Are you thinking about selling your house? Perhaps you’re discussing the pros and cons of how to sell your house and wondering, “Should I Hire A Real Estate Agent To Sell My Home Or should I Sell To An Investor?” If so then you will want to take a minute to read this article!

Selling a house is a big decision with a lot of different considerations, so you’re smart to be thinking through all the steps of the process.

Should I Hire A Real Estate Agent To Sell My Home Or Sell To An Investor?

Pros And Cons Of Working With An Agent

Pros:

• The agent has probably done this before so they know the process.  But so often we talk to sellers who list with a friend or family member who is fairly new or does not know your area and they don’t really know quite what they are doing, so be sure to look for experience.
• You won’t have to do the actual negotiating – the agent takes the calls and then brings explains each offering as you go back and forth.  They will advise you with their expertise and let you make the final decisions.
• The good experienced agent will guide you step-by-step as well as share their best service providers like title companies, repair people, movers, etc.
• And because, on average, listed homes sell for more, you should get a higher sales price.

Cons:

• Some of the experts will tell you that you have to pay to fix up your house before you list it, which can make the home easier to sell and sell for more.  But some agents will list your home as-is, with no repairs, no nothing.  We have agents we work with every day that will do so.
• Cleaning up your house is always advisable when listing a home.  The typical person looking at your home is looking for something to live in and your clutter and possibly dirt could turn them off.
• You’ll have to wait while an agent shows your house to buyers and they will ask you to leave while they do so.  And depending on the condition of the home and how accurately it is priced for that condition, it could take months of leaving while the agents show it.– This could take months, it all depends on the condition and the price. . . .
• … which means you’ll have to pay bills, taxes, and insurance on the property the whole time the house is being shown.  Note if you have a vacant house that that insurance can get expensive.
• You’ll have to pay the agent’s commissions out of your negotiated sales price and if your buyer is going to live in it and get a loan to buy it, you will probably have repairs to make before it closes.

Pros And Cons Of Working With An Investor

Pros:

• The investor will have done this often and know what they are doing.  Again, not always, so do look for an experienced investor who has access to cash and has been doing this for a while.  Here at kcmoHomeBuyer, we have been buying houses since 2000 and have cash ready to go.
• You’ll know exactly what the offer is right away – there’s no guesswork or gambling on the market (but do watch for the bait-and-switch investors who offer you one price, complete inspections and then lower their offer)
• You don’t have to pay to fix up your house, we make our profit by buying the fixer-uppers and then making the repairs, so we don’t mind the old roof or broken handle.
• You don’t have to clean up your house.  We are not here to look at your stuff, we are here to look at the house.  Your stuff is going to go away.  The only time we do need to get around stuff is when we need to look at the foundation.
• You don’t have to wait months to find a buyer and then for them to close.  We look, we make the offer, we write the contract and then we close on your time frame, in a week or a month or whatever works for you.
• … which means you don’t have to pay bills, taxes, and insurance on the property that whole time
• You don’t have any commissions or fees to pay.  Let me back you – if the home has enough equity, you have no out of pocket to pay with an investor or an agent.  All the fees come out of the proceeds of the sale.  Fees are about the same with a Realtor or an Investor, but with the Realtor, you have the added expense of the commission.  Fees can include the title insurance policy, the closing fees, filing and wiring fees, tax prorations and homeowner association prorations.  Some investors will pay all the fees for you, but then their price will be lower to cover those expenses.  You will get a better price if you pay your own fees.

Cons:

• You might not get “market price” for your house – an investor may pay less because they must make a profit.  So if full retail price is your goal, you need to list it.
• And if you are working with a newbie investor, they might back out at the last minute.

Which Is Better For You?

For many property owners it comes down to just a few simple questions:

1. How soon do you want to sell?
2. Would you rather gamble and see IF you can get market price (but pay more in bills) or know right away exactly how much you’ll get (and save money in all those expenses)?

When you answer those questions then you’ll discover the answer to your question, “Should I Hire A Real Estate Agent To Sell My Home Or Sell To An Investor?”

Ready To Sell Soon?

If you’re thinking of selling and have questions about the process or to see how much we can offer for your property, just reach out to us and let us know about the house and we’ll see how we can help – we might be able to give you a cash offer to buy your house right away or we might be connected you with a great real estate agent that we know and work with. Just call us or click here now and fill out the form and we’ll get back to you right away.