Other articles by Marshall Loeb:

Credit cards for business a wise moveHow to find a job when you've already got one Here are four ways to boost your chances for mortgage In tough times, don't cut back on these items Find a discount on furniture Here are 3 ways to cut spending Job-search cluesNo quick fix is seen for 'Murphy's Law Economy' Rein in your high cell-phone expenses How to negotiate your way out of bank, credit-card fees

Production and Manufacturing
Industrial Tool, Die & Engineering Co.
CNC Lathe Lead Trades/Construction
Water Tec
Dispatcher Driver/Transportation
DRIVERS Construction
ROR Construction
Residential Framing Carpenters Health Care
RN - FT Education
Yavapao College
Nursing Instructor Administrative & Professional
AVIVA, Inc
Executive Director

Despite the recent housing market slump, many Americans are still paying a walloping 6 percent commission to real estate brokers.

Six percent may not sound like much, but consider: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average price of a home is $313,000, which means the average seller has to pony up nearly $19,000 in broker fees. This is a hefty penalty for not selling your own home, one that more and more Americans are unwilling to pay.

Many homeowners are now opting to market their property directly to the consumer using online services like Yahoo Real Estate and Craigslist. One recent survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 80 percent of those searching for new homes used the Internet.

Selling your home online is simpler than you might think, says Colby Sambrotto, chief operating officer of ForSaleByOwner.com, a leading online home marketplace. Here are the three key steps you need to take:

Find out what your home is worth. If you're working with no agent, the first and most important step is to get an accurate home appraisal, says Sambrotto. To find a licensed home appraiser in your area, visit AppraisalInstitute.org, an association of professional appraisers. And there are free services on the Web, such as Zillow.com, that help you estimate the value of your home by comparing it with neighboring properties.

Market your property. The goal, says Sambrotto, is to "drive as many buyers as possible to your ad," so make sure you choose a site with a lot of traffic, and augment your listing with high-quality color photos and an inviting description.

Transfer the title. In the West, the job of title transfers typically falls to title companies. You shouldn't pay more than about $500, says Sambrotto.

So, how much do you stand to gain by leaving out the realty broker? Sambrotto says selling your home online is likely to net you between $12,000 and $15,000.