5 Reasons You’re Better Off Without An Agent

If you’re planning to sell your home and buy a new one you’ll have plenty on your plate. It can feel like a relief to turn the sale of your home over to a real estate agent, vs. selling your home yourself (FSBO), as a way of insulating yourself from that side of your move. Under ideal circumstances, that can work beautifully. Unfortunately, that’s not always the way it plays out. The problem is that your real estate agent may not be the professional you think he is.

As a real estate broker myself, I’ve noticed a steady and unmistakable decline in the level of professionalism in the industry. There are several reasons why I think this is the case, and you need to be aware before listing your home with one.

Many Real Estate Agents are Part-timers

The real estate business is not nearly as easy as most people think that it is. In order to be successful at it, you have to treat it like a business. Unfortunately, a large percentage of real estate agents work at it no more than on a part-time basis. Some are using it to supplement their earnings from a full-time job, while others are using it as an extra source of income for retirement.

The point is, you are never going to get a full-time performance out of a part-time real estate agent. And given that so many are part timers, there’s a very good chance that this is an issue you will confront in listing your home.

Some are Just Dabbling

As I said above, many people think that the real estate business is easy. That brings in people who are just dabbling in it. They can often be less attentive than part-timers, because they view it more as a game.

They may be dabbling in it because they find the business to be interesting. They may be trying to sell a house or two so that they can get a down payment on their next car. Or they may even be fishing around for a new business venture. But whatever the reason, they will do a less than professional job in the listing and selling of your home.

A Lot of Agents Are Newbies

The real estate business has one of the highest rates of employee turnover of any industry. This is due in part to the fact that it is fairly easy to get into the business. You simply take a course, and then pass an exam and you’re in. It’s not at all like the rigorous education standards that are required for other professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, or engineers.

This attracts a lot of people to the business. They get in for a while, get involved in a deal or two, and then leave pretty quickly. If you happen to list your property with this kind of agent, it could end up being a complete disaster before it’s over. Newbies simply don’t have the experience or the instincts to make a sale work.

Many Are Searching For Career Salvation

There is an excellent chance that most people have considered going into the real estate business at some time or other in their lifetimes. Never is this more true than for people who suddenly become disenfranchised. It could be the loss of a lifetime job, or the collapse of a business. But lacking other career alternatives, they often go into some sort of sales career, and real estate is a very common destination.

They’re drawn to the business for all of the same reasons others are, but also by a desire for riches. It’s a fact that there are a lot of millionaires in America who made their fortunes in real estate. Some of them did start out as real estate agents, and that can be the attraction to a person who suddenly lacks career direction.

Some people in this situation actually do develop into true real estate professionals. The problem is that many of them don’t, and real estate just ends up being a stop on the way to a different destination.

The Business Attracts Casual Attitudes

Not only is the real estate business easy to enter, but it can seem to the outside observer to be an easy business too. The perception is that you sell a couple of houses, and make many thousands of thousand dollars that will enable you to kick back, relax, and even to travel if you want. Then when your money runs out, you just come back and sell a couple more houses.

Rinse and repeat your way to a new career and an easy life.

That perception comes from the real estate commission itself. After all, if you can earn a 6% commission on the sale of a $500,000 house, that’s $30,000! Even if you have to split that with your broker and with another agency, it’s still a lot of money. You sell two houses, and you have enough money to live for three or four months without having to lift a finger.

That kind of mindset breeds a casual attitude. If you list your home with such an agent, the outcome can be downright toxic. The agent will never be around if and when things get ugly, as he or she will simply be waiting for the closing to make a payday.

Moral of the Story: You Might Do Better Selling Your Home Yourself (FSBO)

It may be comforting to believe that most real estate agents are professionals, but that’s not the reality at all. The agent types that I described above are all too common throughout the industry. This is why people who list their homes with agents often experience negative surprises.

The best way to get around that is to take matters into your own hands, and sell your house yourself. Today, with the Internet, it’s easier to do than ever.  If you’ve ever thought of selling your home FSBO, I can show you how with my Selling Your Home Made Simple program. Everything you need to know to sell your home yourself is in the program, and that will enable you to save tens of thousands of dollars on the real estate commission.

And avoid a business encounter with a real estate agent who’s not quite the professional you think he is.

( Photo by chefranden )

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