The home owner has all the right to sell his own home and why not? It's his title, therefore it is his choice and that makes sense. This is why not everybody is open to the idea of involving an agent to represent and advise the seller, the owner, while marketing the property. On the brighter side an agent can be very helpful because they can quote an accurate price of the property. While a lot of people may disagree with it, especially those who believe their homes are worth more because of the "memories or sentimental values" among other things, the agent knows very well the fair price the house is worth in the market and this helps close the deal. Moreover, the agent can effectively advertise and determine if a certain buyer is qualified. Most importantly, the agent is a professional who is very familiar with real estate laws and contracts. Therefore the agent can expedite the process of selling a home making the experience stress free for the seller.
Unfortunately not all sellers are convinced by the above advantages. Selling a house is a very big decision one cannot afford to make a mistake. Therefore, the seller should also be aware of the cons of selling a home on his own. The price one sets may not be right and this hinders the smooth closing of the deal. Second, there is danger when letting a complete stranger go around inspecting your property. Unlike agents who have been trained how to qualify buyers, home owners may not have the means to check if a stranger is really a buyer or something else. Lastly, preparing the legal documents which includes writing binding business contracts can become a tedious process that any delay may cause the deal to fail. These factors don't absolutely mean that one really needs or doesn't need an agent to sell a house. It only serves as a reminder that one should assess his or her capability of handling big milestone in life.