At Listwizer, we understand the allure of listing your home For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The primary benefit of FSBO transactions is to avoid paying the standard commission fees, which can save homeowners thousands of dollars.
Other benefits of FSBO transactions are the sellers have complete control over the entire process and can communicate directly with potential buyers.
However, selling a home by owner also comes with challenges, like the time and effort required, the potential lack of market exposure, and the need to handle all aspects of the sale yourself.
A crucial step in overcoming one of these challenges is showcasing FSBO properties for optimal market exposure, which requires advertising on websites where potential buyers will see the listing. This may lead to more showings, which gives you a greater chance of sparking interest and receiving multiple offers.
Here, we list some of the best platforms for posting FSBO listings to maximize visibility.
What are the Best FSBO Websites for Homeowners in My Area?
Thanks to the popularity of living in a virtual world, most FSBO websites will allow you to list your home and its details for free, while others may charge a fee.
They include:
- Zillow
As the biggest real estate listing site, Zillow remains the go-to place for selling without a real estate agent. Zillow and its sister site, Trulia, are two of the most popular real estate websites. You can list your house on Zillow for free, and it will also automatically appear on Trulia.
- ForSaleByOwner.com
ForSaleByOwner.com has a large audience, claiming to have seven times more traffic than its competitors, looking specifically for FSBO homes, matching homeowners with like-minded buyers who want to handle their real estate transactions independently.
- Unreal Estate
Unreal Estate offers three listing plans and a Concierge service so that you can pick your ideal level of support in 33 states and Washington, D.C., and provides brokerage connections in 17 other states. However, Unreal Estate is not free to use. Listing plans start at $99 and go up based on how many features you choose. Unreal Estate also makes money by taking 0.5% of the buyer’s agent commission.
- Beycome
Beycome provides many extra features for home sellers and offers flat fee MLS listing services in California, the Southeast, and several other states. The Basic Package starts at $99 and goes up to $599 and 1% of the sale price for their Concierge Plan.
- Fizber
Fizber provides one free FSBO package and three paid plans for $95–$295. Unlike its competitors, Fizber does not offer optional add-ons to help you sell your house. The free plan showcases your property only on Fizber’s site but requires a higher-priced plan to achieve MLS access.
- FSBO.com
FSBO.com is one of only two that list your home on other real estate websites, even if it is not on the MLS. However, the website has two packages — ranging from $99.95 (a six-month Redfin listing) to $399.95 (which includes a six-month MLS listing and exposure on sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.)
- Homecoin
If you are entirely comfortable with the DIY experience and want a no-frills MLS listing, Homecoin offers the best MLS package but lacks free extra services and additional features.
The MLS listing costs $95; you can purchase additional services à la carte. However, these services are more expensive than similar options from other companies. You might find better value with a different paid FSBO website if you need extras like key boxes or yard signs.
- Houzeo
Houzeo has a flat fee MLS listing service that operates nationwide, with limited coverage in some states. Its four plans have state-specific pricing from $0 to $999+ and varying features.
Each paid plan includes an MLS listing, but the value and duration depend on your price. The pricier plans offer more support, reducing the DIY aspect of selling FSBO.
- Facebook Marketplace
Viewed much like an online classified ads website, Facebook Marketplace is easy to use and a popular place for local audiences searching for just about anything — including FSBO homes.
It is a good option for FSBO sellers who want a free and widely accessible space to showcase their property.
- Craigslist
Craigslist offers a barebones FSBO listing, allowing you to upload photos and write a property description. While the website is often fraught with a lousy reputation for scammers, it still has a large audience of potential buyers. All FSBO listers are cautioned to be on the lookout for any potentially suspicious offers.
How Can I Avoid the Pitfalls of Listing My Home For Sale By Owner?
Unless the FSBO website you plan to use explicitly lists that you will receive a multiple listing service (MLS), a database established by cooperating real estate brokers to provide data about properties for sale, which allows brokers to see one another’s listings of properties for sale to connect homebuyers to sellers, you will not receive this beneficial listing.
MLS is widely recognized as the primary platform for home sales, so if your property isn’t listed, many buyers will not see it.
Likewise, most FSBO websites — save for where listed above — will not automatically list your home on popular home-buying websites like Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, or Realtor.com. Most will only list your home on the FSBO website you have chosen to use, which can significantly diminish your exposure to potential buyers.
We believe saving on realtor fees does not mean sacrificing service.
Our flat fee real estate brokers in Los Angeles & Orange County are only discount real estate brokers in title. We help home sellers throughout with each listing detail so they can get in front of the buyers looking for their home’s criteria.
With Listwizer, home sellers get a traditional full listing service for a fraction of the price, including:
- Home valuation and pricing strategy.
- Professional photography.
- Listing on the MLS and hundreds of other sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com.
- Showings and open houses.
- Help with offers and negotiations.
- Paperwork support.
- Closing coordination.
Listwizer’s low rates save you thousands compared to the typical 3% listing fee, and our services are completely free, with no obligation. You only pay our low rate when your home sells. Search for top-rated realtors in your area today and get your house in front of potential buyers on multiple platforms without the hassle of doing it yourself.