According to a study conducted by Consumer Reports published in the September 2008 issue, home sellers who used a real estate agent received less money for their homes than sellers who sold their home without an agent. The study found that homeowners who sold with the help of an agent received $5,000 less, on average, than the home’s original asking price. Meanwhile, the study found that almost all people who sold without using an agent received what they originally asked. The research from Consumer Reports is similar to findings of studies conducted by Northwestern University and Stanford University. Each of those studies found that “for sale by owner” sellers receive more money for their homes than those who use real estate agents to sell their homes. Source: Fizber.com