– Negotiate -Maybe you just need someone with knowledge and experience to make sure all the T’s are crossed and I’s dotted. Maybe you need a little more than proof reading. Whatever the situation, most professional real estate agents are flexible to negotiate their fees, especially if you’re doing some heavy lifting as well.

– Time – Having a real estate agent by your side will put your sale in the fast lane. Licensed professional real estate agents handle sales every day and can expedite the sale of your home by avoiding the typical pitfalls and other nuances that accompany a typical sale.   

– Presentation – Don’t forget staging and photography. Most FSBO owners simply overlook this due to the emotional connection and familiarity of the home but presentation is a very important factor for getting the highest offer. Most real estate agents have a network of other professionals who specialize in the field who can turn an average home into a hot seller.

– Management – Does the home need some repairs? Are you too busy to follow up on every aspect of the sale? Many real estate agents work with management companies and in some cases handle these matters themselves. Preparing and selling a home can be very time consuming, get a real estate agent to save yourself the headache and tedious chores.

– This might seem like an obvious choice, or is it? -Chances are you already know this is bad idea. When it comes to “working” with family, this is often a recipe for disaster and frustration. They will usually lower if not completely remove any compensation to “help out” but where will that rank you in their order of importance? Rarely a family representing agent will give importance   

Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t hire a family member to represent you and sell your home.

1 – Experience – Do they have the experience to successfully attract buyers? Prepare for Sale? Negotiate the Sale? 
2 – Part Time Realtor – Are they a Full Time realtor or a Part Time Real estate agent with a full time job?
3 – Do they have the time – Will you be their priority? Do they have the time to handle all the calls and find you the right buyer?
4 – Your Privacy – Do you really want a family member knowing your business? Divorce, financial distress, Financial windfall.. those are all very private and sensitive information your realtor might be exposed to.  
5 – Reality Check – Your family realtor might not give it to you straight (to save your feelings), and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
6 – Risk Your Relationship – Sometimes things go south and things can get really awkward at best. Sometimes, it’s better not to mix business and family.      

 You should do your homework and hire the best agent for your real estate needs whether they are a relative or not.
Your family member at the end of the day may be the best real estate agent for you.  But hire your relative as your real estate agent because they are the best fit for you, not just because they have a real estate license.

Bottom line is you have too much at stake.  An inexperienced agent can cost you 10’s of thousands of dollars on the sale of your home and/or a purchase of a new home.

Remember, emotions run high during a real estate transaction.  A misunderstanding or expectations not met could but a damper on one or more family relationships. 

– Hiring a Real Estate agent involves out-of-pockets costs. FALSE – Unless you’ve meet an unscrupulous realtor, there is never an upfront cost to hire a Realtor. As with buying or selling, you can also negotiate your terms of hiring a Realtor. In fact, the agent won’t make anything unless your home actually sells because they work by commission. In other words, the agent will get a predetermined percentage as payment when the home is sold. Paid for Performance.

–  The market is so good, you don’t need an agent – FALSE, if you aren’t experienced and you don’t know the current local market, you will be leaving money on the table. Besides it costing you money, the entire process can be very time-consuming and a painful experience.

–  Real Estate Agent will say anything to sell a house – FALSE, Real Estate Agents must adhere to a strict code of conduct and ethical guidelines. They are bound by ethics to disclose genuine information.

– Real estate agents can’t help you once the home is sold – FALSE Many real estate agents offer their services beyond the house sale. Whether it’s helping you move, locating your new home or even helping the new owner manage the property and more. These are all things you should discuss with your potential agent before hiring them. Usually, If they don’t do it themselves, they’d have a network of people that specialize in just what you need.  

– Real estate agents can’t help you once the home is sold – FALSE Many real estate agents offer their services beyond the house sale. Whether it’s helping you move, locating your new home or even helping the new owner manage the property and more. These are all things you should discuss with your potential agent before hiring them. Usually, If they don’t do it themselves, they’d have a network of people that specialize in just what you need.  

– To save on paying commissions – This is one of those Penny Wise, Pound foolish situations. First of all, having an advocate on your side of the negotiations table when you are selling a large investment can only help. Remember this isn’t a used sofa you’re getting rid of, there are lots of issues that can and will come up. Having a seasoned professional will undoubtedly save your butt. Often times, real estate sharks (investors) target FSBO knowing the sellers are usually unexperienced and ripe for picking. While you might think you are getting a great deal, without a doubt, they’re getting a better deal than you.  

–  It looks easy to sell your home, The role a real estate agent plays if far more demanding that you might realize. Countless hours are spent studying the local markets, national trends, showing homes and qualifying quality buyers. Does the property need any repairs? Will it be staged to maximize your sale price? Can you take the right photographs that will help a buyer fall in love? Does your house have curb appeal? These are all things a professional real estate agent can help you with. Beyond that, real estate agents have ethical and fiduciary responsibilities to protect their client’s best interest. Let’s not forget, they don’t get paid unless you get paid. 

– Might have a buyer lined up. You found a buyer, agreed on a price and now you just need to get through inspections, appraisals and the contracts. This is where things can really go wrong. If there’s a problem with the buyer’s funding, buyer seeking unreasonable concessions, or problem with the appraisal, and so on, there are a myriad of things that can go wrong besides just loss of money. Without an agent to protect and safeguard your legal liabilities, the damage can far outweigh any monetary losses you might incur. It’s always best to have a licensed real estate agent to protect your best interest, even better if they’re members of the National Association of Realtors.   

The Market is RED HOT Currently the market is on a great uptrend and most certainly you should get some offers. However, keep in mind, Realtors have long standing relationships with buyers and sellers, this typically translates into faster sales and more qualified leads and better offers will pour in.  

 – Selling faster It is common for a FSBO to sell faster than with an agent. This is usually due to two factors, the seller knows the buyer or the buyer is a savvy real estate investor that pounces on FSBO for a quick sale. This works for some but that usually also means selling for way less money.