'I Will Never Let Someone Take 50K From Me For Doing 4 Hours Of Work,' Says A Home Seller. 'Selling A House The Traditional Way Is Absurd'
A frustrated homeowner got a lot of attention online after criticizing the traditional real estate commission model and declaring they will sell their home without an agent.
'I want to sell my house in the next 6 months and I refuse to pay someone $48,000 to $55,000 to take 6% of the selling price,' the poster wrote on Reddit's real estate forum. 'Selling a house the 'traditional' way is absurd. I will never let someone take 50K from me for doing 4 hours of work. Ridiculous beyond all levels of ridiculousness.'
Is It Worth The Effort?
Many chimed in to agree that paying tens of thousands to a real estate agent, especially on a high-value home, no longer makes sense.
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'Perhaps when houses were 100K to 150K, paying 6% might have made a small amount of sense,' the original poster added. 'But not when you are at $700K, $900K, $1M.'
The seller said they plan to skip the agent and go the For Sale By Owner route by hiring a real estate attorney, paying for professional photos, and using a flat-fee service to get listed on the Multiple Listing Service.
Others who have successfully sold homes on their own were quick to offer tips and support.
'I've sold 4 homes as FSBO in the last 8 years,' one person shared. 'I saved nearly $100K doing it myself. Was it a lot of work? Yup. Was it worth it? Also yup.'
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That same commenter outlined key steps for success: pricing the home based on nearby sales, hiring a good attorney, staging the property, and being ready for showings and inspections. 'I never hired a photographer and I always received compliments on the photos I took,' they added.
Several people recommended flat-fee MLS services, which can cost as little as $100 to $500. Some used Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or yard signs to attract buyers.
Dealing With Buyer's Agents And Legal Pitfalls
While many FSBO sellers said the process was manageable, they cautioned about challenges, particularly dealing with buyer's agents who expect the seller to cover their commission.
'Tell them to work it into their offer! I never turned away people with buyers agents,' one seller explained. 'I just said 'it depends on where your offer comes in.''A few people warned that some agents will refuse to show FSBO listings at all unless they see a promised commission, effectively shutting those homes out of the market.
'Agents are obsessed with comps and cost per square foot,' one seller wrote. 'They don't understand that people will pay more for things like quality finishes, views, and quiet streets.'
Despite mixed opinions on agent value, one retired attorney summed up the legal side like this: 'Real estate agents are a scam. They are glorified set dressers. I know there are great agents out there, but for every great agent, there are 10 pencil pushers that offer nothing beyond taking pictures and sitting at a closing table. A half-decent photographer will do 95% of what a realtor does for far less.'
The original poster remains undeterred. 'I know this area. I know what houses go for,' they said. 'I will do what I need to do and save about 35K in the process. That extra 35K will funnel into buying my next house for cash outright.'
Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here's , starting today.This article 'I Will Never Let Someone Take 50K From Me For Doing 4 Hours Of Work,' Says A Home Seller. 'Selling A House The Traditional Way Is Absurd' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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