Occasionally, homeowners think that selling their own home will save them money. However, most real estate lawyers advise against FSBO (For Sale By Owner) in today’s market. Here are ten reasons why:

1. Your home will receive limited exposure to potential buyers (fewer than 10% of what a good real estate broker will generate), which theoretically means it will take ten to fifteen times longer to sell on the market.
2. Limited exposure will likely lead to a lower selling price. In order to generate the highest price possible for your home you need the maximum exposure possible. Many buyers become suspicious if a home has not sold after a reasonable length of time.
3. Likewise, many serious buyers will recognize that a FSBO home is not in the real estate mainstream; this can sometimes make them wary.
4. The buying process begins after the buyer leaves the home. Real estate professionals are trained to overcome buyers’ remorse—a very common occurrence if the buyer is looking at your home alone.
5. Most buyers find it extremely awkward to negotiate or even to talk directly with sellers, and therefore avoid FSBO properties.
6. Lack of negotiating experience and pertinent information will often result in a lower selling price. At the very worst, it could lead to a possible lawsuit.
7. Most local buyers retain a real estate sales person to represent them, which means that you will probably be negotiating against an experienced professional. This will be true of the majority of qualified buyers.
8. You pay commission to the real estate broker only if they successfully sell your home at the price you are happy with. Expected savings in broker’s fees will be greatly reduced if you offer a selling commission to entice real estate sales representatives to bring potential buyers. In addition, if you are planning to use a lawyer to help you negotiate the offer, your legal fees will be considerably higher.
9. Only real estate sales representatives have access to up-to-date market information. As well, these professionals have the expertise that gives them an edge on negotiating.
10.  Accepting an offer is one thing, ensuring a successful closing is quite another. Real estate transactions often have problems on closing. Your real estate professional can act as a mediator on your behalf. Lawyers must act only on their clients’ instructions and are not paid to negotiate.