{"id":218,"date":"2025-05-10T09:12:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T09:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hoyonow.com\/blog\/?p=218"},"modified":"2025-05-10T09:12:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T09:12:57","slug":"10-for-sale-by-owner-tips-that-you-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/?p=218","title":{"rendered":"10 For Sale By Owner Tips That You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>By Robert Urban, FSBO Survivor, Paperwork Gladiator, and Guy Who Once Googled \u201cHow to Not Get Sued While Selling a House\u201d at 2 a.m.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You decided to sell your home <strong>without a Realtor.<\/strong> For Sale by Owner. FSBO for short. <br>No commission checks. No lockbox lectures. No \u201cLet\u2019s depersonalize the space\u201d from someone who wears sunglasses indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just you, your property, and the unshakable belief that you should do this because you passed 5th grade math and realized that giving away even a few percent of a couple hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money for something you can do yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, before you end up in a puddle of legal confusion and expired listings, let\u2019s go over 10 <strong>real<\/strong> FSBO tips that will actually help you survive this journey \u2014 and maybe even enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Price It Like a Pro <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your house is beautiful. So are your memories in it.<br>But buyers don\u2019t pay extra for nostalgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use real comps: same neighborhood, square footage, age, amenities and condition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t just go off the Zestimate. That\u2019s like trusting WebMD to diagnose your dog.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Price to attract attention, not to make back the cost of your kitchen renovation and that one regrettable hot tub purchase. (Hey it was used 8 times!!) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1<strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Check recent <strong>SOLD<\/strong> listings \u2014 not active ones. People list crazy. What they <em>get<\/em> tells the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Write a Listing That Doesn\u2019t Sound Like a Robot Wrote It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis charming 3\/2 has great potential and a cozy feel!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cool. That tells me nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Write like you\u2019re telling a friend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cOpen floor plan, real hardwood floors, and a fenced backyard perfect for dogs, kids, or that garden you swore you\u2019d start if you had more lawn.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep it real. Keep it descriptive. Keep the all caps to a minimum. Nobody wants to feel like they\u2019re being yelled at by the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Photos Matter. Like, A Lot.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bad listing photos are the leading cause of FSBO failure. Probably.<br>(Okay, maybe not officially, but spiritually? Yes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a decent camera or hire someone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shoot in daylight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean first. Seriously, actually clean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No toilet seats up. No blurry \u201cI stood in the corner and hoped for the best\u201d angles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No mirror selfies unless you\u2019re selling the house <em>and<\/em> your gym progress. (There is a realtor\/fitness influencer that talks about home gyms- people are ridiculous)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Stage It Like a Human Lives There, But Not <em>You<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Staging doesn\u2019t mean your home has to look like a Target ad &#8211; but it also shouldn\u2019t look like someone\u2019s still hungover from last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Declutter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Depersonalize.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neutralize smells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hide the litter box. (Yes, they\u2019ll find it.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your goal is \u201clivable fantasy,\u201d not \u201cwhat it usually looks like when no one\u2019s coming over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>Be Available, But Not Weird<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When a buyer messages you, answer like a professional- not a desperate ex trying to rekindle things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be prompt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be courteous.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be clear about when they can come see the place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t follow them around like a suspicious Roomba during the showing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let them wander. Let them imagine.<br>Let them <em>not<\/em> feel like you\u2019re going to ask how many kids they have and if they\u2019d like a lemonade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong>Use a Real FSBO Contract \u2014<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where too many FSBO sellers blow it:<br>They finally get a buyer\u2026 and then scramble to draft a legally binding agreement like it\u2019s a middle school group project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use a <strong>real FSBO Purchase and Sale Agreement<\/strong>.<br>One with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clear timelines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earnest money requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contingency clauses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protection for both parties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zero surprises written in Comic Sans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1<strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Use the FSBO-friendly contracts from<a href=\"http:\/\/hoyonow.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"hoyonow.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> HOYONOW.com<\/a>. They\u2019re simple, legal, and not written in 14-point legalese by someone named Carl with a three-piece suit and no soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <strong>Disclose Everything \u2014 Even the Stuff You Think Doesn\u2019t Matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Did the roof leak in 2018?<br>Does the guest bathroom take a minute to flush?<br>Was there ever termite damage, mold, a sinkhole, or a squirrel squatting in the attic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclose it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Florida, you are legally required to tell buyers about <strong>known material defects<\/strong> that aren\u2019t obvious.<br>This is the time to <strong>cover your butt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. <strong>Track Every Deadline Like It\u2019s Rent Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;re under contract, it\u2019s go-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspection period? Starts ticking the moment the ink dries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Financing deadline? Write it down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contingency removal? Don\u2019t let it sneak past you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Closing prep? Start early. Title companies don\u2019t run on vibes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Set reminders. Use sticky notes. Tattoo the deadlines on your arm.<br>Whatever it takes \u2014 <strong>don\u2019t miss them<\/strong>. (Okay- bad advice on the tattooing thing, but you get my drift) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. <strong>Expect Negotiations \u2014 Don\u2019t Get Defensive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re going to get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offers lower than you wanted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requests for weird repairs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Questions that feel like personal attacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Breathe. This is normal. Don\u2019t take it personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Negotiation doesn\u2019t mean the buyer hates your backsplash \u2014 it means they want a deal.<br>Just like you did when you bought it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Negotiate like an adult with bills, not a TikToker with Wi-Fi and a grudge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. <strong>Hire a Title Company That\u2019s FSBO-Savvy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Title companies aren\u2019t just for Realtors. You need one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019ll:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hold escrow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Run the title search<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Handle closing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep the whole thing from turning into a Craigslist disaster<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Look for a title company that\u2019s done FSBO deals before.<br>They\u2019ll help you stay on track and help you not miss something that costs you money, your deal, or your hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FSBO Doesn\u2019t Mean Going It Alone \u2014 It Means Owning the Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need a Realtor to sell your house.<br>You need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A little patience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A good camera<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And a solid, simple contract<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got the courage to sell your own home. As someone who has done it and reaped the financial savings I am a huge advocate of this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am rooting for you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Robert Urban <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Robert Urban, FSBO Survivor, Paperwork Gladiator, and Guy Who Once Googled \u201cHow to Not Get Sued While Selling a House\u201d at 2 a.m. You decided to sell your home without a Realtor. For Sale by Owner. FSBO for short. No commission checks. No lockbox lectures. No \u201cLet\u2019s depersonalize the space\u201d from someone who wears sunglasses indoors. Just you, your property, and the unshakable belief that you should do this because you passed 5th grade math and realized that giving away even a few percent of a couple hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money for something you can do yourself. Now, before you end up in a puddle of legal confusion and expired listings, let\u2019s go over 10 real FSBO tips that will actually help you survive this journey \u2014 and maybe even enjoy it. 1. Price It Like a Pro Your house is beautiful. So are your memories in it.But buyers don\u2019t pay extra for nostalgia. \ud83d\udca1Pro Tip: Check recent SOLD listings \u2014 not active ones. People list crazy. What they get tells the truth. 2. Write a Listing That Doesn\u2019t Sound Like a Robot Wrote It \u201cThis charming 3\/2 has great potential and a cozy feel!\u201d Cool. That tells me nothing. Write like you\u2019re telling a friend: \u201cOpen floor plan, real hardwood floors, and a fenced backyard perfect for dogs, kids, or that garden you swore you\u2019d start if you had more lawn.&#8221; Keep it real. Keep it descriptive. Keep the all caps to a minimum. Nobody wants to feel like they\u2019re being yelled at by the internet. 3. Photos Matter. Like, A Lot. Bad listing photos are the leading cause of FSBO failure. Probably.(Okay, maybe not officially, but spiritually? Yes.) 4. Stage It Like a Human Lives There, But Not You Staging doesn\u2019t mean your home has to look like a Target ad &#8211; but it also shouldn\u2019t look like someone\u2019s still hungover from last weekend. Your goal is \u201clivable fantasy,\u201d not \u201cwhat it usually looks like when no one\u2019s coming over.\u201d 5. Be Available, But Not Weird When a buyer messages you, answer like a professional- not a desperate ex trying to rekindle things. Let them wander. Let them imagine.Let them not feel like you\u2019re going to ask how many kids they have and if they\u2019d like a lemonade. 6. Use a Real FSBO Contract \u2014 This is where too many FSBO sellers blow it:They finally get a buyer\u2026 and then scramble to draft a legally binding agreement like it\u2019s a middle school group project. Use a real FSBO Purchase and Sale Agreement.One with: \ud83d\udca1Pro Tip: Use the FSBO-friendly contracts from HOYONOW.com. They\u2019re simple, legal, and not written in 14-point legalese by someone named Carl with a three-piece suit and no soul. 7. Disclose Everything \u2014 Even the Stuff You Think Doesn\u2019t Matter Did the roof leak in 2018?Does the guest bathroom take a minute to flush?Was there ever termite damage, mold, a sinkhole, or a squirrel squatting in the attic? Disclose it. In Florida, you are legally required to tell buyers about known material defects that aren\u2019t obvious.This is the time to cover your butt. 8. Track Every Deadline Like It\u2019s Rent Day Once you&#8217;re under contract, it\u2019s go-time. Set reminders. Use sticky notes. Tattoo the deadlines on your arm.Whatever it takes \u2014 don\u2019t miss them. (Okay- bad advice on the tattooing thing, but you get my drift) 9. Expect Negotiations \u2014 Don\u2019t Get Defensive You\u2019re going to get: Breathe. This is normal. Don\u2019t take it personally. Negotiation doesn\u2019t mean the buyer hates your backsplash \u2014 it means they want a deal.Just like you did when you bought it. Negotiate like an adult with bills, not a TikToker with Wi-Fi and a grudge. 10. Hire a Title Company That\u2019s FSBO-Savvy Title companies aren\u2019t just for Realtors. You need one. They\u2019ll: Look for a title company that\u2019s done FSBO deals before.They\u2019ll help you stay on track and help you not miss something that costs you money, your deal, or your hair. FSBO Doesn\u2019t Mean Going It Alone \u2014 It Means Owning the Process You don\u2019t need a Realtor to sell your house.You need: You\u2019ve got the courage to sell your own home. As someone who has done it and reaped the financial savings I am a huge advocate of this. I am rooting for you, Robert Urban<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,33,40,8],"tags":[37,10,17],"class_list":["post-218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fsbo","category-marketing","category-negotiating","category-selling-your-house","tag-for-sale-by-owner","tag-fsbo","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":220,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions\/220"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hoyonow.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}