Can You Sell a House Without a Realtor?

for sale sign by owner

While a lot of homeowners sell their houses through a realtor, there are a few adventurous ones who prefer to do it on their own.

The fact is, selling your home on your own is rewarding and can be a much more profitable undertaking. But there's a reason realtors exist – selling a house can be tricky and challenging for the inexperienced. However, sometimes the good outweighs the bad.

Let’s talk about selling your own house and its benefits. 

Benefits of Selling Your House Without a Realtor

There are many benefits to selling your home realtor-free. The main one has to do with lowering costs. Getting a realtor is convenient but also expensive. The typical agent will charge 3% of the sale price, sometimes as much as 4%.

And since you also need to pay for the buyer agent’s commission, the rates are effectively doubled. All in all, expect commission rates to clock in at 5% - 6%.

That might seem small, but consider a realtor selling a home at $100,000 at 5% commission (not at all uncommon). You lose $5,000 in profit after you’ve sold your home.  House sales without a realtor eliminate that percentage, putting more money in the home seller’s pocket.

Selling a house without a realtor also gives you full control over the process. Most realtors, especially those from large firms, have monthly sales quotas to meet. Some will try to pressure you into a sale just to meet their deadlines, even if it’s not in your best interest

They might mean well by suggesting a negotiation strategy or sales tactic; however, it is unsure if they truly have your best interest at heart. And it can be rather difficult saying no to persistent realtors.

By selling the house yourself, you can do so at your own pace and discretion. Plus, because you know your home so well, no one can explain it’s benefits better than you. 

How to Sell Your House Without a Realtor

One of the main drawbacks of selling your home without a realtor is that you assume all the responsibilities that are typically taken by a real estate agent. A lot of homeowners often underestimate the number of tasks involved in selling a house successfully. 

While it’s completely doable, the home-selling process can be tedious and error-prone, especially for first-timers. To put it into perspective, here is a rundown of the home selling process.

  • Preparing Your Home

    The biggest mistake most homeowners make when selling a house without a realtor is presenting it to potential buyers as-is. 

    Remember, people are looking for a house that they can imagine themselves living in. Seeing your family photos can shatter that illusion pretty quickly and make them unlikely to buy.

    Keep in mind, less is more. So depersonalize your home and replace it with decor and furniture that appeals to the masses or your ideal buyer. Make your house as spacious as possible, and do a deep clean while you’re at it. 

    Making your house as desirable as possible takes a lot of work. Still, it's a crucial step in getting offers from interested buyers.

  • Research the Market, then Price Competitively

    Pricing is a very essential—and tricky—part of selling a house without a realtor.

    Price it too high, and you'll scare off buyers. On the other hand, when you price it too low, buyers will think you're desperate or there is something wrong with the property. Not to mention, you won't get the profit you rightfully deserve.

    Nailing that perfect selling pricing is challenging without the experience and knowledge of a realtor. What you can do is research the local housing market and find similar properties to yours. Use that information as a basis for determining your pricing.

  • Draft Your Listing

    Once your home is ready with a price tag in hand, the next step is to draft your listing. For this task, you’ll need to gather or produce two key details:

    One, try to snap beautiful high-resolution photos of your house. These are the “first impressions” of your home. If buyers don’t like what they see, then they won’t click or inquire any further. This step is so important that we recommend you hire a professional photographer when selling a house with no realtor.

    Two, gather all the data about your home. The basics include floor area, lot size, and the number of rooms.

    After you have the necessary info, you can begin drafting your listing. Write a detailed listing that highlights factual data about your home, and do it in a way that compels buyers. Paint the picture of your home being theirs. Hone in on their emotions and use your words and images to virtual transport them to the property. 

  • Publish on the MLS

    With your house and draft listing ready, it’s now time to let the world know you’re home is on the market. Typically, this is a step often completed by a realtor. However, you are more than capable of doing it on your own.

    Publishing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is relatively simple. It is also a more affordable method to market your home while giving you considerable exposure to interested buyers.

  • Host an Open House

    One great tactic to sell your house without a realtor is hosting an open house. 

    An open house is a scheduled date and time that allows buyers to do a live walkthrough of your home. In order for it to be successful, promote the event to invite and excite buyers about your newly listed home. 

    On the day of, be presentable and tend to every person that takes the time to visit your open house. You never know which one will buy, so treat each prospect equally.

    Not sure how to do an open house? You can visit one in your neighborhood to get tips and tricks first-hand. Going the extra mile by printing out informative brochures for guests to take home is an added bonus. Remember, you're going against other realtors who do this for a living, so bring your A-game!

  • Negotiate Offers

    When selling a home without a realtor, be prepared to get offers. Oftentimes, do-it-yourself home sellers become overwhelmed trying to manage offers, answer calls, and reply to emails. You are also communicating with savvy real estate agents, using your lack of experience to their advantage. 

    Negotiating is something that takes endurance and patience. If you’re struggling with this in the beginning, know that it gets better with practice and experience.

    One key point to help manage it all is to only respond to serious offers. Cheap offers from demanding buyers can drain your time and energy. It is not worth the hassle.

  • Complete the Paperwork and Close the Sale

    Congratulations, you’ve succeeded in selling a house without a realtor! Now all you have to do is complete the sale. Unfortunately, it’s not as straightforward as handing over the house keys to the new buyer.

    Closing a deal involves a lot of paperwork and legal proceedings. It might get complicated, which is why it’s recommended you consult or hire a closing lawyer. If you attempt to do it yourself, you’ll encounter serious legal landmines that can land you in trouble.

    Also, don't forget the myriad of closing costs associated with sealing the deal. These include payments like property taxes, commissions to the buyer’s agents, and transfer fees. One thing to note is that you can usually arrange closing costs payouts with the buyer.

Selling Your House Without A Realtor  vs. House Buyers of America

By now, you might be thinking, “selling my house without a realtor sure takes a lot of work!” Well, you’d be right. 

Yes, there are plenty of benefits But the truth is, it’s an extremely difficult process. Plus, by selling your home without any experience or knowledge, you are bound to make a few mistakes. 

If you want to sell your house fast and hassle-free, doing so without an agent may not be the best route. People tend to underestimate the time, energy, and money that is involved when successfully selling a house without a realtor. As a result, they end up having to pay more than what a fair real estate agent will charge them.

Selling your house with House Buyers of America is the perfect middle-ground for homeowners. We are a technology-driven real estate firm where  we buy houses for cash. We'll buy your house directly from you, as-is, and at a fair price. There is no need for you to prepare your home, list it with an MLS, or negotiate a deal. You don’t even need to bother with the paperwork – we’ll do all of that for you! Once we have met with you to review the offer and you accept our offer, you'll get paid in a matter of days.

Ready to sell your house on your own? Or do you want to sell your house fast for cash and hassle-free? Get in touch with the House Buyers of America today by using our contact form or calling 855-659-3289. We'll give you a fair cash offer on your house in as little as 10 minutes. 

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Ways to Sell Your House Fast For countless homeowners, the thought of selling a house as is can be a daunting challenge. One often imagines the leisure to smoothly navigate through the home-selling journey. However, as elaborated below, life throws curveballs like: Job transfers Growing families A sudden demise in the family Financial tight spots Divorce upheavals Relocating for fresh job prospects Mounting maintenance costs Such pivotal moments demand rapid action. That's where homeowners prioritize locking in the sale of their houses swiftly. Trusted partners like House Buyers of America have an upper hand with their comprehensive resources, ensuring homeowners receive competitive, fair cash offers and fast house sales in their tight schedules. Why "Sell My House Fast For Cash" Could Be Your Answer Ever stood in your living room pondering, "Can I sell my home for cash?" Many find the start of the selling journey mystifying. Perhaps, your residence has adorned the market for ages, making you wonder, "How do I expedite the sale?" Such queries aren't solitary. For those in haste, House Buyers of America extends a lifeline. Remember, opting for a cash sale is a lifesaver when the clock's ticking. Collaborating with an iBuyer ("we buy houses" company), like House Buyers of America, shuns realtor commissions with its sleek procedures. Their proposition: an "as is" offer. And if it resonates, your cash materializes in mere days. Related: The Average Time to Sell a House Scenarios Perfect for Our Services: 1. The Inherited Abode: Inheriting a house might sound dreamy, but sometimes it's more of a responsibility, especially if co-inherited or needing extensive repairs. Instead of plunging into rentals, the swifter sale is often preferred. House Buyers of America often collaborate with such families, turning potential fixer-uppers into quick cash. 2. Downsizing for Simplicity: Life stages shift, and a desire to minimize arises. If you're resonating with the "I need to sell my house fast for simplicity's sake" sentiment, know that the condition of your home isn't a deterrent. House Buyers of America promises a quote in just ten minutes. If you've found your next nest, it's wise to seal the deal on your current residence and avoid financial strains. House Buyers of America is your ally in such ventures. Related: Selling An Inherited House What to Consider Before Selling Your House for Cash Any house sale mandates due diligence. To optimize your outcome, being informed is key. At House Buyers of America, we always advise our clientele to weigh these factors before settling for a cash buyer: Time Constraints: Situations like job relocations, unexpected inheritances, or pending divorces vary in urgency. Depending on market dynamics and the state of your home, the sale might be instant or prolonged. For those seeking an assured quick sale, a cash offer might be the golden ticket. How Much Work is Needed to Sell There’s a lot of preparation that goes into selling a home the traditional way with a real estate agent. There’s packing, renovating, fixing up the house, listing photoshoots, home staging, and open houses—the list goes on. The only way to avoid these obligations is to opt for a “sell house for cash” program. These programs, like the one we offer at House Buyers of America, provide you with a fair cash offer based on the current condition of your home—no cleaning or prep work required. We work with you every step of the way based on your unique selling situation. Who Cash Home Buyer Programs Are Right For If you want a simple and hassle-free home sale, selling a house to a cash buyer might be your best available option. House Buyers of America is here to help sellers in those situations. We offer a competitive sales price for your house AS IS, no matter its condition, saving you the time and stress that would have gone into trying to sell on the market. So, what’s the benefit? A qualified company that buys houses for cash, like House Buyers of America, has the funds to make the purchase. You also get a guarantee that the sale will go through. That's never the case with selling a house to a high-tech real estate cash buyer like House Buyers of America. Also, when you sell your home fast to a cash buyer, you know they can process the payment much more quickly because they aren’t relying on lenders or third parties. This means that your house is sold fast, and you're free to move on to your next place. Of course, while working with an iBuyer is usually the best way to sell your home quickly (for cash or otherwise), there are still several other options that might be worth exploring: Related: The Top 6 Reasons You Should Sell Your House “As Is” For Sale by Owner (FSBO) Listing This method allows homeowners to bypass real estate agents. However, the onus of managing paperwork and attracting buyers falls squarely on the homeowner. This route can often be more time-consuming than anticipated, especially if the market is slow. Real Estate Listing This method has its merits, but the time and effort involved in maintaining the house for viewings, alongside agent commission fees, can make it less appealing for those wanting to Sell Your House Fast. Doing “Whatever It Takes” Selling a house requires effort, whether you're working with an agent, promoting it on social media, or hosting open houses. But remember, more effort doesn't guarantee a faster sale. The below statistics demonstrate why this is the case: The entire length of time it takes to sell a home is more than just the number of days your house is on the market. Before your house can be listed for sale, you must do your research to ensure selling your house is the right decision and also find contractors. That takes time. 86% of home buyers finance their homes, meaning they must wait for their mortgage loan to be approved before finalizing a purchase. That adds additional time to the closing process. It takes 30 days, on average, for a mortgage to be approved, and 50 days for the sale of a house to be completed (from initial offer to closing). On top of that, if the house needs a lot of work and the buyer is getting a construction loan—like an FHA 203K loan—you can expect another 90 to 120 days for that to be approved. Why The Traditional Route Might Not Be Fast Enough Traditional house selling methods often require time, sometimes stretching from 6 months to a year. This can be problematic for those seeking a rapid solution, making a "sell my house fast" approach a more appealing alternative. Our team at House Buyers of America is passionate about providing homeowners with a convenient and rapid-fast alternative that puts cash in their pockets sooner rather than later. House Buyers of America's Sell Your House Fast Process Have you ever thought, "I need to sell my house for cash now"? House Buyers of America's process is efficient and designed for speed. This approach is particularly beneficial for those eager to progress to their next life phase without the added stress of a prolonged selling process. The Experience of Selling Your House to House Buyers of America When you work with House Buyers of America, you're working with a seasoned, reputable company. With their history of buying thousands of homes since 2001, their process is streamlined, efficient, and trustworthy. Unlike traditional real estate agencies, we do not require you to: Clean or prepare your home for sale Be present for viewings or open houses Wait until a potential buyer receives loan approval Complete costly repairs Pay a commission fee Instead, we make the house selling process easy by: Providing you with a fair cash offer in just a few minutes Buying your property AS IS, no matter the size or condition Paying you cash upon settlement of your house Providing outstanding customer experience with our real estate team Offering cutting-edge technology to simplify the home selling process How We Make A Quick House Sale Possible If you are hoping to “sell house for cash quickly” or “sell house for cash fast”, we’re here to help. We make it possible for you to: Move forward with your life in a matter of days (not months or a year) Sell your home without cleaning or renovating Save money by avoiding commission fees and closing costs Walk away with cash in your pocket Why Sell Your House to House Buyers of America? In business since 2001, thousands of homes purchased We close on time You never pay any commissions (yep, none!) We work with your schedule If you sell your house to us, you have no worries, no commissions, and no delays. Why deal with the headache of staging a home, scheduling open houses and maintaining listings? Contact us now to sell your house fast and save time and money. We have bought thousands of homes since 2001. When you sell your house to us, you are dealing with a local, established company. You can visit our office and talk with us any time if you have questions or concerns. We even provide you with a real estate consultant to help you through every step of the process. Making the Right Choice for Your Needs While traditional methods might work for some, many find the efficiency and ease of a "sell house for cash" approach preferable. If a hassle-free, swift sale is what you're after, House Buyers of America might be your ideal choice. FAQ Why might someone want to sell their house swiftly? Reasons vary, from job relocations to financial challenges or even unexpected property inheritances. Is selling my house for cash a reliable option? Yes, especially when you want to sell your house fast without the regular market uncertainties. What advantages do iBuyers like House Buyers of America offer? They provide a streamlined process, no realtor commissions, and swift cash offers, among other benefits. Does the condition of my home affect the cash sale? Not with entities like House Buyers of America, as they offer to buy homes "as is." How long does it take to get a cash offer for my house? With House Buyers of America, you can get an offer in as quick as 10 minutes. Is it wise to downsize my home? It's a personal decision, often influenced by lifestyle changes, desires for simplicity, or financial considerations. What should I consider before selling my house for cash? You should assess your time constraints, the current market, your home's condition, and the reliability of your chosen cash buyer. Can I sell an inherited house for cash? Absolutely. Many opt for this to avoid the responsibilities and potential repairs of an inherited property Get Started Today There is simply no other method of selling a home that is this stress-free. We look forward to helping you sell your house as fast as possible. There’s a reason why we have so many five-star reviews—our process simply works. If you’re ready to get started on the process of selling your house fast, the quickest way to do so will be by filling out our online form or calling us at 855-336-7167. After you answer just a few questions, you’ll have the option to accept a fair cash offer, sign a sales agreement, and close the deal. We know it’s hard to believe, but really, that’s it! Sell Home Fast and Fast House Buying House Buyers of America is one of the leading services for people looking for companies promising a cash offer for their homes in Maryland. Are you looking to sell your home? Do you want your home bought now? Rely on House Buyers of America to buy your house fast, AS IS for cash without the hassle of commissions or a lengthy sales process. If you need more convincing, check out these customer sold homes stories. Call us now at 855-336-7167 or fill out our online form to get a cash offer in 10 minutes! Cities and Counties in Maryland Where We Buy Houses Aberdeen Adelphi Annapolis Baltimore Bel-Air Beltsville Bowie Burtonsville Bushwood Catonsville Chesapeake Beach Chevy Chase Chillum Clinton Colesville College Park Columbia Crofton Darnestown Edgewater Eldersburg Elkton Essex Fells Point Fort Washington Frederick Gaithersburg Glen Burnie Greenbelt Gwynn Oak Halethorpe Havre De Grace Hyattsville Indian Head Lanham Leonardtown Lexington Park Lochearn Marlow Heights Mechanicsville Milford Mill Monkton Monrovia Montgomery County Mount Rainier Nanjemoy Olney Oxon Hill Pikesville Potomac Prince George's County Randallstown Rockville Rosedale Walkersville West River White Plains And more! We’ve worked hard to establish the best platform for quickly selling your home in Maryland. With our “We Buy Maryland Houses” program, you can quickly get your home off your hands, all for a very fair price. We’d love to chat more about finding ways to sell your Maryland property and help you achieve your long-term financial goals. Why You Should Use House Buyers of America Selling a house is stressful enough, even if you live in a very competitive state for housing like Maryland. When you add in the trials of trying to sell your house during a personal financial emergency or the emotions of an estate sale, it can be overwhelming. Let House Buyers of America buy your house; as suggested, we buy houses in Maryland and we put a lot of pride into our work. Here are just a few ways House Buyers of America can make a real difference: No Commission Yes, you read that right. House Buyers of America takes no commission when buying your home. This frees up at least 6% in the value of your home, significant savings that you can apply to your next home. With Maryland’s high real estate values, that means you could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars. With no commissions, you can be assured that you get a fair price for your home. Related: Three Tips to Sell Your House Fast for Cash Fast House Buying House Buyers of America promises to get you an offer within 10 minutes over the phone. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to sell a home in Maryland, Virginia, D.C., or any of our other markets. That means no more waiting on real estate agents to list your home and then receiving an offer from a potential buyer in weeks or months. Close in as Little as 7 Days Some companies will tell you “We buy Maryland houses in 7 days,” but they don’t have adequate capital or a fully staffed office to accomplish this. House Buyers of America’s goal is to buy houses in Maryland in as little as 7 days because we try hard to ensure we buy it as quickly as possible. We have plenty of capital—enough to buy many more houses than we’re buying now. Plus, we have a fully staffed office ready to handle any new deals. Our commitment to a speedy sale is a hallmark of House Buyers of America. Any Condition, AS IS This is not a gimmick. We buy houses AS IS in Maryland, in any condition—from a tear-down to relatively new houses. Whether it needs tons of repairs or no repairs at all, our purchases are not made based on the condition of the home. Our offers are made in cash for any condition and on an AS IS basis. When Should You Use House Buyers of America? Clients of House Buyers of America range across demographics, ages, and financial situations. We help make it possible for Maryland homeowners to achieve their financial dreams. As a result, there are certain reasons why our customers tell us why they sell their houses to us. Job Transfer Did you just get a promotion that requires you to relocate? Or maybe your local office is closing down and you have to relocate to another city quickly in order to keep your job. Whatever your job transfer needs are, we offer cash for your home and we can close quickly. Buying a New House Perhaps the thought of juggling the sale of your current home and purchasing a new one at the same time in the same local market might be creating a lot of stress. Have you considered having to have your home staged and then factor in coordinating where to live after you sell? What should you do? Put a home sale contingency in an offer to purchase a new house and risk making your offer much less competitive. Or should you buy a house first and then risk not being able to sell your current house, leaving you stuck with two mortgages? This is the age-old real estate dilemma. If you’re in this situation, you’ve come to the right place! With House Buyers of America, you get a guaranteed sale of your house and we’re flexible on the closing date (and no closing costs). After the purchase agreement is signed, your home sale is covered and you can start looking for a new home without worrying about selling your existing home. Divorce Divorce can be a huge disruptor, emotionally and financially. In most cases, the divorced couple needs to sell their house fast so they can divvy up the assets and make a clean break. Many in a divorce situation look for a “sell my house fast Maryland” company so they can sell their house without having to go through the arduous process of a traditional sale. Finding a real estate agent, renovating, cleaning, and staging the house, agreeing on a list price, negotiating the terms of the contract, etc. This is normally a stressful enough task, but if you add divorce into the mix, it feels impossible. Why not pick up the phone and get an offer in 10 minutes? Or simply fill out our online form and get an offer quickly. No need to renovate, stage, select a Realtor, and deal with people traipsing through your house and losing all of your privacy for 6-12 months. Real solutions are well within reach. There is an alternative: House Buyers of America! Financial Distress Are you in a financial bind with thousands of dollars locked away in your home? Most people do not realize they can directly access the accumulated equity of their home in their hands in as little as 7 days until they contact House Buyers of America. We offer fair prices for when you need an immediate cash infusion to stave off foreclosure, bankruptcy, or whatever life throws at you. Medical Emergency, Retired, Downsizing Some of our clients are elderly and have stayed in their homes for years, but have stumbled into a medical emergency and need the equity in their homes to pay for hospital bills. When this is the case, whether you are a homeowner or a care provider, you might need to sell your Maryland home quite quickly. Others simply want a hassle-free solution for downsizing into a smaller home and want equity in their legacy home. Estate Sales House Buyers of America have also helped thousands of people who have suddenly inherited an unwanted or unneeded property. When dealing with an estate, many heirs can’t decide or agree on when to sell the house or who will take care of the paperwork, so the house is left sitting vacant and deteriorating for months or years. Estate sales can bring out the worst in people and families often get torn apart in the process. The traditional real estate process can be complicated and often doesn’t work well for estate sales. The unique estate laws that apply in Maryland can also create some additional complications. So why not try a simple, fast, and hassle-free solution that all of your family members can agree on? Get an all-cash offer in as little as 10 minutes by contacting House Buyers of America. A Fresh Start We’ve talked about several reasons you might want to sell your Maryland house to a cash buyer. Then there are those unfortunate circumstances in life that require a complete and total liquidation of your assets when you need a speedy exit from your current home and town. By getting an all-cash, guaranteed offer from House Buyers of America and getting your house sold in as little as 7 days, you get that fresh start without waiting. That’s why we continue to be the choice of people looking to “sell house fast in Maryland,” as well as other nearby states.