The 15% Difference: Why Selling With An Agent Puts Tens of Thousands More in Your Pocket

12 hours ago
5

Here's a fact that every home seller needs to hear: homes sold with an agent went for almost 15% more than those sold without one.

Let me put that in real numbers for you. On a $500,000 home, that's $75,000 difference. On a $700,000 home? That's over $100,000 left on the table.

Think about that. Tens of thousands of dollars that could be in your pocket, but instead, you're losing it by trying to save a few percentage points in commission.

This Is NOT The Market for DIY Selling

With more homes on the market right now than we've seen in years, inventory is up, competition is real, and this is absolutely not the time to wing it.

Here's what's happening in today's market:

Buyers Are Pickier: They have options now. They're comparing multiple properties, and they're looking for any reason to negotiate down or walk away. Your listing needs to be flawless.

Competition Is Fierce: More inventory means your home needs to stand out. Amateur photos, weak descriptions, and poor presentation will get you buried.

Selling Takes Strategy: This isn't 2021 where anything listed would sell in 24 hours. Today's market requires precision, expertise, and experience.

What Professional Representation Actually Delivers:

1. Precision Pricing: Price too high? Your home sits and goes stale. Price too low? You leave money on the table. Agents analyze comps, market trends, and buyer psychology to hit the exact right price point.

2. Expert Staging: We know what buyers want to see and how to present your home to maximize perceived value. This isn't just "make it look nice" - it's strategic positioning.

3. Professional Marketing: High-quality photography, drone footage, virtual tours, targeted digital advertising, MLS syndication, social media campaigns - this is what sells homes today. FSBO sellers can't compete with this level of marketing.

4. Tough Negotiation Skills: When buyers come with lowball offers, inspection demands, or appraisal issues, you need someone who negotiates deals every single day, not once every 7-10 years when you sell.

The FSBO Reality Check:

Here's what really happens with For Sale By Owner attempts: Zillow found that 21% of FSBO sellers ended up hiring an agent anyway after struggling on their own.

Think about that. One in five people who try to sell their home themselves eventually throw in the towel and call a professional. But by then, they've:

Wasted weeks or months of market time
Let their listing go stale
Probably shown their home to unqualified buyers
Made pricing mistakes that hurt their position
Lost the best market window
The Math Doesn't Lie:

Even after paying commission, homes sold with agents net significantly more money. The expertise, marketing reach, negotiation skills, and buyer network that professional agents bring to the table more than pays for itself.

So why risk it?

If you want to sell for top dollar and avoid costly mistakes that could cost you tens of thousands, let's talk.

DM me "TOP DOLLAR" and I'll show you exactly how to get your home sold right the first time - for maximum value, in minimum time, with zero headaches.

I'm Steve Hise, and I'm your Realtor - here to protect your equity and maximize your return.

#stevehise #simivalley #simivalleyrealestate #realestate #homeselling #fsbo #agentvalue

Loading comments...