How You Benefit from Working with an Agent When Selling Your Home

In a market like Walla Walla, it can be tempting to sell your home without an agent. It’s commonly thought that listing your home with an agent will cost you a 6% commission, which can quickly be tens of thousands of dollars from the proceeds that would otherwise come to you. So why would anyone use an agent? Let’s start by considering that 6% number. That amount is actually divided equally between the agent representing the buyer, and the listing agent representing you. So even if you choose to list your house yourself, it will still be important that you offer a commission to encourage area agents to get their clients interested in your house. Without offering this incentive, all pressure will be on you to find a buyer directly. So right from the beginning, the most we might save in selling a house ourselves is 3%. 

Let’s look closer at some of the costs that can erode that remaining 3%. A lawyer assisting with the necessary paperwork could easily run several thousand dollars. There can also be marketing costs, including professional photography and the cost of online or print advertising to get your house in front of potential buyers. You might be tempted to make home improvements or repairs thinking they will appeal to a buyer, where a real estate agent with market insights might caution against. 

Finally, let’s look at the added value a real estate agent can provide. If you believe your house will sell within a range, from the lowest to the highest possible given its condition, location, and amenities, the role of an agent is to help you sell your home expeditiously at the top of that range. An agent does this by being aware of home values, learned by being embedded in the local market. They aim to price your home correctly from the beginning and apply strategies to see that you sell without lengthy delays and at a price you want. While the real estate market, much like the stock market or any other market, may not always move in the direction you want, the agent is there to apply their professional skills as your advocate to get the best possible outcome.