​Selling your home yourself by cutting out the middleman, you could walk away with tens of thousands of dollars more in your pocket or tens of thousands of less. It all depends on distribution channels.

What are the distribution channels in Real Estate? The biggest and most effective marketing is through MLS (Multiple Listing Service). If you are not hiring an agent, you cannot use the MLS. If you use the MLS through a fee-based Realtor, then you usually offer a commission percentage to the buyers' agent. if you are not offering it, there is absolutely no point to be in MLS. ​

You are selling your home, and of course, you expect the highest sale price you can get. As we are in the summer of 2017, It is a strong sellers' market here in Berkeley, CA. You and your realtor prepare the house, staged it like a model home and ready for the open house over the weekend. Buyers swarm into the open house; your Realtor gets excellent feedback which is an indication, you will receive multiple offers. ​