Is For Sale By Owner (FSBO) right for you?

If you’re thinking about selling your house in St. Louis, you might be considering different options. One of the most common routes is working with a real estate agent, but that’s not your only choice. Many homeowners decide to sell their homes without an agent, opting for a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) approach. Selling FSBO can give you more control over the process, allowing you to avoid paying agent commissions. But did you know there’s another option that combines the control of FSBO with the convenience of a fast, off-market sale? At We Buy Ugly Houses^®, we specialize in buying houses directly from owners, making it easy to sell your house FSBO without the stress of navigating the traditional market.

What is For Sale By Owner?

For Sale By Owner is a method of selling a house where the homeowner takes on the responsibility of selling the property without the help of a real estate agent or broker. This means that you, the homeowner, handle all aspects of the sale, from pricing and marketing the home to negotiating with buyers and closing the deal. FSBO can be appealing because it allows you to save on agent commissions and maintain full control over the sale process. However, it also requires a significant amount of time, effort, and knowledge about real estate transactions.

How does For Sale By Owner work?

Selling your house FSBO involves several key steps:

• Preparing your home: First, you’ll need to get your house ready for sale. This includes making necessary repairs, cleaning, and possibly staging your home to make it more attractive to buyers. Chances are good that your buyer will conduct a home inspection, so it may pay to be aware of any hidden issues in advance.
• Setting the right price: Pricing your house correctly is important in the St. Louis housing market. To figure out a competitive price, start by checking out similar houses in your area (those are your “comps”). The usual formula is to look at comparable houses (for example, 3 bedroom/2 baths) sold within the last 6 months, adjusting for square footage. Some homeowners even go for a pre-listing appraisal to help make sure they’re on target with their pricing.
• Marketing your property: Once your house is ready and priced, you’ll need to market it. This typically involves listing your house on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), posting on real estate websites like Zillow, and using other methods like social media or yard signs.
• Handling showings and negotiations: As the seller, you’ll be responsible for scheduling and conducting showings, as well as negotiating offers with potential buyers.
• Closing the sale: After accepting an offer, you’ll need to handle all the legal paperwork, including the purchase agreement and any required disclosures. Many FSBO sellers choose to hire a real estate attorney to assist with this step.

When you sell FSBO with We Buy Ugly Houses, you can avoid many of these steps. We buy houses “as is,” which means that you don’t need to clean or make repairs. We are a direct buyer, so you won’t need to do any marketing, and our team can handle closing paperwork. We can also offer a quick, no-hassle closing.

Do you need to list a home For Sale By Owner?

In a traditional FSBO sale, listing your St. Louis house on the MLS or other real estate websites is a common way to attract buyers. Listing helps you reach a broader audience and increases the chances of selling your home at market value. However, listing also comes with costs, such as paying for professional photography, marketing materials, and possibly even a flat fee to access the MLS.

When you sell FSBO with We Buy Ugly Houses, you never need to list or pay any of the costs associated with marketing. We come out to your property and do a quick walkthrough, and sometimes we will make you an offer on the same day.

Who draws up the contract with For Sale By Owner?

In a traditional FSBO sale, the seller is responsible for drawing up the contract, which typically includes the purchase agreement and any necessary disclosures. Many FSBO sellers in the St. Louis area hire a real estate attorney to ensure that all legal requirements are met and that the contract is properly drafted.

We Buy Ugly Houses regularly buys houses in the St. Louis area and can handle all the necessary paperwork. You are welcome to let your attorney or a trusted real estate expert review the documents before selling with us.