One of the major trends in real estate currently is people attempting to sell their homes via the process known as FSBO. Usually, this is because of the idea that they will save thousands of dollars in commissions. Unfortunately, this is not the case. What is left out of these advertisements for FSBO is the fact that those thousands of saved commission dollars are usually used up and exceeded by completing the tasks that are seen to by a realtor. A realtor is a professional home seller. ask yourself this: if you needed to have a cavity filled would you go see an electrician? No? Then why would you allow a non-professional to sell your most valuable asset? Realtors provide services that are not only designed to ease your home sale but services that are designed to specifically protect your investment. One of the most valuable things that a real estate agent can provide is marketing. Unlike selling by yourself, a realtor has access to a huge variety of advertising mediums. Typically the front lines of which is an already established web presence. In addition to listing your home on the local MLS, an agent will have a personal site that is designed to showcase their listings. This is where most homes for sale are first viewed by prospective buyers. Additional marketing is usually done through newspapers and other print media as well as a variety of flyers and info sheets that are available 24/7. Another aspect of home marketing where a realtor comes in handy is in the relationships they retain with other real estate professionals. A realtor will put much effort into marketing a home to other local realtors to best reach the buying market. Home selling is all about positive exposure for the home in question and only a realtor can provide that degree of exposure. There is a reason that a large percentage of FSBO's eventually end up listing with a realtor to get the coverage and price they deserve.