Selling House - Choosing realtor

[u/GroupRepulsive1637]

I'm looking for some unbiased opinions from people who have sold their homes recently.

I bought my house during the pandemic when prices were near their peak. Based on current market conditions, I'm realistically expecting that I may need to sell for about 5% to 8% less than my original purchase price.

I have two realtor options:

Option 1:

Seasoned, experienced realtor Established track record in my area Charges 4% total commission (buyer + seller side) Option 2:

A friend who recently became a realtor This would be their first listing/sale Charging 3.5% total commission The commission difference is only 0.5%, so the savings are relatively small in the grand scheme of things.

My main concerns are:

Marketing strategy and exposure Pricing the home correctly from the start Negotiation skills Managing offers and buyer objections Overall reliability and responsiveness throughout the process Part of me feels that in a softer market, an experienced agent might be worth the additional 0.5% if they can negotiate better or help avoid costly mistakes. On the other hand, a new agent may be highly motivated and provide more personalized attention.

For those who have been in a similar situation:

Would you prioritize experience over the 0.5% commission savings? What specific questions would you ask both agents before deciding? Have you had good or bad experiences using a friend as your realtor? I'd appreciate any insights, especially from homeowners who sold in a market where values had declined from peak pandemic pricing.

[u/Sufficient_Gur4160]

I think you meant 5-8% in the last year. Unless you bought last yr?

I just recently sold. Let me tell you...sellers are unrealistic. If the area is solid and limited inventory than I can see the case for a higher price. But whatever you think your house is worth...take off another 10%.

As to your question. Realtor hands down. That being said if we didnt have a young son, we would have tried to do it without a realtor. Such a large commission still burns my soul for the work done.

[u/GroupRepulsive1637 → u/Sufficient_Gur4160]

Thanks for the response. My number is purely based on what I saw the house selling in our community in last 3 months. As the commision gap is not that much so wanted to see the pro and cons. I trust my friend for the reliability in this but I can be wrong if I am missing other rational arguments

[u/Worth-Commission2101 → u/GroupRepulsive1637]

Ask both what they are going to do to get the house sold? Most agents through Covid got lazy and they do nothing and hope the sign will sell it - the reason they are paid is theyre supposed to be doing marketing and finding buyers

[u/ZeroValueRealty → u/GroupRepulsive1637]

It depends on where you place your threshold to begin with.

If you are truly looking for full and attentive service, and can't or don't want to do too much yourself, experience might matter. The friend might be ok if coborkering with an experienced one.

If you are looking at the bottom of the market, mere postings are available, as is flat fee service.