We are preparing our home for sale. What are the pros and cons of “for sale by owner” home sales?
Every year a certain percentage of home sellers attempt to sell their homes by themselves, without the assistance of a real estate professional. Some are successful, but most give up and list their homes with a REALTOR®. A homeowner who wants to sell his own home can be successful under some circumstances, such as the right home in the right neighborhood in a “seller’s market.” But selling by owner is not as easy as you might think—remember, Indiana requires that a real estate professional be licensed, following an intensive period of study in an approved real estate school and successfully passing the licensing examination. Continuing education is also required of REALTORS® to keep their licenses. The advantages of selling by owner? The primary advantage is saving the real estate professional’s fee. But do you really save that fee? Many buyers who approach a home for sale by owner, or FSBO, are looking for a bargain, hoping that the commission that the seller is saving can be deducted
