When the general economy starts to decline, people start looking for ways to save as much money as possible. One way that people are doing this is by selling their home themselves. For Sale by Owner, or FSBO for short, has become a viable option for people looking to sell their home in today’s economy.

With all the online tools, people feel like they can sell their home without the need for a real estate agent. Many websites have caught on to this and have popped up to offer help to people who are trying to sell their home on their own so that they can hopefully avoid the pitfalls.

Another time when the FSBO method is very popular is when someone cannot afford the 6% commission that comes with selling through a real estate agent. If the house is at or below the price you need to pay off the loan, you may not be able to pay any out-of-pocket costs.

The FSBO method is often the first step many homeowners take on the road to selling their home. With this in mind, you will find many sites offering low rates to help this segment of the market before the homeowner decides to go the traditional way of using a real estate agent. Many sites that offer FSBO will include some or all of the following features.

Basic listing features including a link for a virtual tour

  • A template for a printable brochure
  • Workbooks to assist the homeowner in their research on what they need to know and what to do before attempting a sale.
  • Listings that compare to listings on a real estate agency site
  • Offering a flat fee to list the home for as long as needed, with no additional weekly or monthly add-ons
  • Price reports to help you value your home properly
  • Typical yard signs much like those used by real estate agents
  • There is no limit to the number of images in your ad
  • Access to a free consultation line for questions

With all of these services, it’s no wonder that these types of sites are quickly becoming the first call people make when beginning the home-selling process. You have a better chance of selling your FSBO home if you can be patient and do some research on your own.

The key to success is focused on why the owner wants to sell his house. Whether they simply need to grow up for a new addition to the family, downsize after the kids have gone off to college, relocate closer to or further out of town, or just for a general change of scenery, patience can help. be the key .

However, if you are moving because you are changing jobs, getting married, divorced, or for any other reason, the move may need to be more immediate. In the past, companies that wanted to hire a worker paid for the house and moving expenses. Due to the downturn in the economy, this has become much less popular because companies are trying to save money and quality people are looking everywhere for work.

FSBO is a viable way to put your home in the spotlight and on the market without real estate agent fees. Then, if the FSBO doesn’t work out, the homeowner has the option to register with a qualified real estate agency to sell the home and pick up where the FSBO support left off. His decision on how to sell his house depends entirely on his situation.