Selling a home involves a long list of tasks, not the least of which is determining the appropriate price, and maneuvering through the minefield of other technical, legal and emotional tasks.   Does a hot "sellers market", like we've experienced in Wenatchee real estate (and across the entire nation) the last couple of years, increase the number of homeowners who undertake the task of doing the For Sale By Owner to save the commission fee?  Not according to a recent study done by the National Association of Realtors.  Here is an excerpt from an article on the NAR website:

"Home sellers overwhelmingly depend on real estate professionals to assist them in a successful home sale. Eighty-five percent of sellers used a real estate agent in their recent sales transaction. That is an increase from 82 percent in 2004, and continues an upward trend from less than 80 percent in the late 1990s."

Why is the trend toward using a real estate professional on the rise?  Statistics can be deceiving, but studies have shown that the typical For Sale By Owner homes sell for a median price of 16% less than those marketed by a professional agency.   The article also stated that 53% of those who did sell their home without the help of a professional sold it to someone they knew, and therefore felt they did not need the professional marketing services offered by an agent.   Could they have sold their home for more had they used a professional agency and sold it to a stranger?  Perhaps. 

One can only conclude: The value of the professional overshadows the investment.  Otherwise the trend toward using professional real estate agents would not be on the rise.   If I can help you through the buying or selling maze, please let me know.  

Carol@TopPropertiesWenatchee.com/wenatchee-realestate  
http://TopPropertiesWenatchee.com
http://RealEstateSuccess.blogspot.com