Accept a Private Offer on Your Home?

I had a client call me once when I was on vacation. She had received a private offer from a builder, who was trying to get her to sell immediately by claiming that she would save on the commission.

Since we had previously spoken about her home and price range, I advised my client that we could get her more money even after my fees. She agreed and we listed the home and sold it recently with 4 offers. After my fees, she earned $60,000 more than the builder’s private offer.

The lesson here is clear: make sure you have a professional involved when dealing with offers.

However, if you are still considering a private offer, here are a few things to think about:

Do you have the time to acquire the knowledge needed to handle an offer?
Do you think you can fully understand the legal language and requirements of an offer?
Do you know how much the deposit should be and who should hold on to it?

Although you may make a profit by skipping the commission check, just be aware that if something goes wrong, you will also have to shoulder the consequences.

I can tell you that real estate professionals have trained hard for the career we have chosen. We have the certifications, specialized tools, a support community and a code of conduct. Good agents will always work for you because we want to build relationships, not make transactions.