the advertising, showings, negotiations, and many of the headaches — though you still have to deal with the cleaning and packing.
2) Most buyers find homes on realtor.com and other MLS-powered sites. It’s not obvious how an individual seller would get onto those listings without an agent, so an agent will ensure the house appears where buyers look.
3) Many buyers work with agents who won’t show For Sale By Owner properties. Realtors are more likely to bring buyers to a listed home because they earn a commission when it sells.
4) Time can be more valuable than money. I have a job, a blog, a home, and a family. I don’t have the spare hours needed to manage a sale myself without overcommitting.
5) This market is tough. A realtor has experience navigating difficult conditions and can help ensure buyers are qualified for a mortgage.
Wish me luck with the sale! Would you consider selling a home yourself? Have you ever sold without a realtor — how much work was it, and would you do it again?
