Do you really save money by cutting out the commissions?
In the age of Zillow and Redfin, who really needs an agent anyways. After all, it can’t be that hard to take photos and put a sign in the yard. We can save ourselves 6 percent in commissions if we just market the home ourselves.
Most of us have heard the mythical reasons that FSBOs attempt to sell their home without an agent. Very few are successful and many fail and learn how tough it is to sell a home for market value. For many, the sale of their home is their largest transaction. It’s like calling up your surgeon and saying “Hey, I appreciate the consult but I was thinking I would do the surgery myself. You know, to save on the costs.”
Still, a 2017 study showed that about 36 percent of FSBOs try to sell their homes without an agent. Interestingly enough, many hit roadblocks and eventually hire an agent. Of all the FSBO attempts, only 11 percent of sellers successfully complete the transaction.
Why sell your largest asset without the guidance of a professional?
Diving deeper, Zillow research that without an agent, sellers think they will
- Save money (57%)
- Save time (36%)
- Know their home better than any agent could (27%)
Let’s look into the reasons by FSBO’s fail on their own.
1) EMOTIONS GET IN THE WAY
How would you feel if you got a low ball offer on your home? Many FBSO’s have a hard time separating their emotion from the transaction. They are easily insulted by buyers offers. Having an agent, creates a barrier between the buyer and seller, which allows for objectivity in reviewing offers that come in. Agents can use feedback from buyers constructively, while hearing your home smells bad, puts the seller directly the line of fire. Many brokers know that going up against a FSBO is often a great way to get a buyer client a good deal.
2) THEY SET THEMSELVES UP FOR LEGAL LIABILITY
Many sellers are so focused on saving money on the commissions, they do not factor in the cost of legal liability they are taking on by representing themselves. We are all humans and we all make mistakes… One slip up on the advertising, such as stating “wood floors” when in actuality the floors are wood veneer, could be a very costly mistake. More than likely, the seller would be responsible for paying the difference, or worse, for replacing all the flooring to hard wood. So much for saving on commissions!
As brokers, we have errors and omissions insurance to cover our mistakes. And given our experience, we are less likely to make them in the first place. In a litigious society, more than 6% can easily fill the pockets of a persuasive attorney.
3) FBSOs SELL FOR LESS!
Perhaps the greatest reason of all to list with a professional is that your home will sell for more! A 2017 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers uncovered that 8% of sellers were FSBOs. The typical FSBO home sold for $190,000, while the same type of home listed with a broker sold for $249,000!
Furthermore, another 2017 study released by automation valuation model (AVM) found that homes sold by REALTORS® and homes sold by owners netted the same amount. The difference was the seller had to do all the work and have all the headaches.
Melissa Dorman is a Licensed Broker with Yascha Group at Living Room Realty in Portland, OR. Follow Yascha Group on Facebook.
About 2 years ago I worked with a wonderful buyer named Ryan. Ryan bought one of the cutest houses in Portland- a little cupcake ranch in the Rose City Park area that was cute and sweet and perfect in every way. On the day that Ryan found his magical house, he brought along his good friend Cory, and that was the first time I met her. About a month and a half ago Cory contacted me because she was now ready to buy a house. We met up for coffee and she shared that she wanted to buy a house just like Ryan’s- a little one-story mid-century ranch in the Rose City Park/Montavilla vicinity. She was living with 5 roommates in a house with only 1 bathroom so the idea of owning her own little slice of homeowner pie was looking more dreamy by the minute. The following day she hooked up with a lender, and by the end of the week she had her pre-approval and financing in order. The following weekend, Cory went to a couple of open houses, and then I showed her a few more homes for sale. And lo and behold, only one week after we met for coffee, Cory found a version of Ryan’s house only 9 blocks away. The house had been on the market for nearly 3 months, and the seller had come down $50k from their original price- which was below $400k to begin with. And because we have turned into a buyer’s market for those houses who probably won’t win a beauty contest, Cory wrote an offer with no competition and had it accepted. The only issue that came up in the inspection was the need for a new sewer, and the sellers agreed to a credit for that. With a little grooming, some paint, carpet removal to expose hardwood floors, this small and sweet 3 bedroom mid-century has so much potential to transform into it’s cupcake.
Congratulations to my buyers Judy, Nelson and Bridgett on their purchase of a swanky condo in Sunnyside! Judy is currently in California finishing up a work contract, so unfortunately she was not able to make it to the closing. So as to not be left out of the getting house keys for the first time photo, Judy is represented by the duck and can be seen here on the phone screen.
oods of Lincoln Park, 
