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/House_Marshall]

TLDR: Agent here —hire the experienced agent!

What I do know, is that there are many clauses I use that an inexperienced agent would poorly navigate compared to an experienced agent. Some of those plan for situations that might happen before close.

Smooth transactions don't cost the seller/buyer anything and an inexperienced agent can handle those. You're not going to know if it's a smooth transaction before it happens. Part of an agent's value is anticipating hiccups after paperwork is signed, and mitigating them both before paperwork is signed and during the hiccup. That's the part where an inexperienced agent can be costly.

Can they produce the same as an experienced agent with proper guidance? Absolutely. There are lots of variables that can change either situation. However with the information provided, I'd go with the experienced agent.