How to sell your house without a REALTOR®
Ready to sell your home but don’t want to go through a real estate agent? Learn how to prepare, price, market, and show your home to get the best offer possible and successfully close the sale.
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Writer, Fox Money
Angela Mae has more than 10 years of finance experience. She is an expert on financial literacy, retirement, and debt, with bylines that have been featured by Bankrate, Credit Karma, and MSN.
Updated August 23, 2024, 2:02 PM EDT
Written by
Senior editor
Reina Marszalek has over 10 years of experience in personal finance and is a senior mortgage editor at Credible.
Fox Money is a personal finance hub featuring content generated by Credible Operations, Inc. (Credible), which is majority-owned indirectly by Fox Corporation. The Fox Money content is created and reviewed independent of Fox News Media. Credible is solely responsible for this content and the services it provides.
When you’re getting ready to sell your house, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is whether or not to use a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® or other real estate agent can simplify the selling process, but you’ll need to pay their commission, which can cut into your profit.
If you want to save money and are confident in your ability to get a reasonable offer, you might want to try listing your property as “for sale by owner” (FSBO) — meaning you’re not using an agent. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), 7% of homes sold in 2023 were FSBO listings.
Learn more about how to sell your house without a REALTOR® and whether it’s the right move for you.
What are the pros and cons of selling your house without a REALTOR®?
Selling your home without a real estate agent can be rewarding, but it can also be complicated or time-consuming. These are the main advantages and disadvantages of selling a house on your own:
Pros
- Smaller commission: When you sell your home, you may have to pay the commissions for both agents — yours and the buyer’s. This can be 5% to 6% of the home sales price, split evenly between both agents.
- Full control over the sale: Selling your home by yourself gives you the freedom to decide everything from pricing and marketing to negotiating offers without worrying about a third party.
- Could mean a faster sale: FSBO homes generally sell more quickly than agent-assisted homes. This is because most sellers — 57% — tend to know the person buying their home.
Pros
- More time and labor: You’ll have to handle the entire process on your own. This means preparing your home for sale, coordinating showings, negotiating with prospective buyers, and handling the paperwork.
- Potentially lower offers: FSBO homes generally receive lower offers. In 2022, the median sales price of an FSBO was $310,000 compared to $405,000 for agent-assisted properties.
- Limited access to marketing channels: Agents ist homes, show them, and market them to a broader pool of potential buyers. You might have a smaller network and may not reach as many buyers, resulting in fewer offers.
How to prepare your house for sale
Get your house ready for the market to help attract more buyers and land the highest offer possible. Clean your home, remove clutter, and try to make it look open and welcoming.
“Declutter, depersonalize, and make minor repairs to enhance your home’s appeal,” said Erin Hybart, a licensed REALTOR® in Louisiana. “Clean your house from top to bottom, inside and out. Consider staging to showcase the best features of your property.”
You may also want to make a few cosmetic repairs — like touching up paint or tidying up the front yard. That way, you can showcase your home’s potential without breaking the bank.
Tip:
Depersonalizing means clearing away some of your personal belongings so that a prospective buyer can envision the home as theirs. This might mean removing family photos, packing away collectibles, or removing items related to your hobbies.
How to price your house correctly
Pricing a home for sale can be tricky if you’ve never done it before. The most important thing is to price your home accurately — neither too high nor too low.
“Always start with accurate pricing,” Hybart said. “Leaving some room for negotiation is rarely a good marketing tactic as overpriced homes don't excite buyers.”
When you have a REALTOR®, they’ll generally complete a comparative market analysis. This involves researching other homes in the area to see what they sold for based on factors like condition, square footage, and key features. They can then price your home appropriately.
Without a real estate agent, you’ll need to analyze the local housing market yourself. There are a few ways to do this:
- Use online resources: Check out homebuying websites to get an estimate of your home’s value and the median sale prices of homes in your area. This can also give you an idea of how long homes tend to stay on the local market and other relevant information.
- Check local tax records: You should be able to find property records and tax data on your county or state website. You may need to provide the real estate ID number, parcel identification number, address, or owner name.
- Hire an appraiser: A professional real estate appraiser can give you an unbiased analysis of your property's value. You’ll need to pay a fee based on factors like property type, location, and size.
What are the best ways to market your home?
When marketing a home for sale, you have several websites or listing services you can choose from. But before creating a listing, take some high-quality photos that are bright and show your home’s details well. You may want to find a professional to do this.
“Hire a professional photographer to capture your home's best features,” Hybart said. She also suggested including a floor plan of the property with your pictures since this can appeal to prospective buyers.
Once you’ve prepared your photos and floor plan, write a compelling listing with the main features you want to highlight, such as great location, an updated kitchen, or hardwood floors. You can then decide where — and how — you want to list your home. Options include:
- Websites like Craigslist
- Local Facebook sales groups
- Paid social media ads
Another way to market your home is to list it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is a local database real estate agents often use to list homes for sale and reach a larger pool of buyers.
Only licensed agents can list homes on the MLS. However, you may be able to get your property listed using a flat-fee listing service. This can help you reach more potential buyers on dedicated homebuying sites. You’ll need to pay a fee based on the package you choose.
Keep in mind:
However you market your property, be aware that FSBO listings can be a lead magnet for agents. “Expect a lot of calls, and some agents might even claim they have a buyer just to get their foot in the door to secure your listing,” said Hybart.
How to show your home to potential buyers
Without a REALTOR®, you’ll be responsible for showing your home to potential buyers. Here are a few tips:
- Keep the lines of communication open with potential buyers
- Coordinate scheduled showings and show up on time (or a little early)
- Be prepared for unannounced or last-minute drop-ins (or make it clear that you don’t accept them)
- Maintain your property inside and out
Be sure to practice safe tactics. You’re showing your home to strangers, so exercise caution — especially if you still live on the property or have valuables in the home.
How to negotiate offers without a REALTOR®
Once you receive your first offer, the next step is to negotiate the home sale.
“For negotiation, understand common real estate terms and contract components, and know your bottom line,” Hybart said. “Stay objective by focusing on the offer details rather than the buyer’s circumstances.”
Note:
During negotiations, you may want to impose contingencies — conditions that must be met for the sale to go through. For example, you might require the buyer to get financing in a specific time frame. You can back out if contingencies aren’t met.
The buyer can also set contingencies, so be prepared to talk these through and negotiate where necessary. If you can’t come to an agreement, it may be better to move on to the next prospect.
Also, make sure you get everything in writing.
“Ensure all negotiations are documented in writing and use standard real estate contracts to avoid legal issues,” Hybart said. “Make sure the offer protects you as the seller and not just the buyer.”
How to close the sale of your house without a REALTOR®
Once you’ve negotiated with a buyer and accepted their offer, you’ll need to find a reputable real estate attorney to finalize everything. An attorney can draw up a purchase and sale agreement for you. This should include:
- Buyer’s and seller’s full legal names
- Buyer’s and seller’s mailing address
- Legal description of the property type (e.g., single-family home, planned unit development, duplex)
- Earnest money (if any)
- All personal property included in the sale
- Purchase price and terms (e.g., bank financing or all-cash offer)
- Seller financing (if applicable)
- Closing date
- Any specific contingencies
- Title transfer and other legal requirements
- Details about the property condition and an appraisal
- Severability clause
- Specific disclosures
- Buyer's and sellers' signatures and dates
You can do a quick online search for real estate attorneys in your area. Choose one who’s reputable and licensed to practice in your state.
How to sell your house without a REALTOR® FAQ
Is it hard to sell a house without a REALTOR®?
It depends on how prepared you are. The selling process can be complicated, but the more knowledge you have, the easier it’ll be. If you’re foregoing a REALTOR®, it helps to have a real estate attorney by your side since they can simplify the process and ensure everything goes smoothly.
How much do you save selling without a REALTOR®?
The average commission fee for a seller’s agent is between 2.5% and 3% of the home value. Say you sell your home for $400,000. That’s about $10,000 to $12,000 in potential savings. However, you may have to pay other costs — such as paying for a real estate listing service, marketing fees, or staging and cleaning costs.
What are the steps to selling a house yourself?
DIY home-selling involves preparing your home for sale, pricing it accurately, marketing it, and coordinating showings. You also have to negotiate the terms of the sale and closing on the property — usually with the aid of an attorney.
Can I sell my house without a REALTOR® if it's not in perfect condition?
Yes. The sale price is dependent on several factors, including the property’s condition. If your home needs some minor repairs — like a new coat of paint — doing these before listing it could increase your potential offers.
What legal considerations should I be aware of when selling my house without an agent?
When you sell a home, you’re going to need to deal with closing paperwork such as sales contracts, title transfers, and other legal documents. You may also need to pay transfer tax or disclose key information about your property (e.g., if it’s had a history of asbestos or other known hazards).
Each state has different laws, so it helps to have a real estate attorney present. That way, you can avoid future disputes or costly litigation.