It can be tough to decide whether or not to hire a real estate agent when selling your home. If you’re contemplating if using an agent is the right decision for you, then you’ve come to the right place! Take a look below at this list of the [pros and cons of using an agent](https://renovated.com/pros-and-cons-of-using-a-real-estate-agent/), to help you make an informed decision.

## Pros of Using an Agent

### Market knowledge and strategy
A good agent will have a strong grasp of the real estate market in your area. They will have a strategy on what price to list your home at and which offer to accept. What are similar homes selling for in your area, when is an offer a “good offer”, and when should you wait for a better one? Below are a few strategies an agent could take...

- Price it under its current value (will receive the most offers).
- Price it at its current value (will receive the most realistic offers).
- Price it over its current value (will receive the least amount of offers).
- Depending on your situation, making as much money as possible might be your biggest priority. Alternatively, you might care more about closing quickly. Each strategy has its pros and cons and your agent should be able to explain in detail why they recommend choosing one strategy over the others.

### Contracts can be confusing
It can feel really complicated to sell your home, especially if you haven’t done it before. An agent will know all of the nuances that go into the contracts involved. With an agent reviewing and preparing your contracts you’ll have peace of mind that you aren’t getting taken advantage of. They will make sure that you fulfill all of your contractual obligations as the seller so that you are protected.

### It can be a LOT of work selling on your own
It’s a hassle to sell your home because 1) all of the prep steps involved to SHOW your home 2) doing all the showings take forever 3) all the steps involved once you have found a buyer. Between fielding calls from prospective buyers, doing all the showings, reviewing contracts, coordinating inspections, coordinating with a title company, and signing away your deed, your calendar will be fully booked.

## Cons of Using an Agent

### It is expensive.
Typically agents charge a commission to the homeowner of 6% for their services. That means if you sell your home for $500,000 for example then $30,000 goes to the agents. Make sure that the pros of using an agent outweigh that $30,000 cost.

### It’s very competitive.
Like all of us, real estate agents rely on the income they receive from their careers to survive. Therefore, if an agent has multiple clients who all want their services, the agent is more likely to work with the easier clients: sellers who have easier terms, easier timelines, and an easier-to-sell home may get the most attention. 

### You lose total control of the sale.
If you feel like you want a strong amount of control of the selling process, then working with a real estate agent might not be right for you. From negotiations to how hard you market your home, the realtor will be in control.

Unfortunately, realtors aren’t financially motivated to sell your home for more money. As we outlined, realtors make a 3-6% commission. If they can sell your home for $500,000 spending only 5 hours of their time vs. selling your home for $510,000 spending 100 hours of their time they only make an extra $300-$600. That extra $10,000 might mean a lot to the homeowner but doesn’t mean much to their bottom line.

The Realtors Associations' rules and guidelines also prevent them from creating a bidding war. Many sellers might be familiar with the phrase “just submit your highest and best” when talking with a realtor. From a realtor’s perspective, creating a bidding war might be a hassle, but from a seller’s perspective, a bidding war is a best-case scenario.

## Parting Thoughts

Whatever decision you make, there will always be pros and cons. One of the other key factors to think about is time. What kind of time do you have to sell your home? Do you have several months or do you need to sell your home NOW? 

If you only want to use a real estate agent to help with the contracts then consider hiring a lawyer. Contract review through a lawyer will cost between $200-$1,000 rather than paying 3-6% of the total selling price.

If you need to sell your home quickly and efficiently, the traditional home selling process might not be the best fit for you, however, an all-cash offer sale could be the perfect solution.

See how simple, easy, and quick selling your home without an agent can be [here.](https://www.taidacorp.com/about)


It can be tough to decide whether or not to hire a real estate agent when selling your home. If you’re contemplating if using an agent is the right decision for you, then you have come to the right place! Take a look below at this list of the pros and cons of using an agent, to help you make an informed decision.

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Pros vs. Cons of Using an Agent as a Home Seller

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