If you’ve been thinking about putting your home on the market and are planning to do it yourself — hold that thought. Whether you’re looking to save on paying commission or feel your family’s home needs a worthy new buyer, we’re here to enlighten you. The success rate of sale-by-owner homes is not impressive. As with any service, using a professional has its advantages. Here are our top 5 reasons to work with an agent when you sell your home.

1. MAXIMIZE VALUE

It’s true, when you hire an agent to sell your home, you end up paying them around 5% of your sale price. While that can seem like a substantial sum when writing that cheque, I assure you, they’re worth every penny. Real estate agents understand how to navigate the market and are able to valuate and price your property in a way that you aren’t trained to. Their experience in the market and expertise in negotiations means they can maximize your sale price, likely netting you a much higher profit, even with their commission fee.

2. PROFESSIONAL MARKETING

Selling your home is more than putting a for sale sign on the yard and listing it on Kijiji. Real estate agents do much more than meets the eye. Before they list your property, they’re going to professionally stage and photograph your property to ensure it commands attention. They’ll put together an entire marketing campaign around your property and market it to a much broader network than you could ever do on your own. Having these steps done professionally can help sell your home faster and for more money.

3. STAGING

Staging a home when selling elevates a property to its full potential and can help it sell for more money. It can be as simple as decluttering and removing your personal items or as in-depth as refurnishing the entire place altogether. The goal is to present buyers with a home they can envision themselves living in. Some agents charge extra for this process, but we do this as a value-add service when you list with us. Check out more on our complimentary staging service here.

4. HASSLE-FREE

I’m sure you’re starting to get the idea—selling a home is no easy task. When you hire a real estate agent, they’ll take care of everything from start to finish. Beyond the preparation of listing your home, you also have to find time to show the property to prospective buyers. Agents make the entire process hassle-free. They’ll schedule all of your showings, host open houses, and vet worthy prospective buyers. They’ll handle all negotiations and paperwork, and you don’t have to lift a finger. And because they’re professionals, they’ll be able to make this all happen far faster than you could ever do on your own.

5. BUYERS & AGENTS DON’T LIKE DEALING WITH OWNERS

One big disadvantage to selling your own home is that most buyers don’t want to deal with owners directly. Owners will often have unrealistic expectations for the outcome of their home and as a result, their emotions can influence their ability to successfully sell their home both quickly and for the right price. Remember, this is your largest asset — leave it to the pros.