4 Steps to Sell Your House For Sale By Owner

Selling your own home can save money, but it takes know-how to do for sale by owner.

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Updated · 4 min read
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Written by Holden Lewis
Senior Writer/Spokesperson
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Editor & Content Strategist
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Co-written by Linda Bell
Writer

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.

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