How to Avoid Paying Realtor Fees When Selling a House

When it’s time to sell your house, many people assume that your only option is to hire a real estate agent.

However, the pricey fee split by the buyer’s and seller’s agent can make you think twice about calling up your local real estate firm.

Some people might choose to sell their homes on the open market without the help of a real estate agent. In fact, FSBO methods accounted for 8% of home sales in 2020.

Selling your house this way can be time-consuming, stressful, and difficult. Are you wondering how to avoid paying realtor fees when selling a house and what your options are?

Let’s take a look at what you need to know.

How Much Does a Realtor Cost?

While it can differ between circumstances, the standard commission for a real estate transaction is usually 6% of the sale price.

That might not sound like that much, but when you’re talking about something as expensive as a home, the numbers get big quickly.

Usually, the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent split this commission. This means that each realtor gets 3% of the sales price of the home.

Selling a house can be expensive, and one big part of that expense is hiring a real estate agent.

It is common for people who are either buying or selling a property to work with a real estate professional of one sort or another. However, their commissions are quite high and can cut into the profit you stand to make from selling your home.

Is it worth it to use a real estate agent, or are you better off figuring out how to avoid realtor fees when selling?

If you are selling a house that is worth $300,000, $18,000 is going to pay the real estate agents, with each of them walking away with $9,000. That’s a pretty big fee, and it leads many to wonder if there are other options besides hiring a realtor.

4 Ways to Avoid Paying Realtor Fees When Selling a House

Hiring a real estate agent is a completely optional step in the house selling process. While it might make sense for certain types of buyers or sellers or certain types of properties, there are definitely ways to avoid paying the commission.

1. Sell Your House For Cash – Usually As-Is With No Repairs Needed

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to sell your house? Have you had horrible experiences with the long, drawn-out process of selling to buyers who are receiving financing for the purchase?

If you’re wondering “how can I avoid paying commission” as well as “how can I sell my house fast,” selling your house as-is for cash might be an appealing option.

When you sell your house for cash, it doesn’t have to be a multi-month long endeavor riddled with staging, showings, cleaning, and stress.

While no deal is final until the papers are signed, the keys are handed over, and the money exchanges hands, cash sales are much less likely to fall through than normal home sales that depend on financing.

A good number of delays in closing occur because of issues that arise from the inspection. As-is buyers might not require an inspection at all. Even if they do require an inspection, as-is buyers aren’t going to require you to complete repairs in order for the deal to go through.

You won’t have to deal with the headache of readying your home for the market, either. It can be time-consuming and expensive to do everything necessary to fetch a high price on the open market.

When you sell your house for cash in Harrisburg, PA, the investor is buying your home in the condition it’s currently in, warts and all.

If you’re interested in selling your home in Pennsylvania super fast, contact our team at First Choice Home Buyers today and get a free, no obligation cash offer.

2. Sell Your House For Sale By Owner – Listing Your Home on The Market

Another option is selling your house “for sale by owner” (FSBO). This means that you are listing your home on the open market without the help of a real estate agent.

Some people attempt this because they don’t want to pay realtor commissions, but they might not realize just how much work they are signing on for.

Real estate agents do have a lot of responsibilities, and when you sell FSBO you are taking on the job yourself. On top of that, a realtor’s negotiating skills can help you get a higher sales price, meaning that you can actually make more money with a real estate agent even when you factor in the hefty commission.

3. Sell Your House to Someone You Know

Maybe you’re lucky enough that you already know a person who wants to buy your house. If this is the case, you can safely forgo the real estate agent and simply hire a real estate attorney to help with the closing paperwork.

However, selling your house to someone you know can cause other issues.

No matter how close you are to the person that you are selling your home to, things can get hairy when you’re dealing with such a big financial transaction. It is definitely best to involve an attorney, which will, of course, cost money, in order to get everything and writing and try to avoid the deal breaking up your relationship with the buyer.

4. Sell Your House to a Cash Buyer

If you’re looking into how to avoid paying realtor fees when selling a house, you might be interested in selling your house to a cash buyer. This method is quick, allows you to set your own closing date, and avoids many of the headaches associated with selling your home.

When you sell your house for cash, it also means you don’t have to shell out a ton of money fixing up your place, cleaning it, and hiring a real estate agent. You don’t have to spend months preparing your property by boosting the curb appeal and repainting the walls. This is a fast and easy way to sell your home without having to worry about realtor fees.