Tips for Selling by Owner
Selling your home without an agent is a daunting task, but it is possible. About 5% of homes sold by owner in 2025. Below are tips to becoming the 5%:
1. Pricing: Have someone with MLS access walk through your home to perform a market analysis. Pricing is critical to having success. If you price too high, you'll have minimal interest. Price too low and you leave money on the table at closing.
2. Preparing your home to sell: Declutter and depersonalize. Hide toiletries, pet supplies, paperwork, etc. Allow the buyer to picture how they will live in the home when they walk through the front door, not how you live in the home. Ensure the home is clean and any known maintenance issues have been resolved. Outside clean up the lawn, landscaping, and consider power washing the home if needed. When a buyer drives up, first impressions are everything!
3. Marketing: It starts with photos! Strongly consider hiring a professional photographer. Add drone photos and videos to strengthen your listing. Post your home on as many online home sites as possible. The first place a buyer will see your home is online. If photo quality is poor, they can easily overlook your home or even worse, determine you're not a serious seller.
4. Showings: Unless it's an open house allow only one potential buyer through at a time. For safety, always obtain the potential buyer's contact information and require an appointment. If you're open to a buyer bringing an agent, write "buyer's agent welcome" in your home description online. Many agents avoid sending FSBOs to their buyers because they are concerned they won't get paid.
5. Gather paperwork early: Be prepared when an offer does come. Ensure you have a copy of a purchase agreement and understand the document as a whole. If a buyer is using financing, ensure you have a preapproval letter prior to accepting an offer. Fill out a Seller's Disclosure completely and have the buyer sign it. This form discloses what you know about the home and by having the buyer sign may protect you legally in the future. If the home was built before 1978 you will also need a lead-based paint disclosure signed and a pamphlet regarding lead paint given to the buyer.
6. The transaction process: Select a title company. Ensure earnest money is received. If the buyer requests inspections, they have 14 days to complete the inspections and requests for any repairs or credits. If you cannot come to an agreement during the inspection period both parties have a right to walk away. An appraisal will occur if the home is being financed. If a home does not appraise, the purchase price may need adjusted. Expect to communicate with the title company every few days throughout the transaction answering various questions and providing them with any requested information.
7. Negotiations: Whether it's negotiating price or inspection requests it can be hard not to take it personally. Have a neutral party in your life you can talk through negotiations with before making any decisions. Remember, it's not a competition. The goal is for both sides of the transaction to feel as if they came out with a fair deal.
Are you ready to take on the task of selling FSBO? Here are a few final thoughts before making your decision:
Decreased exposure: The home will not be listed on the MLS. MLS listings are automatically posted on all the major home sites buyers search. It is also the primary search engine for real estate agents who may have buyers for your home. Data has shown the smaller buyer pool will likely drive down your sale price.
Time & Effort: Do you have the time to manage showings, inquiries, negotiations and paperwork? Can you approach the entire process from an unbiased perspective?
Marketing: Agents cover the cost of professional photographers, videographers, staging, and paid advertising. As the homeowner are you ok with paying for your own marketing fees?
Legal Risks: Handling the transaction paperwork, negotiations, and inspection period yourself can put you at risk for legal disputes and delays. Ensure you have a good understanding of the process prior to listing your home for sale.
Final Thoughts
Are you already listed FSBO or have decided it's the route you'd like to go? Still reach out! I'd be happy to walk through your home to give tips regarding how best to market and price your home.
Have you found a buyer, but feel you'd like assistance during the transaction process? I'd be happy to manage both sides of the transaction from contract to close for a small percentage of the home's purchase price.
Has your home been listed FSBO for a while and you're considering bringing in an agent to help? By professionally marketing your home and offering competitive commission rates my goal is for you to walk away with the largest check possible at closing.