There are several ways to sell your home, including selling it yourself, hiring a real estate agent and selling it at auction. And, all three of these methods have both advantages and drawbacks. The way you choose to sell your home depends on your individual situation.

If you’re in a rush to sell your home and move, then you might want to consider auctioning it. It generally takes about a month for the auction house to be able to advertise it and get everything set up for a auction, so you can get your money fairly quick. But, currently there are only about 1% of the homes in the U.S. that are sold at auction.

You might not see your desired price at the auctions end, but as a safety measure you can opt for a minimum bid auction. Most auction houses prefer absolute sales, which means that your house is guaranteed to sell no matter what the final bid is. If you decide to go with an auction, make sure you express your feelings and terms to the auction house.

If you decide to hire a real estate agent, keep in mind that they will charge a 6% fee of what your home sellsfor. This amount can sometimes be negotiable, but usually the agent won’t barter on the amount. There are lot’s of advantages to hiring a real estate agent though and it may be worth the fee.

An agent can of course reach more potential buyers than you normally can. They will handle all of the phone calls concerning your home and are suppose to take care of the tedious paperwork for you. They will also meet with buyers at your home to give them a tour and you don’t even have to be home!

If you’re not in a big rush to sell your home you might consider selling it yourself and skip paying out any commissions. You can advertise your home in the local papers, place signs in your yard and even hang signs throughout the town.   

To get a good asking price for your home you should have it appraised. An appraisal normally cost a few hundred dollars, but it’s well worth it. Getting an appraised value of your home will give you a better idea of how much to ask. It could prevent you from selling your home to cheaply.