New Jersey Real Estate Digest: FSBO's May Ask: Is An Agent Really Needed?

Monday, September 11, 2006

FSBO's May Ask: Is An Agent Really Needed?

With the Internet making more tools available to do-it-yourself homeowners and home buyers one might ask if an agent is really necessary. Amy Hoak of MarketWatch wrote:

”Indeed, the housing slowdown now unfolding only underscores how crucial of a role that brokers have as property owners brave chilly new headwinds. This past week saw a steady drumbeat of reports highlighting a severe slump taking hold, including industry data showing the number of homes on the market soaring to a 13-year high.”

Internet savvy does not sell houses. While it assists the home buyer in communicating the style and area of a future home, getting the best price requires negotiation skill. Companies may promise to charge you less than real estate professionals but if you house sits on the market and doesn’t sell, has few agents actively showing the property, it will not sell. A real estate professional uses staging and targeted marketing to generate interest. The combination, staging and interest, sells houses at full market value or more.