Selling a house with or without an agent

we sold through a real estate agent. The agent viewed our house and immediately named a price, about 10,000 euros higher so there would still be room for negotiation. After about 5 days, someone had already reserved it and had to make a down payment of about 3,000 euros (to prevent someone from reserving and then backing out). Afterwards, the buyer had to provide a bank confirmation for the purchase price, whereupon the notary appointment was made. I would never put up a sign, that is only done in our area with houses that nobody wants, as a last resort.

Best regards Sabine

The agent's last resort when he realizes that his exaggerated price expectation cannot be enforced on the market.

Especially in sought-after locations, there is nothing against a personal ad/sign with the note "from private". To me, that rather means I am specifically and preferentially addressing neighbors, locals, and people from the area – and it has nothing to do with "leftover stock". My opinion.

I'm curious how you will decide. I think I would list it high and then wait to see if someone responds.

There are a few parameters that can determine whether to sell with or without an agent.

1. Effort - how much does the agent take off your hands and how much is that worth to you?
2. Price - is the agent able to achieve a better price than you or not, and what is the bottom-line effect of that?
3. Timeframe - how much faster do you get rid of the house and how important is that to you?
4. Security - what added value does the agent provide in selecting buyers and does he protect you from any talkers who then have no money or financing or any other trouble?
5. Attitude - do I allow a service provider a good profit or not, and does this even come at my expense?

It’s not that difficult once you break it down, a simple decision.

Properties that are too expensive, which then remain on the real estate market for weeks without being sold, are initially considered burned in the eyes of many buyers. If the price then goes down as well, something must have been wrong. So it is better to either set a more realistic price right away, possibly with a small markup, or go straight to a bidding process.

Yes, I agree. That's why I dismissed the post from HilfeHilfe as "as long as it makes noise" as so often and nothing helpful.

It would not be wise to offer too high. The price should be market-appropriate and realistic.

Treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself. If you, as a buyer, are okay with a bidding process - then do it. If not, don’t.

I wouldn’t set aside my aversion to exploiting the market in this way just because I would be on the side of the profiteers over a few bucks - and I haven’t done that either.