6 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent Over “For Sale by Owner”

The allure of listing a home for sale by owner can be strong, especially for those looking to save on agent commissions. Although not impossible, listings that are FSBO experience many more complications without the expert advice and guidance of a local agent like Esteban Botero Hernandez. Selling in highly desirable Weston neighborhoods like Windmill Ranch Estates can be especially hard to do yourself. Before explaining why hiring an agent is best, here’s what to know about entering the local real estate market.

Homes for sale in Windmill Ranch Estates are some of the most expensive in Florida, regularly fetching prices in the low seven figures. The suburban neighborhood is made up of primarily single-family homes and apartments. Weston’s market, in general, is slowing but firm, with median prices for homes and condos on the rise. Homes average about two months on the market, and fewer homes are selling relative to years past. Given these conditions, it pays to work with an expert real estate agent.

A significant drawback of listing FSBO is the extra time it takes to complete a home sale. Sellers who take on the process themselves can underestimate the responsibilities and research necessary to successfully list a home, as they must take on a second job in addition to daily responsibilities. Preparing a home adequately for sale can be a struggle, and sellers can have difficulties selling their property within the planned time range without the skills necessary to do so.

An agent covers all the tasks a seller takes on themselves. They’ll help a seller prepare their property by offering professional cleaning and staging services, then price the property competitively. To attract buyers, they’ll have a marketing strategy that includes taking professional photos, scheduling in-home showings, keeping in touch with interested buyers, and more. An agent will help sellers sort through offers and legal paperwork, managing important dates and information.

Sellers who work with an agent to sell their Windmill Ranch Estates, Florida, real estate can also save money. Although paying agent commissions may seem counterintuitive, investing in professional services can make a difference in the long run. Many FSBO sellers end up paying 3% in real estate commissions anyway, without any of the perks of professional help. To attract buyers, sellers can also end up shelling out thousands in buyer incentives.

However, the costliest mistake FSBO sellers make is with pricing a property. Many sellers have to reduce their listing price, and mistakes can add up in the long run. A realtor will have tools like a comparative market analysis, which they use to price a home competitively. With access to reliable market information through the MLS, an agent will come up with a price that represents your property’s worth while not being over or underpriced.

Those unfamiliar with the language of the real estate world (or who aren’t updated with laws concerning home sales) can unknowingly make costly legal mistakes. A FSBO seller may be unfamiliar with the legal procedures of closing a home sale. This can cause sellers to sign paperwork they don’t fully understand or agree to a purchase that has negative consequences for them in the future.

An agent will be familiar with a home transaction's laws, regulations, and processes, as they’ve completed the steps multiple times with other clients. They’ll also have access to professionals you may need, like an attorney or real estate lawyer. When it comes time to sign the paperwork, an agent can explain baroque clauses and jargon to you, ensuring you can agree to an offer with complete knowledge.

When selling by yourself, research to answer questions that arise can take hours to complete, depending on your expertise and reasons for selling. Rather than slowing down the process by finding the information you need, an agent local to the area with years of experience will answer a seller’s questions. Even if they can’t answer a question offhand, they’ll have more reliable resources to find the answers.

An agent’s understanding of Windmill Ranch Estates homes for sale spans current market knowledge and neighborhood understanding, which are integral to capturing buyer interest. With this information, an agent can market your property by adding specific neighborhood details such as the gated community’s private lots with large yards, its reputation as a notable equestrian community, the lakes winding through the community, and more.

Those selling their homes themselves lack the network of connections that an agent has at hand, built over years of working in the area. Without this network, a seller must take the extra time and energy to find the resources and marketing techniques to sell their property. An agent has contacts with other buyers’ agents in the area, which they’ll communicate with to find potential buyers for your property. They’ll be well connected to other service providers you might need, too, like a home inspector, home constructor, or title company.

The MLS is a powerful tool that usually only licensed agents can access. Listing a property on MLS gives it more exposure to buyers’ agents searching on their clients’ behalf. The platform also feeds other sites like Zillow and Realtor, ensuring a home searcher online can find your listing. With increased visibility, sellers are more likely to sell their homes quickly and for a high price.

When planning a home sale, hiring an agent with expert knowledge and experience is the only rational way. If you need help selling your Windmill Hill Estates home, contact experienced local agent Esteban Botero Hernandez to guide you through the process.