Can I Sell My House Without a Real Estate Agent?
By Doug Mentes, Esq. | Reviewed by Canaan Suitt, J.D. | Last updated on June 23, 2025Many home sellers hire a real estate agent for their home sale, and it may be the safest and easiest route for some. But selling a home isn’t complicated for all sellers. You can sell your house without a real estate agent by opting for a “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) approach, taking on tasks like setting the price, marketing, and paperwork yourself. And if it isn’t for you, you can protect yourself by working with a real estate attorney at a cost that is often less than an agent’s commission fee.
For Sale By Owner (FSBO): Pros and Cons
There are advantages and disadvantages to being an FSBO seller.
Pro: Potential Savings
You can save up to 6 percent of the sale price by selling your home yourself. Even if a seller offers a 3 percent commission to the buyer’s agent, a seller still stands to save significant money.
- $300,000 home: A homeowner can save approximately $18,000 — or $9,000 if offering a commission to the buyer’s agent
- $200,000 home: An FSBO seller can save approximately $12,000 — or $6,000 if offering a commission to the buyer’s agent
Most potential buyers will likely be represented by a real estate broker or listing agent. Sellers may wish to offer a commission to the buyer’s agent to ensure they get the most traffic.
Con: More Work for the Seller
It will be more work to sell your home on your own. A seller’s agent can quickly draw on their experience to determine your options when various issues arise during the selling process or sale. Hiring an agent may be best if an owner is short on time or lacks the know-how to handle a real estate transaction. That being said, selling your home is a lot of work, regardless of whether or not you hire a realtor.
First, you must determine the home selling price — for which location is likely the most important factor. Find out what nearby properties have recently sold for and the prices for nearby active listings. Adjust your home value based on important details, including:
- Size of home and land
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Condition of the home and significant improvements that have been done
Next, determine where to list your home. Free or low-fee For Sale by Owner (FSBO) websites don’t have nearly the exposure of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS listing). For a few hundred dollars, online brokers offer access to the MLS.
How a Real Estate Attorney Can Help with Your FSBO Home
Meet with an experienced real estate attorney before listing. You can turn to the attorney as much or as little as you need during the sale process. A real estate attorney will also be able to give legal advice regarding:
- Filling out the seller’s disclosure
- Reviewing and advising on purchase offers
- Obligations for the contingencies
- Reviewing or drafting documents for closing
- Title company work, closing costs, and recording the sale
The seller will likely want to review initial offers with the attorney. The seller must understand their obligations under the various sale contingencies, especially regarding financing and inspection. An attorney can also give advice on the risks of the mandatory arbitration clause often contained in purchase agreements. Many sellers don’t realize that excluding mandatory arbitration at the sale may be advisable because they can always agree to arbitrate in the future if a dispute arises.
Sellers generally must provide prospective home buyers with a Property Disclosure Statement. A seller who fails to disclose a known defect could be liable to the buyer for damages, so involving the attorney here is important.
Find Experienced Legal Help for Your FSBO Home
Sellers may only need five to 10 hours of attorney time to negotiate and close their sale. Many attorneys provide this service for a flat fee. Attorneys can also provide legal advice while real estate agents cannot and said advice should come at a cost much less than the agent’s commission.
For more information on this area, check out our overview of real estate laws.
What do I do next?
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