by Travis Hiatt, Broker/Owner Realtor

Have you ever thought about selling your home on your own?  Of course you have, you’re human and want to save money.  I can’t blame you!  Real Estate is a tricky game, but when the market is so hot and things are selling so quickly, why not give it a shot?  By now you’ve seen the comps, know the stats, and have looked at any number of online resources to find pricing for your home.  But is that all there is to it?  Of course not, and you know this as well. But heck, “I can figure it out as we go along”, you might think.  There is where the problem might lay.  

Real Estate is a complicated web of forms/contracts, negotiating, marketing, showings, inspections, time crunches, legal documents, possible re-negotiating and so much more!  I explain to people that a realtor is important because it’s not just about the “here-and-now” of the deal, but the preparation, training, and skills obtained over a long period of time. Here’s a way to think about it:  could you defuse a bomb?  Maybe, but do you trust yourself to do it?  Now while a deal blowing up in your face is quite different from a bomb, (and life will go on after the deal) it still feels pretty painful especially when you find out there were steps you could have taken to prevent the issue. 

I know I can’t defuse a bomb, nor would I try! But I can do most real estate transactions and love doing it.  I’ve spent years working at my craft and training others to do the same.  Would you hire the right doctor, lawyer, tradesperson to work for you in a professional capacity? Then it might be a good idea to do that in your real estate transactions as well.  After all, it’s most likely your most valuable asset and there is a lot riding on it.  Think of it this way: the bomb specialist knows exactly which wires to cut and while they save lives, we will help you save time, headaches, and, in a lot of cases, we end up getting you more net equity from your sale.  Here are a few facts collected by NAR (National Association of REALTORS) from the annual surveys of home buyers and sellers.  

  • The median age for FSBO sellers is 57 years
  • 64% of FSBO sales were by married couples that have a median household income of $96,700.
  • FSBOs typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes; FSBO homes sold at a median of $217,900 last year (up from last year), and significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $242,300.  *This average has increased during the pandemic.*

So before you go it your own, make sure you have all the information so the bomb…I mean deal, doesn’t blow up in your face and you don’t leave any money on the table.  

Travis Hiatt

Broker/Owner, REALTOR

Licensed to sell Real Estate in Iowa

NextHome Beyond

1810 Jonathan Street

North Liberty, IA 52317

Phone: 319.560.4410

email: 2tallhiatt@gmail.com

Website: www.NextHomeBeyond.com