Real Estate FSBO
This lens will include information, articles, websites and other resources to assist you in the sale of your property - without a Realtor. I hope you find the resources provided helpful in your efforts to sell your home. I will work hard to find the best, most up-to-date real estate information on the web and off, to assist you in completing the sale of your home. I will discuss what is involved in preparing your home for sale, advertising your home, showing your home to potential buyers, filing the necessary paperwork, the home inspection process, plus lots more.
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
Advertising Your Home for Sale in your Local Newspaper
For-sale-by-owner (FSBO) sellers use a variety of methods to market their home. Newspaper is the top media choice among FSBOs trying to sell their homes

Source: http://www.naa.org/
Now, you can include free online photos of your home for sale with your newspaper classified print ad!. No registration required - photos are online in minutes.
Home for Sale photos uploaded by one of our customers.
Click Here for more information on how to obtain your free photo weblink as well as some great home selling tips.
Recommended Reading
The For Sale by Owner Handbook
Piper does an amazing job of describing, in detail, every single thing you need to know about selling your house on your own. I wish I had had this book when I was selling my house. I KNOW I would have made a lot more money. Very in depth and informative. Every home owner that is planning on selling their home should own this book.
-An Amazon Review
Amazon Price: $12.23 (as of 07/19/2008)
Quick Poll
For Sale by Owner Articles
For Sale By Owner Purchase Contracts
Top 10 FSBO Tips to Selling Your Home by Owner
Tips On How To Sell Your Own House - Without An Agent or Realtor
Helpful Hints To Help You Sell Your Own Home
10 Quick Tips for Home Sellers
Home Selling Tips for Sell-It-Yourself Owners
FSBO - You Can Save Thousands in 7 Easy Steps
Advertise Your Home For Sale Effectively
Marketing a For Sale By Owner Home
Small Improvements to your Home can make the Difference!
100 Surefire Improvements to Sell Your House Faster
The book provided many easy and affordable projects to increase the value of our house and sell our house quickly. My wife and I did most of the projects ourselves, or with a little help from friends.
-An Amazon Review
Amazon Price: $21.15 (as of 07/19/2008)
Designed to Sell: Make any home the hottest property on the block with expert advice from the popular HGTV series
The ideas put forth in this book are simple and common sense, yet many were things I hadn't thought of. After living in my house for 5 years there were so many things I just didn't see any more and this book really helped me take a look through someone else's eyes.
-A satisfied buyer
Amazon Price: $11.97 (as of 07/19/2008)
For Sale by Owner Sites
A Site-By-Site Comparison

Featured Site
FSBO.com
All of the prices below represent a one-time fee:
Bronze Package: $69.95
Silver Package: $79.95
Gold Package: $ 99.95
Platinum Package: $199.95
Flat Fee MLS Package: $499.95
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Other Websites:
- For Sale by Owner
- Packages vary depending on zip code. However, I entered my New York zip code and here is the pricing I received to give you an idea:
Per month plan: $89.95/month
Until sold plan: $199/one-time fee
Until sold with Yard Sign: $249/one-time fee
Premium until sold: $349/one-time fee
Featured home until sold: $599/one-time fee
Deluxe MLS Package: $699/one-time fee
The Platinum Package: $899/one-time fee - Owners.com
- Here are the plans available. All are one-time fees and have the MLS option available at an additional cost.
Basic: $49.95
Standard: $79.95
Premier: $179.95
Flat fee MLS: $377 - By Owner.com
- The prices are based on area code. I entered in my New York area code and here is the pricing I received to give you an idea:
Listing with Guarantee until sold Exposure with up to 6 pics: $249
Additional Options:
Signs: $49
800# Voice Mail Sample: $35
Slide Show, Up to 24 Pics: $89
Special package price. Includes all of the above plus additional exposure for your property:
$349 - Homes by Owner.com
- Premium: 20 Photo Slideshow $129.99
Deluxe: 5 Photo Tour $79.99
FREE - 1 Photo Ad FREE - Sale By Owner.com
- All of SaleByOwner.com's packages allow you to post six color photographs of your property, a virtual tour and a 3,000 character description. I entered in my New York zip code to receive these results, but it will give you a good idea of pricing.
Per Month Plan: $59.95/month
Until Sold Plan: $149 one-time fee
Until Sold Plan with MLS Listing: $579
'How To' Books & Kits for Home Sellers
How to Sell Your Own Home: The Practical Homeowner's Guide to Selling by Owner
Followed the tips for preparing our home, setting a price, advertising, and making appointments with prospective buyers. The sign went in the yard on a Wednesday and 10 days later we had a signed purchase/sale agreement.
-A home seller on Amazon
Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 07/19/2008)
The For Sale By Owner Kit
I used the valuable, step-by-step, practical information in this book to sell my first house by owner, a rental house at that.
-A happy customer on Amazon
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 07/19/2008)
How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days: Third Edition
It's time to change the way you think about selling your home. How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days is an innovative alternative that makes the market work for you, whether you're selling a house, a condominium, or a co-op apartment, whether in a seller's market or a buyer's market. Follow the 5-Day Method and take charge of your real estate future-Sell your home in 5 days, Get the best possible price, Save thousands of dollars in broker's fees and commissions, and Spare yourself months-if not years-of costly aggravation, disruption, and disappointment.
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/19/2008)
Home Staging
Home Staging is preparing your home prior to putting it up for sale. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it welcoming, appealing, and attractive to the largest audience of potential homebuyers. Staging often raises the value of a property by way of small repairs, redecorating, renovations and landscaping. If done correctly, staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing any flaws.
- Home Staging Resource
- The Mission of Home Staging Resource is to add credibility and integrity to the home staging industry. Website includes a Directory of qualified Home Stagers by State.
- The Detailed Home
- At The Detailed Home our goal is to maximize the buyers' first 10 seconds within your home to create "a love affair that starts at your door".
- Home Stagers
- A U.K. based site recognised by the industry as THE source of home staging and property styling related information.
- Staged Homes.com
- The Staged Homes Program is a dynamic program that has been developed to assist property owners in presenting their homes for sale in the best possible way, by employing the unique skills of an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP).
- Center Stage Home
- Center Stage Home offers services which assist home-owners and real estate agents alike, in the preparation of homes for both open house and private showing.
Home Staging Sells Homes Faster and For More Money
Local TV clip showcases how Staging your home will sell it quicker and for more money! After Staging by Brenda Hoover, ASP this home sells in one day FOR THE ASKING PRICE. For more information about Staging education or to find an Accredited Staging Professional visit www.stagedhomes.com
Runtime: 3:15
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Best Selling Home Staging Books / DVD's
Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money
I am serious: you need to read this book. I had a friend sell a condo in Northern California. The area was booming in real estate, and she had a lovely, large condo. Still, she staged her house and she estimates she got more, lots more, for her house than she would have ordinarily.
-A Satisfied Amazon Buyer
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/19/2008)
Dress Your House for Success: 5 Fast, Easy Steps to Selling Your House, Apartment, or Condo for the Highest Po ssible Price!
I am in real estate and I offer a copy or recommend this read to everyone who has a property to sell. I was impressed with the method. Proven results show that sellers who followed her ideas have gotten better offers. Many of the ideas are offered in the staging shows you see on HGTV. Martha's advice is practical and even has tips on how to keep the house looking great during the period of the listing even when you are very busy and have kids running around the house. Its a great resource!
-A Recommendation from an Amazon Customer
Amazon Price: $10.40 (as of 07/19/2008)
Peggy's Corner: Stage Your Home for Profit
A great guide with lots and lots of pictures... even someone without any decorating bones can use the photos and easy suggestions to make their home look like a model home. Its great cause its not a lot of boring reading, just quick bullets on what to do in each room. And if you like watching HGTV, then the DVD is fun to watch! Good Luck and have fun, I did!
-A Satisfied Amazon Customer
Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 07/19/2008)
3 Steps to Sold: Home Staging Made Easy
Selling your home just got easier! The 3 Steps to Sold DVD is a fun and informative video that will help you prepare your home for the market. Follow the three simple steps and create a fantastic first impression that will sell your house faster and for more money.
"I was stunned. The house was 100% better after they watched the DVD. It works!" --Liz, Realtor, Re/MAX Equity Group
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/19/2008)
Home Staging Articles
Quiz: Staging Savvy
Don't Let Tiny Closets Shut Out Buyers
Staging Helps Sell Homes
Behind The Garage Door
Home Staging - Bringing The Yard Together
Home Staging Tips to Help YOUR Home Sell in a Slower Market
Prepare Your Home for Sale: Home Staging Your Kitchen
Home Staging Essentials - 50 Tips To Get You Started on Your Home Staging Journey
The Flat Fee MLS Option for Home Sellers
What is a Flat Fee MLS? A Flat fee, or fixed fee, MLS is an option for home sellers who are selling their home without a realtor. This concept is relatively new. It enables the seller to pay a real estate agent a flat fee to have their property for sale placed in the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) without having to purchase a package of services from the agent. Before home sellers had this option, the only way they could be listed in the MLS was by listing their property with a realtor. The going rate for a "flat-fee MLS" is between $200-$500 (amount varies by state), which could add up to large savings. Sellers still have to pay a "Buyer's Agent Commission" if an agent brings a buyer, however, this is generally 2.5%-3% as opposed to paying 4%-7% for a full service realtor. However, if you sell the property on your own without an agent, you only owe the cost of the MLS listing package.
I would recommend contacting your local realtors first to see if they offer a Flat Fee MLS package and ask what is included. You could also do an Internet search by entering in 'Flat Fee MLS' and your state ('Flat Fee MLS New York', for example) and all sites offering MLS packages for your state will come up. Many of the real estate sites listed above offer the MLS option as well.
The best advice I can give you is to do your homework. There are literally hundreds of providers offering this service so you really need to be educated before you chose to purchase a package. Do your research. Compare the pricing and what is being offered. Most of the packages are for a 6-month listing. Optional items offered: Yard Signs, Lock boxes, Extra Photos, Answering Service, etc. Some providers include these items and others offer these at an additional cost. As always, check the site out with the Better Business Bureau before you go ahead with a purchase of an MLS listing.
The Home Inspection
Home Inspection.com
American Society of Home Inspectors
National Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Real Estate Humor
Absentee Owner - Any property holder with I.Q. under three digits
Abandonment - Everyone present for a contract signing but the buyer.
Accord - Small car driven by agents not yet able to afford Mercedes.
Acre - Necessary space for a family of six in Utah, a family of four in Eastern Suburbia, and 500,000 people in NYC.
A.R.M. - First part of body that is twisted during real estate negotiations.
Asking Price - Amount set on property that brokers think is too high, sellers think is too low, and buyers think will be twice the final selling price.
Closing - Act of God.
Closing Statement - "Thank God".
Easement - The right of one agency to trespass on another agency's exclusive property.
Endorsement - Broker patting self on back.
Execute - To end the life of a troublesome person in a deal.
Legal Rate of Interest - Time it takes for attorney to respond to your request that he/she will represent your case.
Courtesy of SurReal Estate
Real Estate Resources
- The Real Estate Group
- This is a great group on Squidoo that provides lots of valuable information on the real estate market.
Lens of the Day
I am happy to announce that this lens was selected as 'Lens of the Day' on March 23, 2007. A special thank you to the Squidoo team for this honor. :)View Blog Post
Want to comment on this lens or just say 'Hi"?
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BillGassett
Janet nice Real Estate site :) Posted June 22, 2008 |
| DavidYarian
Great lens. Good information. Thanks for all the resources to buy or sell as a FSBO! Posted May 29, 2008 |
i'm doing home staging and it's awesome! brought in a lot of money to our house! here is where i first learned all about home staging: http://www.squidoo.com/home-staging-business
Posted May 19, 2008
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cannedguds
I you want to sell your home fast, you need the services of a home stager or better yet, why not learn in becoming your own home stager instead? The best way to learn this is through the Internet and you don't need a home staging certificate if ever you need to prove you're a home stager when you decide to make it your own business in the future. This lens is really helpful in giving me some tips on how to sell houses and I recommend "Home Staging Success" if you want to become a home stager! 10 stars for you, Janet21! Posted April 23, 2008 |
This is such excellent online reading... Great website. Thanks from all of us at
Flat Fee MLS For Sale By Owner Discount Realty
Posted April 21, 2008
(by 63 people)


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