You don’t have to hire a real estate agent to sell your house. Plenty of people choose the For Sale By Owner route, and it can be done. But what often gets overlooked is that when you go FSBO, you’re also signing up to do everything a realtor does. That means you’re not just putting a sign in the yard, you’re handling the marketing, the calls, the showings, the negotiations, and the contracts. It can be done, but it can also be a lot more than most folks expect.
Why FSBO Can Be Tough
The hard part about FSBO is that no two sales are the same. One deal might be straightforward, while the next throws curveballs with repairs, financing, or even title issues that take weeks to untangle. A broker deals with those things every day, while a homeowner usually runs into them for the first time. And when it’s your first time, mistakes can be expensive.
Pricing is another big pitfall. It’s tough to be objective when it’s your own home. Sellers often price too high because of emotional attachment, or they undercut themselves trying to avoid scaring buyers off. A broker has the tools and market data to hit the right number. That makes the difference between a home that lingers and one that sells at a fair value.
The Workload You Take On
Selling a house is not a part-time task. It’s fielding calls, scheduling showings, keeping up with paperwork, making sure buyers actually qualify, and then negotiating every detail once an offer comes in. When you go FSBO, you’re taking that all on yourself while still juggling your job, your family, and everything else in life.
Speaking as someone younger in this business, I see it this way. Your time is valuable. If you’re spending evenings and weekends trying to manage a sale, that’s energy you’re pulling from somewhere else. Hiring a broker is not just about paying someone to show your home, it’s about having someone take on the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most to you.
Why a Broker Can Be Worth It
A good broker brings more than just experience. They’re focused on the client, not just the paycheck. They’ve been through tough negotiations, they know how to keep deals from falling apart, and they have connections to inspectors, lenders, and contractors you’re likely going to need anyway. That network alone saves time and headaches.
And when problems pop up, which they usually do, having someone in your corner who’s already solved them dozens of times makes all the difference. Instead of scrambling for answers, you’ve got someone steady guiding you through it.
Closing Thoughts
Can you sell your home without a realtor? Sure. People do it. But going FSBO means carrying the whole process yourself, and for many homeowners, that turns out to be more than they bargained for.
From where I stand, I’ve seen enough to say th
at having a broker is worth it. Not because they put a sign in the yard, but because they put the client first, protect their interests, and keep the deal on track. When you add up the stress, the time, and the risk, that kind of support is worth its weight in gold.
