When you are considering selling your Boston home or Toronto condo there is one important decision to make. Should you use an agent, or try to do it alone? For some people, the answer is clear, they have no interest in trying to sell their own home and would rather leave it up to an agent. For others, however, the decision is less clear and they need to consider the pros and cons of selling a home by yourself.
The obvious advantage of selling a home without an agent is that you do not need to pay a commission. In some markets, such as Bloor West Village, real estate prices can make the commission a sizable amount of money, and obviously people would rather have that money in their own pocket than in a real estate agent's pocket. Selling a home without a real estate agent can be more difficult than you might think, however.
One of the difficulties of selling your home without an agent is that it can be difficult to get the attention of potential buyers on your own. Homes for sale in Whitby or other small towns, may get noticed simply because it is a small market. In larger markets, however, it can be difficult to attract potential buyers if you do not have the connections that a real estate agent has, or access to the multiple listings service (which can only be made available through an agent).
Real estate agents may charge different commissions in different cities, so a New York real estate agent may charge more than an Etobicoke real estate agent. Something to keep in mind, however, is that real estate commissions are often negotiable, so you do have the option of asking an agent for a lower commission as an alternative to listing your home on your own.
If you do decide to sell your home on your own be prepared to do a lot of work on your own, such as showing the home yourself, negotiating with buyers, and advertising the home yourself (which can be expensive). If you sell your home in the end, you will have savings, but in the mean time you may be wishing that you could have the help of a realtor. Toronto, Boston, New York, and other large cities in North America can be difficult markets to sell a home in simply due to the competition, but if you are willing to make the effort you can reap the benefits.
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