A real estate agent can a great partner to have.
Whether you’re buying a house or selling one, you always have the choice to fly solo. While it may be more work, doing so could save you cash and give you more control over the process.
Are you deciding whether to use a real estate agent or not? Here are the pros and cons you’ll want to weigh before making your decision.
For sellers
Selling a house is a big undertaking, so using a real estate agent can be quite the load-off. Still, it’s not required, and many people do what’s called an FSBO — or for sale by owner.
Not sure which path is right for you? Consider these listing agent pros and cons first:
Pros:
- Marketing tools and experience: Your agent will come with a whole slew of marketing strategies and tools to help get your property noticed.
- More exposure: Most agents have a pretty deep network. Right from the start, they’ll have clients, brokers, and other agents they can tap to find potential buyers for your home.
- Staging help: Agents also know how to stage so that it looks great — both in listings and in person. This can lead to a faster sale and potentially higher offers, too.
Cons
- Costly commission: When an agent lists your home, they’ll take a 6 to 7% commission from the sale. That means if your home sells for $200,000, they’ll take home $12,000 to $14,000 out of those proceeds — quite the paycheck for a few weeks’ work.
- Less control: You won’t have as much control when using an agent versus selling solo. Your agent will typically set the price, field the offers, and do the negotiating, while you sit back and wait for guidance.
For buyers
If you’re buying a house, an agent can help you find the right listings, schedule tours, make offers, and more, but they’re not 100% required. Before you opt to use one in your purchase, consider these advantages and drawbacks.
Pros:
- More help and guidance: An agent means more help along the way — something especially valuable if you’ve never bought a home before. They can help you determine the right offer price, coordinate inspections and showings, and advise you during the closing process. They can even make professional recommendations for your inspector, title company, and more.
- Negotiating chops: Agents are seasoned negotiators, and they’ll usually work to get you a good deal on a property. They’ll also know how to leverage your inspection report to reduce your costs as well.
- Less hassle: All in all, using an agent just means a less demanding home purchase. If you’re looking for an easy, hassle-free experience, an agent is probably the best route to take.
Cons:
- It could mean a higher home price: Many agents don’t like to show FSBO homes, as they don’t offer a guaranteed commission. This could mean paying more for your house than you really need to (or worse, not finding that dream home).
- Less control: With an agent, you’ll always have a middleman. If you’re looking for full control of your home purchase, flying solo may be your best bet.
There’s no right answer
Not sure which route to take? The right choice really depends on your timeline, your budget, and your knowledge of the sales or purchase process.
Whatever you decide, make sure you choose an experienced mortgage lender before you get the ball rolling. Having a well-versed loan officer on your side can make all the difference. Get in touch with Premier Nationwide Lending to find one in your area today.
Premier Nationwide Lending is an Equal Housing Opportunity lender. Sponsored by NTFN, Inc. 6201 West Plano Parkway, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75093 | NTFN NMLS 75333.
