Listing on the open market carries a commission, and that number is the one sellers fixate on. The more useful question is what the open market delivers in return, and when that trade is worth it.
Competition is the mechanism
Full exposure creates the possibility of more than one buyer wanting the same property at the same time. That is the only reliable way a price moves above asking, and it does not happen off market.
Negotiation and pricing discipline
An experienced agent negotiates for a living against buyers who mostly do not. They also stop the pricing error that costs more than any commission, which is launching above the bracket the home belongs in and burning the fresh listing window.
The marketing that justifies the fee
Architectural photography, virtual tours, staging consultation and a genuine campaign are what put the property in front of premium buyers rather than passive ones.
The honest comparison
Compare net proceeds, not gross price. Open market sale minus commission, concessions and repairs, against a direct offer minus none of those but at a lower number. Sometimes the fee buys more than it costs. Sometimes it does not, and it is worth knowing which before you commit.
Read the full breakdown on HouseCashers.com