Once you have decided that you would like to sell your home or land, there is always the question of whether you are better off listing with a realtor, or trying to do a for sale by owner. Many people underestimate what a licensed real estate agent can do for them.

Although it is likely that you can and will be able to sell your home on your own, it is going to take alot of work and patience, and more than likely it will take much longer to get what you want for your property. Listing with a realtor gives you an advantage over other For Sale By Owner propertes because they are not listed on the MLS, not as accessable on the internet, usually not as noticeable due to poor signage and lack of good advertisement.

When you make the decision to list with an agent, you are making your life, and the selling process much easier. In a tough market, the more exposure your home gets, the better. Simply being listed on the MLS gives thousands of house hunters and agents from all over access to what you are selling.

Many people are concerned with having to pay a commission. In fact, the main concern people have is losing money unneccesarily, which is understandable. You have to think, though, that you are actually losing money if you are paying for advertising, traveling to showings, and especially if you are currently paying for two homes while you wait to sell. In truth, time is money in the real estate world and most of us can't afford to waste either of the two. Commissions are not fixed, and if you voice your concerns with your real estate broker, or listing agent they will be happy to work with you on coming up with what you feel is fair.

Another important factor is that a realtor will not be emotionally attached to your home. Their job is to look at your home as a business, an investment, and nothing more. They will be working to make a sale and get you the money you are looking for. Many people find that they get caught up in the emotions of losing a place they have called home, and made memories in. It is difficult for anyone to put a monetary value on something so close to them. Your realtor, while sensitive to these feelings, is trained to deal with the business side of the process.

Usually once you have decided to put your home on the market, you begin to pay close attention to what else is for sale in and around your neighborhood. Although you may look at one house and feel yours is worth more, or look at another and feel yours is worth less, it is best to let an expert determine what your property is worth.

Any realtor can come do what is called a comparative market analysis, or CMA. This is a free service, and can only be thought of as a professional opinion of your home as compared to other homes on the market, or homes that have sold recently in your area. It does not necessarily determine the true worth of your home. If you want to know the true value of your home, you need a professional appraisal. The appraisal can be a bit costly, but worth it in many instances.

At any rate, your realtor will be able to work with you in coming up with a fair asking price for your home. Any good real estate agent will come into the home that you wish to sell, look around, possibly take measurements, and then go do the CMA. They will come back with the amount that they feel your house will go for in the current market. This is why you need to choose an agent that you trust. You will be putting alot of responsibility on them, and you have to be sure that they are willing to work hard to get your house sold.