There is more than one way to sell your Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky house! So many people get wrapped up in the idea of listing, that they don’t explore all of the ways a home can be sold. Many people miss out on saving time and/or money by using the only solution they know – a real estate agent. But, using a real estate agent isn’t the only way to sell a house.
In this article, we will break down the pros and cons of each so you can make a smart and well-informed decision about how you wish to sell!
Pros of Direct Sale a House:
A direct sale offers many benefits people will often look over. What is a direct sale and how do I find these people? A direct sale offer is usually made my a real estate investor. If you’ve ever seen the “We Buy Houses” signs pinned around town, they are usually from direct sale investors.
If you do a quick google search of something like “we buy houses in Cincinnati“, you will find a company like ours who buys homes for cash in NKY and Cincinnati.
First, it can save you a ton of time. Many people who make direct offers are paying in cash, so there is no waiting on the banks to secure the loan. This means you can sell your home in as little as a week! A quick sale will immediately end your financial obligations to the home such as insurance, utilities, and taxes.
In addition, if you are not working with an agent, you will be able to save a ton of money on commissions, agent fees, and listing costs. A real estate agent is typically going to cost you 6% in commissions. This may or may not make the most sense for you financially.
Often, the biggest benefit of a direct sale is that you don’t have to make any repairs or updates to the home. When a home is distressed, it may take a large amount of capital to make the repairs. A direct offer will generally take this into consideration. You can start planning your next steps because you don’t have to worry about managing repairs.
Cons of Direct Sale a House:
The final sale price on a direct sale is often lower than retail. We generally tell our clients that this is a simple math problem. We look at other homes in your area and what they sell for. Then, we back out costs of what needs to happen for repairs, fixed costs and some profit. You can learn more on our Compare page.
Pros of Selling Yourself:
You are in control of everything. You will have all the power and be able to decide your best course of action. Once you sell, you won’t have to deal with paying an agent’s high commission.
Cons of Selling Your House By Yourself:
You are in control of everything. You have to do all the work! You are in charge of advertising, dealing with potential buyers and their agents, reviewing contracts, handling negotiations and dealing with title companies.
Selling your home FSBO can be a huge headache if you aren’t familiar with the process. And because it is your house, you might not be all business, and will instead operate with emotion. You cannot become offended by low offers, or overprice the house when you know it isn’t worth what you are asking.
Pros of Working With an Agent:
A good agent will take care of the sale on your behalf. A GREAT agent will go above and beyond, helping you transition into a new home. An agent should have connections and be able to offer resources to get you settled. Take advantage of the services at their disposals such as photographers and professional stagers. This is I why you are paying them such a high commission!
When we know a home could command full retail, we often refer them to a team of great agents we know in the Cincinnati and NKY area.
Cons of Working With An Agent:
If you sell with an agent, you will be responsible to pay 100% of the commission owed to them. This is typically about 6% of your final sale price. In addition, you will be paying about 2% of the final sale price, toward closing costs. You will also have to pay up front to get the house ready for listing. This includes a professional cleaning, making repairs and cleaning done on a constant basis. There are also no guarantees on when it will sell. You will not know how much you are getting or when you are closing until the very end!
There are many ways to sell your Cincinnati or NKY house. Before you do anything else, make sure you fully research the options available to you. Don’t settle for one option until you learn what other selling methods will mean for you!