Free property analysis · Metro Detroit's Eastside

Should I list with an agent or sell privately off market?

Fill out the form below and I'll send you a free analysis of your home showing what it would likely bring listed on the open market and what a private, off-market buyer would likely pay — so you can compare them instead of guessing.

You don't have to know how you want to sell.

That's the whole point of the comparison. Most people who ask for this haven't decided — and a fair number of them decide not to sell at all. Both are fine answers.

  • 1Your listing price range. What the open market would likely pay, based on what's actually selling near you right now.
  • 2Your off-market price range. What a private buyer would likely offer for it as-is — no repairs, no showings.
  • 3What comes out of each one. Commission, prep, closing costs, concessions, carrying costs — written plainly, so you're comparing what you'd actually keep and not two headline prices.
  • 4My honest read. Which path fits your house and your situation, and why. If it's "don't sell yet," I'll say that.
↓ Takes about a minute

No cost, no obligation, and no listing pitch. Rather just talk? Call or text (586) 238-3693.

What you're comparing

Two real ways to sell. The analysis prices both.

They aren't a good option and a bad option — they're built for different priorities. This is what the two columns of your analysis will be weighing.

 
Path 1List with an agent
Path 2Sell privately, off-market
Sale price
List with an agentUsually the highest. Open-market exposure means buyers compete, and competition is what moves a price up.
Sell privatelyUsually lower. A private buyer prices in the repairs, the risk, and the speed they're giving you. Your analysis shows you exactly how big that gap is.
Repairs & prep
List with an agentUsually some — cleaning, paint, and whatever an inspection turns up. Not everything is worth doing, and I'll tell you which repairs pay you back.
Sell privatelyNone. Sold as-is. You don't fix, paint, stage, or clean out.
Showings
List with an agentYes — strangers through the house, sometimes on short notice. The part most sellers underestimate.
Sell privatelyAlmost none. Typically one walkthrough. No sign in the yard.
Timeline
List with an agentPrep time, then market time, then 30–45 days for a buyer's loan to close.
Sell privatelyWeeks, and you pick the date — including a later one if you need time to move.
Certainty
List with an agentGood, not guaranteed. Deals fall apart over financing, appraisals, and inspections.
Sell privatelyHigh. Usually cash — no lender, no appraisal, fewer ways for it to fall through.
Comes out of the price
List with an agentCommission, prep and repair spend, closing costs and transfer tax, buyer concessions, and every month of carrying costs while it sells.
Sell privatelyClosing costs and transfer tax. No prep spend, no concessions, no carrying costs.
What you actually keep
List with an agentHigher price, more subtracted from it, more time and work to get there.
Sell privatelyLower price, less subtracted from it, and you're done in weeks.

Which one wins is a math problem, not an opinion — and it changes house by house. On a home that shows well and needs nothing, listing usually wins by a wide margin. On a home that needs $40,000 of work you'd be paying for out of pocket, it often doesn't. That's why the analysis runs both instead of just telling you what your house is worth.

Before you fill it out

Straight answers.

Does this cost anything?
No. It's free, there's no obligation, and you don't sign anything to get it.
Am I committing to sell?
No. You're asking for two numbers. Plenty of people I've run these for looked at them and decided to stay put — which is a good outcome, because now they know.
Will I get hounded with calls?
No. I'll send the analysis and follow up once. If you want to talk it through, we talk; if you don't, that's the end of it.
Do you have to come see the house?
Not to send you the first version. I can build realistic ranges from the address, the public record, and what you tell me. Seeing it in person tightens the numbers, and we can do that if you want to go further.
Which option gets me the highest sale price?
A traditional listing, almost always — exposure creates competition and competition raises price. But the highest sale price and the most money in your pocket aren't automatically the same number, which is exactly what the analysis sorts out.
Do I have to make repairs?
Off-market, no — you sell as-is and leave what you want to leave. On a listing, usually some, but far less than people assume. I've renovated properties myself, so I can tell you which repairs a buyer actually pays you back for and which ones are money you won't see again.
I'm not sure I'm even selling. Is it too early?
It's the best time. Knowing your numbers before you need them means the decision is yours to make on your schedule instead of under pressure.
From people who've done this with me

What clients say.

★★★★★

"I can't say enough about AJ — his professionalism, knowledge, and willingness to go the extra mile are beyond compare! My husband and I were living out of state and wanted a home in St Clair Shores. AJ did all of the leg work: scouting out houses, doing virtual walk throughs with us, sending multiple listing descriptions, and enduring endless questions from us. We are grateful to AJ and highly recommend him for any real estate needs!"

Lori Schmidt · St. Clair Shores · Google review
★★★★★

"I recently worked with A.J. Rittner on a home sale referral in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, and the experience was outstanding. A.J. connected me with a motivated seller who needed a fast, smooth closing and he made sure the entire process went off without a hitch. His local knowledge of the Grosse Pointe Woods real estate market is impressive, and he communicates with clarity and professionalism every step of the way."

John Swann · Grosse Pointe Woods · Google review

Ready for your two numbers?

Free, no obligation, and you don't have to know which way you want to sell.

Call or text (586) 238-3693

Alexander James Rittner · Licensed Michigan Real Estate Salesperson · Brokered by eXp Realty. The property analysis is an estimate based on current market conditions and the information you provide. It is not an appraisal, and it is not a guarantee of sale price, offer, or net proceeds.