4 Steps to Sell Your House For Sale By Owner
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With the "for sale by owner," or FSBO, option, the homeowner manages the entire selling process from beginning to end, without the help of a real estate agent. The challenging nature of FSBO may be the reason only 7% of sellers went that route in 2023, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors, or NAR.
People often list their own homes to avoid the biggest closing cost for a seller: the listing agent’s commission. Companies that help people sell their homes without an agent say doing so can save thousands.
How much can you save?
It's easy to start imagining the savings, but there are some things to know before putting up that "for sale by owner" sign on your front lawn.
Real estate commissions typically run about 5% to 6% of the home's price, and they're usually split equally between the seller's agent and the buyer's agent. However, this could change since a new system of paying real estate agents went into effect in August 2024. The buyer may ask you to pay some or all of the commission to the buyer's agent.
With some for sale by owner websites, such as houzeo.com and forsalebyowner.com, you can pay for services a la carte, such as agent showings and professional photography, but this will cut into your profits.
4 steps to selling your home FSBO
1. Fix up the home to selling condition
Make repairs and minor upgrades, such as replacing toilet seats and shower heads, and repainting the front door. Consider staging the home to maximize appeal: Declutter to show off how much space the house has, depersonalize it so potential buyers can see themselves living in it, make sure it's clean and keep the front yard tidy and manicured.
2. Set the right price
Setting the price is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when selling your own house. Price your home too high, and it might stagnate without a buyer. Price your home too low, and you might lose potential profit.
FSBO homes draw significantly lower median sale prices than agent-assisted homes, according to the NAR.
If you can, go to open houses in the month leading up to listing your home for sale. Keep track of which homes have sold and at what price. A listing agent can provide you with a list of recently sold properties similar to your own at little or no cost without you having to hire them. This is often called a “comparative market analysis.”
Getting an appraisal to estimate your home’s value can help you set a fair price, but it may cost several hundred dollars. You can also use the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s house price index calculator or an online home value estimator.
3. Promote your home online and IRL
Online exposure is key to getting your home in front of as many potential buyers as possible. Real estate pros use the multiple listing service, or MLS, a comprehensive database of homes for sale.
For a flat fee, you can use a third-party website to have a broker list your property on the MLS, but that’s where their help would end. You would have to pay the broker to help you with other tasks, such as negotiating an offer.
Other options include listing your home on public websites like Zillow.
Showcase your home in online listings by hiring a professional photographer or videographer.
In addition to a digital listing, add "for sale" signs around your neighborhood directing people to your property. You can also promote your house in your local newspaper and on social media.
4. Hire an attorney
In some states, a real estate attorney oversees the closing of a home sale and prepares certain documents, whether an agent is involved or not.
Even if an attorney isn’t required, it may be beneficial to hire one when selling your own home. An attorney can help you prepare the necessary paperwork, such as legally mandated disclosure documents. If there are questions about the home’s title or boundary disputes, a lawyer can also help you resolve those issues.
Qualities of a successful FSBO seller
It takes a specific skill set to sell a house without an agent.
You need to be a strong negotiator to get a fair price for your house and hammer out details, such as closing costs, presale repairs and the commission for the buyer’s agent.
You’ll need some marketing chops. To get your property in front of potential buyers, you’ll need to arrange open houses, advertise online and more.
You'll need to navigate the legal complexities of selling a house, such as writing purchase contracts, setting up escrow accounts, and evaluating buyer contingencies and disclosures.
Should you sell your own home?
Selling your home without an agent is definitely doable, but it's also like taking on a part-time job: Your success will depend on how much time, talent and money you’re willing to spend on the task.
Without a listing agent, you’ll not only be responsible for managing the home selling process (including setting the price and marketing the home); you’ll also have to deal with some of the emotional and logistical challenges from which agents typically shield their clients.
You might need to drop everything to show the house on short notice.
You might dedicate weekends to hosting open houses.
You’ll need to accept feedback on your home and keep a cool head during negotiations.
You'll want to confirm whether buyers are preapproved for a mortgage. You can ask the buyer to provide a recent preapproval letter from a lender when they make an offer.
If you have the time and the desire, selling your house for sale by owner can be a worthwhile challenge — as long as you don’t take the work involved lightly.
