CORMAC Meehan, an estate agent in Bundoran and vice president of the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute, has come across an interesting survey conducted by estate agents in the US which makes an interesting commentary on a Family Money article a few months ago about what is involved in selling your home yourself rather than going through an agent. Mr Meehan suggests that the practice is not as widespread in the US and Canada as our piece indicated.

The annual survey of home buying and selling by the 750,000 member US National Association of Realtors, writes Mr Meehan found that the average For Sale

Owner (FSBO) is 45 years old, has an income of $63,000 and has previously owned more than one house. The survey found that in 1993 the average difference between the asking and selling price achieved by the FSBO was $6,300. By comparison, the average difference between the asking and selling prices for those vendors who sold their home using a real estate professional was $5,800.