The Basics

“A la carte” real estate services have blurred once-clear lines between ‘by owner’ and full-service agent-supported sales.

What does it really mean to sell  a house ‘by owner?’

How ‘by owner’ sellers define themselves is not how the National Association of Realtors defines them – and therein lies a major discrepancy in the NAR’s statistical analysis. 

Selling your home is a big task. Agents don’t make it easier: in fact, you are bound to be disappointed when an agent fails to deliver on her big promises to take care of every detail and sell your house for top dollar.
Your house is likely your biggest asset. You are more invested in the outcome than any agent could be. You will want to be engaged at every step, from preparing it for sale, to pricing, to negotiating, and finally, in closing.
 
Here are the key steps for selling on your own or with an agent. You’ll see that either way, you do most of the work. Taking on the few additional tasks of directly listing and showing the house can save you thousands of dollars. ForSaleByOwner sets you up for success with how-to’s, legal forms, referrals to professionals, and other tools that you need to sell your house.