Most sellers who investigate selling their home themselves believe they will net more than with an agent.

You can sell yourself and net more, but only if you do it very well. Many buyers seeking out For Sale By Owner properties want a discount. A skilled agent can usually help you net more, even after you pay commission. You can see the statistics below.

In this WSJ article, the reporter shares his experience of trying to sell his condo himself, then making more money by working with an agent.

To sell your property yourself you need: signs, legal forms, a camera and computer to create and post the online marketing, possibly a lock box to allow Realtors to show your house to buyers as well as several hours each week to get it all done. Most buyers want the extra protection an agent provides and will only work with you if you pay two and a half or three percent of the sales price to their agent.

Selling your property yourself. you will need to answer the phone to address questions and arrange showings to buyers without an agent.

Once an offer comes in you will need to negotiate the contract yourself and work with the buyer's broker to close escrow. All of this without the protection of your agent's experience, insurance and expertise.

In the 2012 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, For Sale By Owner properties accounted for nine percent of home sales in 2012. The typical FSBO home sold for $174,900 compared to $215,000 for agent-assisted home sales.

Three percent of $215,000 is only $6,450 still giving the agent-assisted seller an extra $33,650 in net profit!