Answers by Cyndi Bell

Many sellers feel anxious if their home hasn’t sold quickly, but it’s often too early to worry during the first couple of weeks. Most listings get their initial wave of attention in the first 10–14 days because that’s when buyers and agents receive alerts about new homes hitting the market. There are usually three signals that help explain what’s happening: • Very few showings: Buyers may feel competing homes offer better value. • Showings but no offers: Buyers like the home but hesitate on price, condition, or competition. • Offers but no agreement: The market may simply need time for expectations to align. The most helpful step is to review showing feedback, comparable sales, and competing listings with your agent. Those factors typically reveal whether a small adjustment in pricing, presentation, or marketing exposure could help generate stronger buyer interest.

Billy, since you're an actuary, think of it as a risk-versus-expected-value decision, not a capability question. You can absolutely do it yourself—just like you could represent yourself in court or file a complex tax return without a CPA. The question is whether specialization improves the outcome. In real estate, small differences matter. A 3–5% pricing or negotiation gap on a $500,000 home is $15k–$25k. Experienced agents run that process dozens of times a year, while most people do it only a few times in their lifetimes. So the comparison isn’t DIY vs. impossible—it’s DIY vs. using someone who constantly runs that playbook. If the agent you interview can’t demonstrate that advantage, doing it yourself may be the right call.