Austin Klar cites a BrightMLS study showing homes sold with an agent fetch 13-23% more than off-market sales. That premium typically beats the 5-6% commission you'd save by skipping an agent.
Home sellers thinking they can sell a home themselves in this market and save some money might want to think again. A study by BrightMLS, which is the MLS covering the Mid-Atlantic region, did a study comparing the prices of homes sold on the market through an agent versus off-market sales. The study showed that in each of the jurisdictions it analyzed over the last 5 years, homes on the market sold between 13% and 23% more than homes sold off-market. Now obviously every home and every situation is going to be different. It's not a one-size-fits-all and one-location-fits-all study. But if you're thinking about selling your home off-market in order to save fees that you'd owe an agent, 5 to 6% of the overall purchase price, do it with eyes wide open because it might be costing you.
