It’s time for a fresh start. Now you’re wondering how to sell your home by owner in California. Or is selling your home by owner the best way to go?
At Start & Stripes, we want you to have all the confidence you need to make a fresh start and move forward. We’ve put together a quick guide on how you can sell your home without a real estate agent, and the pros and cons of doing so.
In addition to real estate education, we also offer cash for homes with no closing costs, no commissions, and no hidden fees. If you decide to sell your home on your own, we provide a free consultation to help you minimize stress and gain more time to move.
FSBO: For Sale By Owner
There are pros and cons to consider when you decide to sell your home on your own.
Pros include:
- Commission savings (often up to 3% of the sale price going to the seller’s agent and 3% going to the buyer’s agent.
- Control and independent decision-making during the whole process
- Direct communication
Cons include:
- May take longer
- May sell for less
- Negotiation can be more difficult
Determine What It’s Worth on Your Own
The first step in selling your home without a real estate agent is to determine its worth. This can be hard to do without an appraisal by a Realtor or appraiser.. You don’t want to take a hit on your house, but it’s important to know market conditions and property values, and you probably need a professional appraisal.
For complete accuracy, we recommend hiring a professional appraiser to determine the price of your home. They will research comparable sales in your area to determine what similar properties are selling for. You can do that on your own, but a buyer will want a professional to set the price, so it’s one less step in the selling process if you do it from the beginning.
Spruce Up Your House to Sell It by Owner
Increase property values by sprucing up your home. In addition to the obvious cleaning and decluttering, some updates provide a stronger return on investment:
- Kitchen or bathroom renovations
- Windows and siding
- Landscaping or anything that increases curb appeal
- Garage door replacement
Some updates take a long time and don’t increase the value of your house, so always do your research before investing significant amounts of money and time into any.
Make Plans to Market Your House on Your Own
If you’ve never sold a home before, it can be difficult to sell on your own. Real estate agents have the benefit of word of mouth, websites, and experience to find buyers for your property. While this may be a slight challenge, it’s one you can overcome with the right steps. If you have enough motivation, you can advertise your house as well as any real estate agent. Try using:
- Social media
- Professional pictures with a compelling online listing
- Signage in your yard
- Engage with your community
- Place local ads in neighborhood groups or publications
At Stars & Stripes, we’re happy to buy your home quickly and find a seller without all the overhead fees. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
FAQs
Can I host an open house without a real estate agent?
Yes, as the homeowner, you can hold an open house whenever you’d like. Make sure to prepare the property, advertise openly, and offer materials for visitors to take home. Take notes from interested buyers and follow up with them later.
Does the buyer need a realtor to buy a home sold by the owner?
It’s not necessary to have a real estate agent on either side of the process. The buyer and seller can both represent themselves, although some of the negotiation and legal transactions can be more complicated.
Do I pay more taxes if I sell my own property?
If you live in the home as your primary residence for at least two of the five years before you sell it, you don’t have to report the sale of your home if the sale was less than $250,000. Any gain over that is taxable. That doesn’t mean the cost of the house, only what you earned from it.
How much can I save by selling my house on my own?
Real estate fees average about 3% for the buyer and seller. Added together, that’s almost 6% of the cost of your home. If you sell the house without an agent and the buyer also doesn’t have a realtor, there’s no commission fee.
Is it harder to market without a real estate agent?
It can be, but a motivated seller can sell a house quickly if they use the right tools.
