Post By homes4sale in For Sale By Owner
Now that you are thinking of putting your Chicago home on the market, the question is whether to try to sell it on your own (For Sale By Owner) or hire a professional real estate agent to list your property for you. FSBO may seem like it’s going to save you money (because you’re not paying a Realtor), but in a tough market like we have today, the assistance of an expert is invaluable and can really pay off in the end.
For one, it’s harder to market your home if you’re on your own. Realtors are equipped to advertise properties online, in print publications and on signs – usually for a bargain price – because they have “frequent users” rates. These discounts are then passed down to clients, ultimately saving you hundreds of dollars at a time in some cases. In this day and age, when the Internet is the ultimate marketplace, you need to get your property listing on the web to get the prime home buyer audience. An agent not only has the ability to put your home on the main real estate database for northern Illinois, but also has the means to prominently place your listing on popular real estate web sites that are accessed by the general house-buying public 24 hours a day.
A Realtor helps people buy and sell homes for a living – it’s their job. So they have the time to do showings, get marketing materials made, hold open houses, negotiate purchase offers, etc. As a FSBO, you would be responsible for everything on your own time – in addition to doing your regular job! A professional agent will also assist you in determining an appropriate asking price for your Chicago property. This can be tricky to determine, especially in a buyer’s market when inventory is high and house hunters can afford to be picky. Agents know how to read the local market and comparable home sales to establish a price that will attract buyers, yet get you the most money for your Chicago home.