Sale By Owner

For many people who have decided that they want to sell their home they begin to think of ways that they can avoid the hassle of a real estate agent. After all, a real estate agent pretty much acts like a middleman and is going to take a percentage of the profit made through a home sale in their commission. If you find yourself thinking along these lines, undoubtedly you want to know the answer to the question, "How many people sell their homes themselves?"

Going Alone

Although most home sellers use the services provided by real estate agents, there are still approximately 20% of home sellers that sell their home without the assistance of a real estate agent. Even though this is quiet a large percentage, it is important to place some disclaimers on these figures as many homes that are sold without the assistance of a real estate agent have special circumstances.

One of the most common techniques employed by home sellers that do not use a real estate agent is to advertise the availability of their home as FSBO or as it known as For Sale by Owner. This is a popular technique employed by individuals that cannot afford the services of a real estate agent and also by those home sellers who live in a neighborhood that is enjoying local market real estate conditions that benefit the seller.

Selling To Family

Also, some homeowners are able to sell their homes without marketing their home. Often they are able to do this because they are selling their home or transferring property ownership of their home to family members. These property transactions between family members make up a large percentage of direct home sales statistics. Additionally, many tenants have the opportunity to purchase the property that they are currently living in from landlords. This arrangement benefits both the tenants and landlords as the landlord is able to bypass the use of a real estate agent and the tenant is able to purchase the home that they have been living in for sometime.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, it is recommended that you attempt to sell your home directly. However, most home sellers find that using the services of a real estate agent will maximize the profits that they receive through a home sale. Additionally, real estate agents perform many of the duties required in selling a home, which frees up a substantial portion of time for the home seller.