🏡 Complete Guide to Selling Your Home For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

Ask yourself:

• Do I have time to handle showings, negotiations, and paperwork?

• Can I remain objective during buyer negotiations?

Showing your home isn’t just about tidying up and opening the door, there’s some important prep work that goes on behind the scenes.

Before any buyer visits, it’s essential to keep your showing schedule well-organized. Create a calendar or log where you can track appointments by date and time. This will help you stay on top of your day and avoid any double bookings.

In addition, be sure to collect the agent’s name, license number, phone number, and email address for each showing. Having this information handy makes it easier to follow up and request feedback.

Why is feedback important? It gives you valuable insight into what today’s buyers are looking for—and it can reveal why you might not be receiving offers. Sometimes small changes can make a big difference, and this kind of input helps you stay competitive in the market.

When it comes to negotiating with a buyer’s agent, it’s important to be well-prepared and confident. That means understanding key real estate terms and being ready to navigate the back-and-forth that often comes with offers and counteroffers.

Keep in mind that the buyer’s agent is representing the buyer—not you. Their goal is to get the best possible deal for their client, which often means negotiating for a lower purchase price or better terms. As the seller, it’s up to you to advocate for your own best interests and ensure the final agreement is fair and meets your needs.

Are you familiar with all of the contracts and documents for a real estate transaction?  If you need a real estate forms package there is one located here.

• Am I comfortable marketing my home online and offline?

Marketing your home online is more than just snapping a few photos and posting on Zillow. While Zillow is often the first place sellers think of—and it's a great starting point—it’s important to understand that your listing stops there. When you post directly on Zillow, it doesn’t automatically appear on other major platforms.

To get broader exposure, you’ll need to manually upload your listing to sites like Realtor.com and other FSBO websites. That can be a time-consuming process.

On the other hand, when a property is listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), it’s automatically syndicated to a wide range of real estate websites—including Zillow, Realtor.com, and many brokerage sites. This dramatically increases your home’s visibility to potential buyers.

Some FSBO sellers choose to work with an agent specifically to get their property on the MLS. Just keep in mind that doing so typically requires a signed agreement and may include a flat fee or commission.

👉 If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, FSBO might be a great fit for you.