Hiring A Real Estate Agent vs. A Direct Sale To Sell My House Fast in Port St. Lucie

Direct sale

A direct sale is when the seller contacts a home flipper, a professional home-buying company, or someone they know who wants to buy a house. These buyers buy your home in its state, whether neglected, new, or even after a disaster like fire, flood, etc. Making a direct sale means they do not have to pay a commission fee.

Selling a home can be a long process. From hiring a real estate agent to closing on a final deal, selling a home is rife with red tape and detailed requirements. Yet while most buyers want a home that's habitable right away and has little needed in the way of repairs, more sellers these days are putting their homes up as-is to skirt the need to fix up the place and still getting more than their asking price. (1)

Difference Between Hiring a Real Estate Agent vs. A Direct Sale to Sell My House

Pricing of a House

Real estate agents do a comparative market analysis before deciding the listing price for a home. Here, they compare similar homes in your area recently sold and factors like age of the home, size, condition and unique features, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the recent updates done on the home. 

Direct buyers are more interested in the after-repair value of the property. When pricing the house, they consider the cost of necessary repairs and renovations and then decide what the house will be worth after making the updates. They are not interested in the home's cosmetic appearance, so they tend to offer low prices compared to what you would get if you listed your house on the open market. 

It makes financial sense to direct buyers when they buy low to sell high. However, you can still get a buyer willing to pay top dollar for the property. Most buyers who give excellent offers are people who are buying houses to live in, especially for houses that need few updates or repairs.

Weeding Out Unqualified Buyers

A real estate agent can find out if the buyer is qualified or if it's a curious neighbor or a dreamer. They are trained to ask questions that determine the seriousness of the buyer. When making a direct sale, it takes a lot of time and energy to show your home and make it look perfect every time a buyer shows up. The homeowner may lack the skills to distinguish severe buyers from buyers who want to waste their time and may also lack the necessary negotiation skills.

The Process of selling

Selling your house through a real estate agent in Port St Lucie follows a standard process. The agent is there to guide you throughout the process and do everything for you, from schedule viewing, open houses, and handing over the paperwork. Once the real estate agent gets an offer, they negotiate the prices on your behalf and draw an official sales contract later. After signing a contract, list your home with Multiple Listing Service and start marketing it to most potential buyers. 

On the other hand, in a direct sale, the seller finds a buyer, negotiates the price, and does the paperwork. The homeowner who uses this method saves a lot of money since they do not have to pay commissions.

Selling Timeframe

It depends on the nature of the market. Your home can be gone in weeks, especially when homes sell a lot in your area. It takes an average of two to six months to sell a home. If the market is not doing well and homes on sale have been sitting on the market for a long time, finding a buyer will take time, even if you have a real estate agent to handle it for you.

You control how slow or fast the Process goes for a direct sale. It depends on your motivation and how fast you can get a buyer. If you want to sell your home urgently, it is possible to get a buyer willing to buy and close the sale immediately. You get your quick cash in direct sales since these buyers don't need renovations or repairs.

Commissions and Fees

In real estate sales, the homeowner pays a commission to the listing agent, who later shares it with the buyer's agent, which adds up to a good percentage of money. Most homeowners end up making renovations first since most buyers, when selling through real estate agents, are interested in the home's cosmetic appearance. It has to come from your pocket if you have to make repairs before selling the property. 

With a direct sale, commissions and fees are the least of your concerns, and you keep all the money from the sale. Even if repairs are needed, the buyer will always find a way to price the house since they will have to handle them independently. If you are looking to sell your house fast in Port St Lucie contact us and we will make you a fair cash offer.

Conclusion

Personal preferences play a significant role in deciding whether to hire a real estate agent or go for a direct sale when selling your house. Some people prefer when someone else handles everything on their behalf, while others prefer handling everything independently. Some people go for direct sales for the numerous options it has that are not available when working with a real estate agent. They value the fact that they can sell their house in its condition. Residents of Port St Lucie who want fast cash sales can go for direct sales, while people who do not have time to handle the sale on their own can go for real estate agents.