Why Should I Hire a Real Estate Agent to Sell My Home?

Five percent. That was the share of U.S. home sales made without an agent in the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile, while 91% of sellers used an agent. Both figures were records in opposite directions. (NAR)

That does not mean every Mississippi seller needs an agent. It means the choice deserves more than a quick calculation of commission saved. I’ll look at the price data, the work a listing agent handles, the risks of doing it yourself, and the situations where FSBO can be a sensible fit.

What the FSBO price gap says, and does not say

NAR’s 2025 report covers the 12-month period ending June 2025. It puts the median sale price at $360,000 for FSBO homes and $425,000 for agent-assisted homes. (NAR 2025 Profile) The difference between those reported medians is $65,000. FSBO sales made up an all-time-low 5% of sales during that period. (NAR)

Those are national medians, not a promise that an agent will add $65,000 to your sale. The two groups are not a controlled comparison of otherwise identical homes. Buyer familiarity is one important difference: 38% of sellers who already knew the buyer sold on their own, while 96% of sellers who did not know the buyer used an agent. (NAR 2025 Profile) A prearranged sale to someone you know is not the same situation as finding a buyer in the open market.

The price gap is a reason to investigate pricing and marketing, not a forecast for your home. Your property, its condition, local competition, and the buyer’s terms all matter. Ask an agent to show you comparable sales and explain how those examples relate to your home. You should be able to follow the reasoning, even if the final price remains an estimate.

The listing agent’s work is more than putting a sign in the yard

Pricing is a judgment call informed by comparable sales, current competition, and the condition of the home. An agent can help you weigh those factors, choose a launch price, and decide what to do if buyer response is weak. That does not mean the first suggested price is automatically right. Ask how the agent reached it and what evidence would lead to a change.

Marketing reach is one reason sellers give for hiring an agent. In NAR’s 2025 report, 85% of agents listed homes on MLSs as their primary marketing method. (NAR 2025 Profile) Sellers said they wanted to reach more potential buyers and price their homes more competitively. (Florida Realtors) An MLS listing can put a home in front of a wider pool of buyers and agents working with them, but it is not a guarantee of a particular result. Ask what else the agent plans to do, including photography, showing arrangements, and responding to inquiries.

Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist, described the role this way: “Beyond guiding buyers and sellers through what is often the largest financial decision of their lives, agents provide critical expertise, negotiation skills and emotional support during an increasingly challenging process.” (NAR) That is an industry view, not a guarantee about any individual agent. It does point to work that can continue after the listing goes live.

That work can include scheduling showings, collecting feedback, comparing offers, communicating counteroffers, and keeping the transaction moving. NAR found that 86% of sellers said their agents provided a broad range of services. (NAR 2025 Profile) Ask the agent to spell out what is included in the listing agreement and what remains your responsibility. The comparison is not agent versus no work. It is the services and compensation in the agreement versus the time, costs, and responsibilities you would take on yourself.

Where FSBO sellers can get stuck

Getting the price right is a common challenge. So are preparing the home and selling within the planned timeframe. Virginia REALTORS®, reporting on NAR’s 2025 Profile, summarized it this way: “Some of the most difficult steps for FSBO sellers were getting the price right, preparing the home for sale, and selling within the length of time planned.” (Virginia REALTORS®) Before choosing FSBO, decide how you will set the price, prepare the property, and respond if the sale takes longer than expected.

Marketing is another hurdle. A 2025 report summary said 40% of FSBO sellers did not actively promote their home. (BAM) That statistic does not prove every owner will struggle to find a buyer. It does show why you should have a plan for photos, listing exposure, inquiries, and showings before choosing the FSBO route.

There is also the day-to-day availability. You have to answer questions, coordinate access, and keep conversations moving while handling work and home life. NAR’s FSBO resource quotes this description of the workload: “FSBO sellers don’t often realize how much work realtors put into what they do. A substantial chunk of this work involves being readily available to handle inquiries from buyers.” (NAR Working With FSBOs) An agent can take on some of that work, but you should still agree on how and when you will receive updates.

Take the paperwork and negotiation seriously

A home sale is not finished when a buyer says yes. The offer has terms, deadlines, contingencies, and steps both sides must track. A seller handling the transaction alone takes on the job of understanding those terms, organizing paperwork, and responding on time. If a contract provision or disclosure question is unclear, ask a Mississippi real estate attorney or closing professional rather than guessing.

An agent can help explain the transaction process and communicate with the other side, but an agent is not your lawyer. Before signing a listing agreement, ask what the agent will handle, what you will handle, and when the agent will recommend legal advice. This is a practical way to reduce confusion, not a promise that a transaction will be free of disputes.

Negotiation is more than choosing the highest offer. Financing, inspection requests, timing, and other terms can affect what you agree to. Decide in advance what matters most to you, and ask the agent to explain tradeoffs in plain language. You make the decision. The agent should help you understand the choices and the obligations attached to them.

When selling on your own may make sense

FSBO can be a reasonable fit when you already have a buyer, understand the process, and have time to manage the details. NAR’s 2025 report found that 38% of sellers who knew their buyer sold without an agent. (NAR 2025 Profile) NAR’s 2024 profile lists selling to a relative, friend, or neighbor as a reason 36% of FSBO sellers chose that route. (NAR Working With FSBOs) A known buyer can reduce the need to find a buyer, but the paperwork and negotiation still need attention.

It may also suit someone who has sold property before, can manage inquiries and showings, and has a realistic pricing plan. Do the math with actual costs and responsibilities, not just the idea of avoiding a listing-agent fee. You may still need to decide whether to offer compensation to a buyer’s agent, and you will be responsible for the work you choose not to delegate.

If you interview agents, ask what services they provide and how they would price and market your specific home. Reputation was the leading factor in agent selection for 35% of sellers in NAR’s 2025 report. (NAR 2025 Profile) Sellers also valued help with marketing the home, pricing it competitively, and selling within a specific timeframe. (NAR 2025 Profile) Ask for a clear explanation of the plan, agreement, and compensation. You do not need to hire someone because of a national statistic. You need a plan that fits your home and priorities.

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway

Before deciding, write down what you would handle yourself and what you want help with, then compare that list against a specific agent’s services, marketing plan, and written agreement. That is a better decision tool than treating either the national price gap or a hoped-for fee saving as a promise.