Thinking of Selling Your Home Yourself? Read This First.

Your home is likely your largest investment, so when it comes time to sell, it makes sense to want the best return possible. You might wonder: why not sell it yourself and skip the commission? It sounds logical—but the evidence tells a different story.

Even in a high-demand, low-inventory market, selling For Sale By Owner (FSBO) is far from simple. You can take great photos, write a compelling description, and field calls from interested buyers—but there are many potential pitfalls that can cost you far more than the commission you’re trying to save.

The biggest issue? FSBO homes typically sell for significantly less than those listed with a Realtor. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), in 2024, FSBO homes sold for a median price of $380,000. Agent-assisted homes, on the other hand, sold for a median of $435,000—a difference of $55,000. That’s a 14–15% gap.

Why the discrepancy? It often starts with pricing. It’s easy to over- or under-price a home without expert guidance—especially in the constantly shifting market of 2025. A home priced too low leaves money on the table; one priced too high can sit on the market, becoming stale and ultimately selling for less. Realtors understand local trends and know how to price and negotiate to your advantage.

Marketing also plays a huge role. FSBO sellers primarily rely on limited channels:

• 18% used friends, relatives, or neighbors
• 12% used yard signs
• 10% used third-party websites
• 10% used entry-only MLS listings

Yet buyers find homes quite differently:

• 51% found theirs online
• 29% through a real estate agent
• Only 4% via yard or open-house signs
• 8% through personal connections

Simply put: FSBO sellers often market in the wrong places, missing the vast majority of potential buyers. A Realtor knows where and how to reach serious, qualified buyers.

There’s also the time, effort, and legal complexity to consider. You’ll need to manage showings, screen buyers, understand legal disclosures, and decipher offers—all while avoiding scams and navigating a transaction that involves thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of dollars. It’s a lot to take on.

The numbers speak for themselves: only 6% of home sales in 2024 were FSBO—a record low. Meanwhile, 90% of sellers chose to work with a real estate agent. And of the few who did attempt FSBO, about half sold to someone they already knew. Roughly 1 in 5 FSBO sellers ended up hiring a Realtor after starting the process alone.

Realtors don’t just put a sign in your yard—they bring strategy and experience to every step of the process. They prepare your home for market, create professional marketing materials, determine an ideal listing price, promote your home to the right audience, and negotiate on your behalf. They also manage paperwork and disclosures to ensure a smooth, legal transaction, and they’re with you through closing.

If you needed dental work or legal advice, you wouldn’t try to do it yourself. Selling your home—a major financial and legal transaction—deserves the same level of professional expertise. Realtors are licensed for a reason: selling real estate is complicated, and mistakes can be costly.

If you’re thinking about selling, now is the time to work with a Realtor. It’s not just the easier route—it’s the smarter one.