![We Are House Buyers in Texas [There is A Reason So Many Sellers Trust Us] logo](https://image-cdn.carrot.com/uploads/sites/64690/2024/05/LJE-Property-Solutions-Buys-Houses-in-Texas.png)
When considering selling your house in Central Texas, remember that you have options! Listing your home on the MLS isn’t the only way to sell. Many people are discovering on how to sell your house without an agent in Central Texas, saving both time and money. Find out how it works in our latest blog!
How To Sell Your House Without An Agent in Central Texas
What are the benefits to listing without an agent?
There are many benefits to cutting out the middleman. One of the biggest advantages is saving money on both commissions and out-of-pocket expenses when listing your home.
To offer a competitive property, you will probably need to make some repairs and upgrades. If you’ve ever done home repairs yourself, you know there are often unexpected costs and multiple trips to Home Depot. Hiring a professional can be even more expensive. Only tackle projects you know you can handle. This isn’t the time to experiment with new wall texturing techniques.
When you sell your home without a realtor, you save on commission fees. A direct sale between private parties lets you keep more money in your pocket. Typically, agents take about 6% of the final sale price as commission, which can add up to several thousand dollars. Additionally, working with an agent usually means signing a listing agreement that gives them the exclusive right to sell your home. Even if you find the buyer yourself, you’ll still owe the agent a commission.
How do I get started?
Set your price carefully by doing your research first. Many homeowners overestimate their home’s value, and relying on sites like Zillow can be misleading due to inaccurate data. Instead, look at the actual sale prices of comparable homes in your area. You can ask a realtor for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) without signing a listing agreement.
If you set your price too high and don’t get interest, you can lower it, but potential buyers will see your pricing history on MLS, Zillow, and Trulia. Frequent price drops can make you seem desperate or suggest there’s an issue with the home. Aim to set a fair and well-thought-out price from the start to avoid these problems. For an accurate valuation, consider hiring a professional appraiser, which usually costs a few hundred dollars.
Work Your Advertising Game
Pictures speak a thousand words! Poor imagery can ruin real estate listings. To sell your house online, you need high-quality photos. If your pictures aren’t professional, hire a photographer—it’s worth the investment. Along with great photos, ensure your listing text provides detailed information about the property. Highlight every amenity and feature. Also, be mindful of Protected Classes in all your advertising to ensure fairness and compliance.
Make It Happen!
Prepare your house for listing by cleaning thoroughly and making any necessary repairs. Start packing early by removing clutter and personal items. Potential buyers prefer not to feel like they are intruding when they visit your home.
Create a list of selling points and upgrades to share with prospective buyers. For example, if you replaced the AC last year and the roof the year before, make sure to highlight these updates. Provide a flyer or brochure with this information and your contact details. Additionally, be prepared to act as a “concierge” for buyers. Just like an agent, you should be able to answer questions about the area. Create a map marking important locations, such as schools and commute times.
You’ve Found A Buyer, Now What?
Create a contract and accept only WRITTEN offers that include a deposit. Consult with an attorney and accept the offer only with their approval. Without an agent, you will need to manage all legal and financial paperwork yourself. It’s best to work with a trusted lawyer and title company.
Are you interested in selling your Central Texas home without using an agent? We can help! If you have any questions or are interested in a no-obligation offer, send us a message now! If you would prefer to speak on the phone, give us a call anytime! 512-230-3469
Frequently Asked Question
Maybe you have a few questions. That’s okay; most people do. So here’s a quick question people ask us… along with our answers. If you still have a question, don’t hesitate to contact us (or give us a call) and we’ll be happy to answer it for you.
Q: How are you different from a real estate agent?
A: Real estate agents list properties and hope that someone will buy them. The agent shows the properties to prospective buyers and then take a percentage of the sale price if they find a buyer. Oftentimes, the agent’s commission is 3-6% of the sale price of your house (so if it’s a $100,000 house, you’ll pay between $3,000 – $6,000 in commissions to an agent). Agents provide a great service for those that can wait 3-6 months to sell and who don’t mind giving up some of that sale price to pay for the commissions. But that’s where we’re different: We’re not agents, we’re home buyers. Our company actually buys houses. We don’t list houses. Since we’re actually the one buying the house from you, and we pay with all cash… we can make a decision to buy your house within a couple of days (sometimes the same day). Again, we make our living by taking the risk to buy the house with our own cash, repair the house, and market it ourselves to find a buyer (which is the hard part in this market).