When a seller prepares to put their home on the market, they have one of two choices: working with a real estate professional to sell their home, or attempting to sell it on their own (aka “FSBO” – for sale by owner).
The reason most sellers decide to go the FSBO route is to avoid paying a commission to a real estate agent. But turns out, FSBO doesn’t save money at all. In fact, in the end, it may cost you.
According to the 2017 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, homes sold using an agent sell for significantly more than FSBOs. In fact, the study found that the median price of a home sold by an agent was $250,000, compared to $190,000 for FSBOs—an astounding $60,000 difference.
Will you avoid paying a commission fee if you go the FSBO route? Yes. But if your home sells for $60,000 less than it would have with an agent, it’s not worth it. The math simply wouldn’t add up in your favor.
The Takeaway
FSBO might help you avoid paying a commission to a real estate agent, but when you factor in the expertise an agent brings to the table and the higher price they’ll be able to get for your home, FSBO isn’t a way to save money. In fact, it’s the opposite.