{"id":5923,"date":"2025-08-07T10:59:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T10:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/07\/why-selling-without-an-agent-can-cost-you-more-than-you-think\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T10:59:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T10:59:47","slug":"why-selling-without-an-agent-can-cost-you-more-than-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/07\/why-selling-without-an-agent-can-cost-you-more-than-you-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Selling Without an Agent Can Cost You More Than You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Why\n

Cutting out the agent might seem like a smart way to save when you sell your house. But here\u2019s the hard truth.<\/p>\n

Last year, homes that sold with <\/em>an agent went for almost <\/strong>15% more<\/strong><\/a> than those that sold without <\/em>one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>That gap is pretty hard to ignore. And with more homes on the market to compete with right now, selling on your own is a mistake that\u2019s going to cost you.<\/p>\n

This Isn\u2019t the Market for DIY Selling<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A few years ago, you might\u2019ve gotten away with a \u201cFor Sale By Owner\u201d (FSBO) sign in your yard, navigating the process on your own. That\u2019s because homes were flying off the market and buyers were pulling out all the stops. But that\u2019s just not the case anymore. With more inventory than we\u2019ve seen in years, we\u2019re not in a \u201clist it and they will come\u201d market anymore. You need professional expertise.<\/p>\n

A yard sign and some photos you take on your own won\u2019t cut it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right now, the housing market is getting back to what most would consider a more normal balance of buyers and sellers, and that really changes the game. According<\/a> to Realtor.com<\/em>, the latest number of listings for sale was the highest it\u2019s been in any month of July since 2019 <\/strong>(see graph below):<\/em><\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>And while inventory growth is going to vary by local market, nationally, this graph shows the number of homes for sale is inching back toward normal.<\/p>\n

With more listings available, that means buyers can be more selective. They\u2019ll compare your home to others on price, condition, photos, location, and more. If yours doesn\u2019t stand out, it will get skipped over.<\/p>\n

More Inventory = More Competition for You<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Selling today requires the latest pricing strategy, expert prep work, professional marketing, and strong negotiation skills. And if you\u2019re not bringing all of that to the table, chances are, you\u2019re going to feel it in your bottom line.<\/p>\n

More Homeowners Are Turning To the Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n

That\u2019s why even more home sellers are working with agents today. Data<\/a> from the National Association of Realtors<\/em> (NAR) shows a record-low percentage of homeowners sold without an agent last year. And the few sellers who tried to sell on their own realized their mistake pretty quickly.<\/p>\n

According to Zillow<\/em>, 21% of homeowners ended up hiring an agent anyway after struggling to sell on their own. <\/strong><\/p>\n

So, why take the risk? With a local pro, you\u2019ll have:<\/p>\n