Higher price out of home

Statistics show that homes sold with a real estate agent sell for a higher price. Also, buyers tend to make a lower offer on a home that is For Sale By Owner, because they know that the seller isn't paying commissions, and will therefore net the full offer price.
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LOTS more exposure

Because it's free, most buyers use a real estate agent. They don't drive around looking for homes that are For Sale By Owner - they simply let their agent know what they're looking for, and the agent does the searching. Unfortunately, the agent is not going to drive around looking for F.S.B.O.'s either. He or she will search the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), which is a database containing every home in Utah that is listed by a real estate agent. That means that instead of your home being seen by the few buyers that are out there looking on their own, it will be seen by every agent in the state, as well as all of their clients. In addition, your home will be advertised in the newspaper, local home buying magazines, and the home page of my website, to capture those buyers who are looking on their own.
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Don't have to sit at home all day in case of showings

Unfortunately, there is no specific time of the day that buyers are out looking. That means YOU have to be ready ALL the time, in order to catch everyone who comes along. For those of you who work during the day, the chance of you being there for potential buyers is drastically decreased. When you list your home with an agent, there will be a lockbox on the door so that any real estate agent can show their client through your home, regardless of whether you're there or not. Rest assured, though, that no agent can show your home unless they've contacted us, and we've obtained your permission. In addition, you can make special requests, such as, "No showings after 8:00", "Don't let the dog out of the back yard", etc. That way you're free to go about your day, instead of worrying about showings.
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Higher probability of qualified buyers

As real estate agents, one of the first things we advise our buyers to do is meet with a lender and get pre-qualified. That way we know exactly what they can afford, and we don't waste time looking at homes that are out of their price range. Buyers who look at F.S.B.O.'s are much less likely to be pre-qualified, and more likely to make an offer on your home, only to find out halfway through the process that they don't qualify.
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Sell home faster

Obviously, the more people who come through your home, the faster it will sell. And let's be honest, it's not fun for you or your family to have to keep your home spotless in case a buyer drops by, so the faster, the better. Also, with a higher percentage of pre-qualified buyers, the time between accepted offer and closing is reduced.
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Agent handles the entire process

When selling your home on your own, you are in charge of EVERYTHING! Wouldn't you rather be in charge of NOTHING? Let your agent answer all phone calls, set up all showings, do all negotiating, write up all paperwork, order the title work, keep in contact with the buyer's lender to see that everything is on schedule, help you disclose properly to avoid legal repercussions, set up the appraisal and/or inspection, handle buyer's concerns with the home, make sure deadlines are met, review settlement documents to ensure accuracy, attend closing, and facilitate the exchange of the property. These things can be tricky sometimes, and it's nice to have someone with plenty of experience making sure that things go smoothly.
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Why Not Use a Real Estate Agent?

If you sell your home on your own, you may end up netting a slightly higher amount. Unless, of course, your agent finds that you've listed your home below market value and is able to raise the listing price to cover some, or all of his or her commission. Also, keep in mind that you may end up with an agent knocking on your door with interested buyers, who will end up asking for a 3% commission anyway. Then, you might as well have paid the extra 2-3% to have had an agent from the start.

Well, there you have it. This list was not meant to discourage you from selling your home on your own (although obviously I hope it did), but to inform you of some of the reasons why 80% of all F.S.B.O.'s end up listing with an agent (according to the National Association of Realtors). If you decide not to use an agent, I sincerely wish you the best of luck, and would be happy to answer any questions you might have along the way.
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