The best way to sell your house depends on your priorities. If you want to sell for the highest price, then working with a real estate agent is often the best option. But if you need to sell as quickly as possible, you may want to sell to a cash buyer instead.
For most sellers, the best way to sell a house is with a discount broker. With a discount broker, you get the same services you would with a traditional real estate agent, but you could save thousands on realtor fees.
If you're ready to find a top low-cost agent, simply fill out a short form about your selling situation, and we'll send multiple realtor recommendations to your inbox. Each agent is vetted and offers a 1.5% listing fee (half the typical rate).
If you're not sure how you want to sell, keep reading. We break down four strategies for selling your house, including their pros and cons and how they work.
4 best ways to sell a house
1. Sell with a traditional real estate agent
Pros
- Sell for market value
- Your realtor handles all aspects of your home sale
- Get expert help with marketing and negotiating
Cons
- Pay up to 3% in listing agent commission
- No guarantee your house will sell fast
- May need to invest in repairs to draw in more buyers
Selling with a traditional real estate agent is the most common way to sell a home. With this method, your realtor lists your property, negotiates with buyers, and helps you close the deal.
A traditional realtor is one of the best ways to sell a house if you want the highest sale price. Realtors have access to the multiple listing service (MLS) and know what local buyers are looking for. So they can help you market your house to draw more potential buyers.
The main downside of traditional real estate agents is that they charge full realtor commission — which can be up to 3% in some markets. While some realtors are open to negotiating real estate commission, you may have a hard time getting a significant discount.
You can find a real estate agent by using an agent finder, such as HomeLight, or by contacting brokerages, like eXp Realty, directly. Family and friends may be able to recommend a good realtor, as can loan officers.
When choosing a realtor, pay attention to their years of experience, how many sales they’ve handled recently in your area, and their online reviews. You’re free to interview multiple agents without being obligated to use their services. This way, you can get a feel for whether or not they’re the right fit for your sale.
How it works
Selling a house with a traditional real estate agent involves a lot of steps, but fortunately, your agent will handle most of them. Here’s how the process of selling with a realtor works.
- Find an agent: Use an online agent finder or get recommendations from friends, family, or other real estate professionals.
- Sign a listing agreement: The listing agreement details your realtor’s fees and responsibilities.
- Prep your house: Your agent will give you tips on how to prepare your house for sale, including any repairs or home improvements.
- List your home: Work with your agent to determine an appropriate listing price based on what similar properties are selling for. Your agent will list your property on the MLS, which will give it the greatest exposure to buyers and their agents.
- Market your home: Your agent will handle showings, open houses, and other marketing activities. You should plan on being absent from your home during showings.
- Field offers: Your agent will bring any offers that potential buyers make to you and advise you on how to respond to them. During negotiations, your agent can suggest concessions and counteroffer strategies.
- Go through the inspection and appraisal process: After you’ve accepted an offer, the buyer will typically have a home inspection and appraisal completed. Be prepared to renegotiate if issues come up during the inspection or the appraisal is lower than expected.
- Close on the deal: Work with your agent to learn what paperwork will need to be completed for closing. Your agent can also recommend a title company and attorney to help complete closing. Once closing is finished, realtor fees and other costs are deducted from the sale proceeds, which are then wired to your bank account.
2. Sell with a low-cost agent
Pros
- Save thousands compared to a full-priced realtor
- Same services as traditional agents
- Sell for full market value
- Agent handles marketing, negotiations, and closing
Cons
- Not guaranteed a quick sale
- May be hard to sell distressed properties
Selling with a discount agent is similar to selling with a traditional real estate agent. The difference is you'll pay a lower listing fee.
Some discount brokerages, such as Clever Real Estate and Ideal Agent, offer the same services as a traditional realtor. Others, like Redfin, provide a less hands-on experience than traditional agents do.
A discount agent is the best way to sell a house if you want to get the best sale price for your home and save on realtor fees. You’ll get access to the MLS and have a realtor’s expertise to help you sell for the most money.
While discount agents are the top option for most sellers, you may want to consider cash buyers if your priority is to sell extremely quickly or you have a distressed property.
That said, even if you need to sell fast, you should talk with a real estate agent beforehand to see how quickly they could help you sell your house while still getting a fair price.
After completing hundreds of hours of research, we think these three discount brokerages offer the best mix of savings and service. Clever and Redfin both offer a low listing fee of just 1.5%, although Clever comes out ahead in terms of service quality. Ideal Agent, meanwhile, has a higher listing fee of 2%, but its agents are typically highly experienced.
» See our full list of the top discount brokers.
How it works
Selling with a discount real estate agent is similar to selling with a traditional realtor. Here’s how it works:
- Submit property info: Submit an online form about your property and selling needs, including your timeframe, property location, and if you also intend to buy a house.
- Get connected with an agent: A representative will connect you with a real estate agent. Some companies, like Clever, will let you compare multiple listing agents, while others may assign you whatever agent is available in your area.
- Market your house: Your agent will suggest a price for your home based on a comparative market analysis (CMA) and list it on your local MLS. They’ll also assist with showings and may make recommendations to help your home stand out from the competition.
- Negotiate with buyers: Your agent will negotiate with buyers and their agents on your behalf and advise about what concessions to offer or reject. Your agent will provide advice about the quality of each offer, but it’s your decision whether you accept or reject it.
- Host inspections and appraisals: Buyers will often require a home inspection and appraisal prior to closing. If issues are uncovered during the inspection, consult with your agent about whether you’re obligated to fix the issue or to provide the buyer a credit.
- Complete closing: Your agent will walk you through the closing process, including completing all necessary paperwork. The money from the sale, minus closing costs, will be wired to your account after closing.
3. Sell to a cash buyer
Pros
- Good for difficult-to-sell properties
- Close extremely quickly, sometimes in just a week
- No need for showings or repairs
Cons
- Won’t get market value for your home
- May experience strong-arm sales tactics
Some buyers, such as property investors and iBuyers, will buy houses for cash. These buyers are typically looking to make an income from their properties, either by reselling them for a profit or renting them out.
Selling to a cash buyer is best for sellers whose main priority is a quick sale. Cash buyers can close very quickly, sometimes in just a week. Plus, many cash buyers will buy homes as is, including distressed properties and those facing foreclosure. You don't have to invest in repairs or make your home market-ready.
But cash buyers aren’t right for sellers looking to make the most money on their sale. Because cash buyers need to make a profit on their purchase, they typically pay far less than market value for properties.
You should also be aware of the different types of cash buyer companies. Each has different purchase criteria and may offer different prices for your home.
- “We buy houses” companies: These companies are real estate investors who purchase properties for below market value, renovate them, and then either resell them or rent them out. “We buy houses” companies will buy houses that need repairs, although they’ll also typically pay well below market value.
- iBuyers: These are large national corporations that purchase homes extremely quickly, with much of the transaction handled online or over the phone. iBuyers are also looking to resell or rent out properties. But they have much more stringent purchasing criteria, so your home will need to be in relatively good condition. Unlike “we buy houses” companies, iBuyers charge fees that are comparable to real estate agent commissions.
- Cash offer networks: A cash offer network, such as Clever Offers, connects you with cash buyers in your area, including “we buy houses” companies and iBuyers. Working with a cash offer network allows you to compare offers from multiple buyers, which helps ensure you get the best deal on your home.
Here are some of the top cash buyers:
» See our full list of the top cash buyer companies.
Tip: Compare all your options before selling to a cash buyer
If you're selling for cash, you should compare all of your options. Purchase price, fees, and eligibility criteria can vary a lot between cash buyers.
We recommend using a cash offer network, such as Clever Offers, to easily compare cash buyers in your area, including "we buy houses" companies and iBuyers. The service is free, and you have no obligation to accept an offer. Plus, you'll get a professional estimate of your home's value to help you better compare offers. Fill out a short form to get started.
How it works
Selling to a cash buyer is a fairly simple process. Here's what it generally looks like:
- Connect with the company: Submit a cash offer request either online or over the phone. The company will contact you to learn more about your property and set up a time to view it in person.
- Get an inspection and offer: A company representative will view your property in person and will make an offer within 24–48 hours. Many companies will even make the offer while visiting the property.
- Review the offer: Take your time to review the offer and, ideally, have it reviewed by an attorney. While not all cash buyers negotiate, some do.
- Close on the deal: Once you accept the offer, the company will handle most of the steps involved in closing. You may be able to choose your own closing date, which can be in as few as 7–14 days. Most companies cover the closing costs, and there will be no realtor fees unless you choose to have a realtor.
4. Sell FSBO (for sale by owner)
Pros
- Save money on realtor commission
- Control the sale
- Can sell for a good price in a very hot market
Cons
- Likely sell for much less than market value
- You’re responsible for showings, marketing, and negotiations
- Buyers may avoid houses that don’t have a listing agent
Selling for sale by owner (FSBO) is when you sell your house without being represented by a real estate agent.
If you decide to sell a house without a realtor, you’ll still want to get your listing on the multiple listing service (MLS). The MLS is a database of houses for sale, and MLS listings get syndicated to major real estate websites, such as Realtor.com and Zillow. If your house isn’t on the MLS, then it will be very difficult for buyers to find it.
To get on the MLS, you typically need a real estate agent. However, FSBO sellers can get around this requirement by hiring a flat fee MLS listing service. These companies will list your home on the MLS in exchange for a flat fee, typically a few hundred dollars.
Selling FSBO will save you money on realtor commission. However, you’ll largely be acting as your own realtor, which means taking on these tasks: determining the fair market value of your home, marketing it, conducting open houses, negotiating with buyers, and handling closing.
FSBO sales are usually only right for DIYers who are experienced sellers. You’ll need the time and resources to spend on marketing your home and finding buyers, and you should be comfortable handling the paperwork of selling a house. It also helps if you live in an area where homes are selling quickly.
But if you’re looking to sell fast and for the most amount of money, FSBO is probably not the right option. Selling with a real estate agent who knows what buyers are looking for in your area will usually net you the highest sale price.
If you decide that selling FSBO is right for you, here are some flat fee MLS companies to consider.
» See our full list of the top flat fee MLS companies.
How it works
Selling your home FSBO can be a lot of work. Here’s how the process generally breaks down:
- Decide on a listing price: Compare your home to what homes similar to yours have sold for recently in your area. You may also want to consult a realtor for a free comparative market analysis (CMA) for a better idea of a fair price.
- Prep your home: Address minor repairs and maintenance issues and consider investing in low-cost, high-impact improvements, such as fresh paint. A pre-sale home inspection can help uncover issues that may need to be addressed.
- List your home on the MLS: Get your home listed on the local MLS through a flat fee MLS company. Other marketing strategies, such as a yard sign and posting to free platforms like Facebook Marketplace, can also help.
- Manage showings: Get ready to start fielding phone calls, emails, and texts from prospective buyers. You’ll need to be ready to offer showings on short notice in order to not lose a potential deal.
- Review buyer offers: Review any offers you receive and be prepared to make counteroffers. Pay attention to not just the offered price, but also the closing date, who pays for the closing costs and buyer’s agent commission, and any contingencies.
- Accept the offer: When you’re ready to accept an offer, it’s a good idea to get it reviewed by a real estate professional or attorney. You’ll also need to make sure you have any necessary documents, like seller disclosures and your HOA agreement.
- Prepare for home inspections: Buyers will typically want a home inspection before finalizing the sale, both for their own peace of mind and for their mortgage approval. During the inspection, be sure to provide access to all areas and be ready to share documentation of recent upgrades or repairs.
- Close on the sale: To complete closing, you’ll need to sign the closing disclosure and hand over the keys to the buyer’s realtor or attorney. If you have an attorney, keep in contact with them in case any last-minute issues arise.
FAQ
What is the most profitable way to sell my house?
Selling with a low-commission real estate brokerage is the most profitable way to sell a house. Their marketing expertise and knowledge of what buyers are looking for will help you sell for a good price, while their lower fees can help you save thousands in closing costs.
What is the best way to sell a house fast?
Selling to a cash buyer is usually the best way to sell a house fast. Some of the best cash buyer companies can close on properties in as little as 7–14 days. However, selling to a cash buyer usually means selling for less than what you could get with a real estate agent.
What is the best way to sell a house that needs work?
Cash buyers will typically buy homes in any condition, including homes that need repairs. However, if your home only needs minor fixes or you live in a market with high buyer demand, you’ll probably make more money by selling with a real estate agent.
What is the best way to sell your house without a realtor?
The best way to sell a house without a realtor is with a flat fee MLS company, which will get your home listed on the MLS. An MLS listing is essential for reaching potential buyers, although you’ll need to be comfortable with doing most of the other work of selling a house by yourself.
What is the best way to sell and buy a house at the same time?
Selling and buying a house at the same time can be done with a traditional realtor or with a cash buyer. Traditional buyers often submit offers for homes that are contingent upon their current homes selling. Cash buyers, meanwhile, have flexible closing dates to help you align your sale with the purchase of a new home.
