Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/731142
Time is Money In addition to the hard costs, don't underestimate the value of your time in this equation. If you're a busy professional or family commitments keep you hopping, taking on the task of selling your home can take more time and effort than you realize. Be ready to tackle these tasks without an expert to guide you: staging to showcase your home's best features, photographs that work best online, professional home descriptions that include keywords that attract the right buyers, arranging listings online, setting up open houses and finally, negotiations with buyers that result in the best final offer you can get. Deciding how much time you have to put into the job of selling your home is up to you, just remember that all that time has value too. Working With Other Agents When selling your home yourself, even when you list it on the MLS and dot all your i's and cross all your t's, you can be the victim of agent avoidance. While agents should take their clients to any home that could meet the needs of their clients, some agents will avoid taking their clients to see FSBO homes because they don't relish the idea of working with an inexperienced homeowner versus a seasoned real estate agent. If you do list your home yourself, it may behoove you to put details in the MLS notes about your expectations on buyer's agent commissions and if you have a real estate attorney who will be handling the paperwork. ese details may allay buyers agents' fears and bring you more traffic. Market Knowledge on Your Side It may seem like an easy task to sell your home in a hot market. But how do you know you're pricing it effectively to get top dollar? An agent's experience can offer valuable insight into pricing (which is key to selling your home quickly), navigating multiple- offer situations and negotiating effectively with buyers. Most importantly, having an agent on your side will ensure that you don't overlook anything in the contract process that could cost you more in the end. Choosing whether to sell your home yourself or engage an agent is an exercise in weighing the costs—both financial and time costs—and then deciding if the value of the expertise and guidance that an experienced professional can add is worth it to you. Good luck! Bill McDonald is a licensed real estate agent with Windermere Bellevue Commons. His website, e Eastsider (www.eastsiderRE.com) offers regular news and information about the Puget Sound real estate market. Deciding how much time you have to put into the job of selling your home is up to you, just remember that all that time has value too. BUY 8 HomeMatters FALL 2016 mbaks.com