Selling on your own? Do it with confidence.
Plenty of Southwest Florida homeowners sell without a listing agent. The ones who do it well price on real evidence, prepare the home, market it widely and stay on top of Florida disclosures. Here’s how.
Four things every FSBO seller has to get right
Selling by owner means you handle every job a listing agent normally does. These four have the biggest impact on your price and your timeline.
Get any one of them wrong and the home can sit, or the deal can fall apart before closing.
Price
Base your price on recent closed sales, not online estimates.
Preparation
Small, inexpensive fixes often return far more than they cost.
Exposure
Most buyers search online and work with an agent. Reach both.
Disclosures
Florida sellers must disclose known material defects.
Six steps from listing to closing
Price it on real evidence
Compare three to six homes like yours that have closed in the last few months. Active listings show your competition; closed sales show what buyers actually paid.
Prepare the home
Declutter, deep clean, fix the small things and freshen the curb appeal. Gather HOA documents, permits, surveys and maintenance records.
Market the property
Professional photos, an accurate description, a flat-fee MLS listing and a quality sign. Decide up front whether you will offer buyer agent compensation, and put it in writing.
Run safe showings
Pre-screen callers, confirm buyers are pre-approved, never show the home alone and lock up valuables.
Handle Florida disclosures
Disclose known material defects, and review flood, radon, lead-based paint and HOA or condo disclosures with an attorney or title company.
Negotiate and close
Look past price to financing, deposits, inspection periods and deadlines. Choose a title company or real estate attorney early.
Download the KBRE For Sale By Owner Guide
A practical guide to selling your Southwest Florida home on your own. Enter your details and the guide downloads instantly. We’ll email you a copy, too.
- How to price your home using real closed sales
- A pre-listing prep checklist buyers notice
- Marketing, showings and safety essentials
- Florida disclosures every seller should know
- Reviewing offers, contracts and closing steps
Download the Free FSBO Guide
Free download. No cost and no obligation.
Not sure about your price, or an offer you received?
Knowledge Base Real Estate offers free, no-obligation market analyses for homeowners selling on their own. We’re also happy to review an offer, answer a disclosure question, or talk through listing options if you decide you’d rather have help. No pressure, ever.
*Based on total value of properties represented, including active, pending, sold, expired, withdrawn and terminated listings and off market sales.
Thinking about getting help?
Get a free market analysis and see what a full-service listing could net you. No obligation.