The digital revolution (is that still happening or have we revolted now?) has delivered a host of new standards in advertising, communication and exposure.  Without question there are now opportunities open to almost everyone, that didn’t exist twenty years ago. 

Consider the equipment and technical knowledge, or even just the time that a genuine hobby photographer in the pre-digital age needed to invest in order to take the kind of photos that we routinely snap on our mobiles today. Or the effort and cost an up and coming band might have expended recording a great quality demo for a record company. Twenty years ago you had to be an author or a journalist to have your written work, your book, your articles, your op-eds published and read (and yet here I am).

This proliferation of opportunity isn’t uniformly regarded as a positive. I’ve heard it argued that despite the explosion of the term “artisan” that much of the artistry of many trades and professions is being greatly diluted by YouTube or Google “educated” practitioners (yes, I listen to myself make arguments). 

The cost of using a real estate agent to sell a property is one of the most complained about service fees in Australia (source: everyone I’ve ever spoken to about real estate). I’m lead to believe, by these same people, that the process of selling a property is the simplest of things. Now, I can’t possibly prove this, but it certainly feels like it has never been easier to sell your own home or investment property. Given that anyone and everyone is entitled to and capable of advertising their property across any of the media outlets utilised by real estate agents and agencies, it begs the question – why don’t we see many people selling their own properties?

If the answer is simply “time”, I’d ask back “why then complain about the cost”? If it’s not worth taking the time off work, paying for more childcare, or whatever else might constrain your availability to do it yourself, then it stands to reason that you’re getting value out of having someone else do it. The reality is a lack of time is never the reason people engage a professional to conduct one of, if not, the biggest transactions in their life. People use an agent because it is their best chance of getting a result they’re satisfied with (don’t underestimate satisfaction; satisfaction is way, way better than disappointment). 

I’m known for labouring a point so I will; buying and selling property is a really big deal! There is a lot of money changing hands. If you’re selling a family home it’s an extremely personal and often emotional transaction. What are you doing with money from the sale; buying a bigger family home, renovating, retiring, divorcing? It is imperative that you have an “agent” working for you, who is not only an area specialist, a skilled negotiator, an expert in property marketing, with a database of buyers desperate to buy your property, but who can keep you at an arm’s length from the critical feedback, tension and emotion that might cloud your ability to otherwise make better strategic decisions. 

If you’re someone that genuinely doesn’t think real estate agents fees are worth it, next time you want to sell a property seriously consider selling the place yourself!