Owning your current home might have once been a dream come true. But at a certain point, you may find that it’s time to move on. Whether you’re relocating for a new job, going through a divorce, or facing financial hardship, you might realize you have a need to sell a house fast.
If you’re trying to sell a house quickly, you might assume that working with a realtor is the only way to go. But contrary to popular belief, this isn’t your only option — and in many cases, it could be to your detriment. Let’s take a closer look at why you might want to work directly with a buyer, rather than relying on a real estate agent, if you want to sell a house fast.
Do Sellers Have to Work With Real Estate Agents?
Some sellers mistakenly believe that working with a real estate agent is required for them to find a buyer. This misconception is understandable, as only 7% of all buyers purchase a home directly from the owner. But while working with an agent is seen as the norm, that doesn’t mean it’s necessary. There’s nothing barring you from selling your home yourself. FSBO, or “for sale by owner,” properties are a bit rarer, but they do exist. What’s more, there are some major benefits to selling a home yourself, which we’ll discuss below.
Why Might Sellers Want to Avoid Working With an Agent?
Now you know that working with an agent isn’t a requirement. But is it a good idea to forgo help from a realtor?
It’s true that many real estate agents are highly knowledgeable and can provide you with valuable insights. But keep in mind that they do get paid for their services in the form of commission, which will eat into the profit you make from your home. It’s also worth noting that your agent will likely encourage you to make some major repairs prior to selling. That can mean you’ll spend extra time and money readying a property that you plan to leave. While those upgrades could pay off in the end, it’s always going to be a gamble. And even if selling a house as-is won’t present any real issues, remember that listed properties can sit on the market for months before even receiving an offer. If your aim is to sell a house fast, this reality check can be tough to handle.
Working with an agent doesn’t necessarily mean that your house is doomed to remain on the market for months. But even if you do receive an offer right away, the sales process can take quite a bit of time. You’ll likely have to wait for the buyer to secure mortgage financing, which can cause delays or may even cause the sale to fall through. You’ll also have to deal with inspections and other aspects of negotiations, all of which will slow you down.
When your aim is to sell a house fast and at a fair price, you might want to avoid working with an agent altogether. It may be advantageous for you to work directly with a cash home investor. That way, you won’t have to waste time on making repairs or worrying about mortgage loan approval. Instead, you can sell your home as-is and close the deal in a matter of days. For those who need to relocate quickly or who are in dire need of financial assistance, this can present a much more viable solution.
If you want to sell your house quickly and want to avoid delays, commission fees, and other problems that come along with a traditional listing, you have options at your disposal. For more information or to obtain a no-obligation cash offer for your home, please contact our team today.