There are some people out there that believe they can market their own property, put up a sign, create an advertisement on an independent website and sell their own home. To the seasoned property seller, this could very well be a viable option, especially if they have sold in the past and understand the rigours of selling a property. But it can also go the other direction.
It can be very time consuming and be an inconvenience to sell your own property, as well as a huge responsibility. If you are serious about selling, it’s not just a matter of putting up a ‘For sale’ sign with a phone number at the front of the property. There are websites available where you enter all the details of your property and sell without an agent. Usually what occurs is you respond directly to any enquiries you receive from potential buyers and you then show any interested parties through the property yourself. Many ‘independent websites’ now will have access to realestate.com.au and domain.com.au so your home will still appear on these property search engines, even if on a lesser scale. If you prefer to have the control, and feel confident in doing this, then not using an agent may be for you. It should be noted that some agents will see this as an opportunity and contact you asking for access to the property to establish a relationship and gauge whether you may want to list the property with them.
If not using an agent is due to a financial choice, another cost that may surprise is the cost of advertising. Marketing on popular webpages and in newspapers is not be underestimated. Most agencies will get discounts on advertising packages due to the large scale nature of their companies, whereas an individual will be paying at a higher rate. The same thing applies to professional photography and ad copy writing, where paid professionals have the skills, tools and equipment to best sell your home and this may require the efforts of a little photoshopping to highlight certain features and some clever text to first grab the attention of potential buyers.
By investing a little time to find the right agent for you and your property, signing an agreement opens you to so many more opportunities and the greater possibility of selling your property for more. The agent is working for you. As well as having built a vast array of relationships with current active buyers, established agencies will have access to a well-developed database and will find the target audience that you are looking for. The right buyer will be found in a shorter time frame if you know about their needs and what they are looking for. A database will provide you with quality buyers. Your nominated agent will organise all marketing including photography, videos and all the online and print advertising. Open homes and inspection times are scheduled to suit you around your lifestyle. You will also find by listing with an agent statistics show that your home will sell in a shorter time frame. Listing with an agent puts the responsibility on them, and you have to trust the fact that their expertise and knowledge enables them to handle the sales process easily and professionally.
You can decide on a private treaty sale with a set price or price guide, or they will set a marketing campaign leading up to auction where larger numbers of potential buyers will ensure your property sells for its greatest price possible. (One last point- agents work on commission. It is absolutely in their best interests to find you the best buyer for the highest price)
It’s no secret that I am a licensed real estate agent so of course I’m an advocate for selling with one.
Damon Sellis
