Selling a house without a Realtor has its share of pros and cons. Certainly, if you’re looking to maximize profits, going the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route makes a lot of sense. Just understand that selling a home without a Realtor means you’re taking on a lot of hard work yourself—and ultimately, it’s all on your shoulders.
Of course, to learn more about meeting your real estate goals, you can always request a SOLD.com report, which will give you individualized advice on how to sell a home, whether with or without the help of an agent.
And if you do decide to go the FSBO route, we have some advice that can help make the process a little smoother.
The Steps to Selling a House, as Smoothly as Possible
Here are our FSBO recommendations.
- Whatever you do, don’t overprice.
Out of all the steps to selling a house, pricing is arguably the most important. If you aim too high, nobody will take your listing seriously—meaning it will languish on the market until you ultimately have to do a price reduction, which can be problematic in and of itself. You don’t have to give the place away, but do check comps and price competitively.
- Put together a great listing.
Take the time to stage and declutter, to take some high-quality photos, and to compose some compelling sales copy for your listing. You may wish to pay a flat fee for an MLS listing, which will ensure that your home is seen by more buyers
- Be totally honest in your advertising.
Simply put, lying or misrepresenting your home will lead to a lot of problems down the road—complicating your home selling journey considerably. No house is perfect, and it’s okay to acknowledge some of the limitations of yours.
- Accept all showings.
This is real estate 101, but it bears emphasis: If someone wants to come see the place, make it happen. Never turn down showings, no matter how inconvenient they may be! Each one is an opportunity to connect with your dream buyer.
- Consider an attorney.
Even if you don’t want to work with an agent, you may want to hire an attorney to help you with the negotiations and the paperwork; this is up to you, of course, but it can help you feel more confident about getting all the legalities properly taken care of.
To learn more about how to sell a home without the help of an agent, get your SOLD.com report now!