Sell Smart: Broker vs. DIY Home Sale

Avatar of u/WorkBee
u/WorkBee · Joined Oct 2024

Thinking of selling your home? Compare costs, profits, and time saved with a broker vs. going solo. Find the best option to maximize your sale!

Last update Nov 2024
  • Scenario 1: Broker-Assisted Sale
  • Scenario 2: Sell It Yourself (DIY)
  • Which One Is Higher (%)

Calculate the potential net profit for each scenario: Broker-Assisted and DIY. The calculation considers sale price, time on market, commission, and additional costs, including your time. See which method brings the higher return for you.

# Years from Now

Try your numbers:

Expected selling price if using a broker for the sale.

A =

Percentage fee paid to the broker, typically 5-6% of the sale.

B =

Expected selling price if you sell the home yourself.

C =

Average time on market when listed with a broker.

D =

Estimated time on market when selling on your own.

E =

Monthly costs (mortgage interest, utilities, taxes) while home is unsold. Do not include mortgage principal.

F =

Extra expenses like marketing, staging, and legal fees when selling yourself.

G =

Total value of hours you’ll spend managing the sale yourself. This includes time spent on tasks like contacting contractors, scheduling and attending showings, handling negotiations, and coordinating paperwork.

H =
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Time Value Assumptions

Heads Up!

If you're using Cost Basis (cb) for calculating capital gains:

Please be aware that very few countries currently use inflation-indexed cost basis. Double-check your local tax rules before publishing.

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How is Cash Value calculated?

Calculate net proceeds by factoring in sale price, broker commission, and time on market. Treat as a cash account and project potential growth if invested in the market post-sale.

Decisions / Expectations

(Expressions are evaluated at Year 0 only.)

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(Expressions are evaluated at every year.)

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