By Angie Mager
Who sells by owner? We heard someone recently say that no one would sell by owner if they could afford a realtor. That's not the case at all. People from every socioeconomic group sell by owner. The only common denominator is that they want to save money. Yes, we definitely see homeowners who may not have the equity to sell through a realtor, but that's not the most common reason.
Highly educated people know that they can handle the transaction themselves. We see smart financial managers who have taken advice from experts who often say that selling by owner was one of the smartest financial decisions you can make.
Many professionals in the real estate profession (lenders, builders, appraisers, inspectors) sell by owner because they | know how simple the paperwork is. We've even had realtors use our services. And if realtors don't like to pay the commission (minus their own cut), why would anyone else?
Another misconception is that the homes that sell best by owner are lower-priced homes. Again, not true. The last time we checked, the average price of a home listed on the realtor's Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was approximately $155,518. Our average price is $171,450.
Selling your home in today's buyer's market can be difficult however you sell. A buyer's market forces sellers to prepare their home more carefully, wait longer and price it more competitively. Selling by-owner allows you to price competitively and come out ahead when you sell without paying commissions. That's smart, not cheap!
|
