3 reasons not to use a real estate agent

You don't need an agent to sell your home because it's a simple process, you have marketing tools that are effective and trusted (Picket Fence), and you will save a ton of money. So an agent is not needed.

Below is a list of why you don't want an agent involved...there are many more.

1. Cost - Agents charge a 6% commission on the eventual selling price. So, if it sells for $300,000 that's an $18,000 commission..ouch!  Notice we said 'eventual selling price'. Stanford Univ. economists discovered that agent listed properties sell for 5.9 to 7.7% LESS than similar properties sold by the owners! Read article LINK as to why (basically the agent coerces the seller to drop the price for a quick sale and a quick buck for the agent).

Doing the math on a home worth $300,000.

The price drops $21,000 to $279,000 ($300,000 less 7%) because the agent negotiates in their own self interest. Now take a 6% commission on the $279,000 which is $16,740, now add the $21,000 and the seller gets taken for a total of $37,740!

With Picket Fence, you sell it easily by yourself and keep the entire $300,000 value of your home! Minus the total costs of selling (advertising + attorney's fees = ~$1,300 average)

2. Convenience - Selling through an agent is a major hassle because you must jump on their schedule. You have to keep your home in showing condition just in case an agent shows it that day. Can you be certain you'll leave your home in showing condition everyday? Of course not. 

With Picket Fence, you schedule your own appointments and show it when it is convenient for YOU! One of the most frequent comments we receive from our customers is that it is actually much more convenient and enjoyable to sell on your own than it is with an agent!

3. Security and Privacy - Agents will want a 'lock box' on your front door knob. Basically, this is a lockable box that holds the key to your front door. The problem is that any realtor or anyone with access to that realtor's key/combination (sibling, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, etc) also has access to the key and to your house. You'll never know who has been in your house that day...or, why does it seem like things are moved...or, did I leave my underwear drawer open???...or worse!

What can be worse? An agent, or someone close to the agent, with a substance abuse problem. This link takes you to a news report of a prominent local realtor who was caught red-handed going through a listed property's medicine cabinet.

When selling through Picket Fence, you set up your own appointments. Using common-sense screening procedures you can be confident that you know who the potential buyers are, you will accompany them in your house, and you will know what they did while visiting your home. PLUS you can give them a personal and knowledgeable showing that only you - the owner - can give...which is one reason why Picket Fence homes sell so much faster than agent-listed homes!