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Written by Steve Nicastro
Editor's note: In March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) lost an antitrust lawsuit, leading to changes in real estate fees nationwide. As of August 17, 2024, buyer's agent commissions are no longer covered by the seller and must be negotiated separately. For more details, check out our in-house expert Steven Nicastro's recent Yahoo Finance interview.
About FSBO.com | Is selling FSBO right for me? | How much does FSBO.com cost? | Is FSBO.com legit? | FSBO.com pros and cons | FSBO.com reviews | Should I use FSBO.com? | FSBO.com alternatives
FSBO.com is a business that helps homeowners sell a house without a realtor. In addition to hosting its own catalog of FSBO listings, FSBO.com connects sellers to a local brokerage that provides flat fee MLS listing services.
FSBO.com’s MLS service is competitively priced ($399.95) and a solid option for homeowners set on selling FSBO. But the company’s more basic FSBO package ($99.95) isn’t worth the price.
Compared to selling with a traditional real estate agent, selling FSBO saves sellers money on realtor fees. But this DIY approach isn’t for everyone; it requires a lot of time and resources that many people don’t have.
Want to save money on your home sale without sacrificing the help of a full-service realtor? Real Estate Witch can connect you with a top-rated local agent who will sell your home for 1.5% — the average seller saves $7,000.
💰 Find out how much you can save today! 💰
FSBO + FFMLS companies
FSBO.com
- Well-known, established service
- Offers MLS package
- Provides significant commission savings
FSBO.com’s MLS package is a competitively priced option for experienced FSBO sellers looking for a no-frills offering. The company’s FSBO package isn’t worth the fee. Both options are available nationwide.
Pros
- Provides online exposure and an option to list on your local MLS
- Easy-to-use website offers supplemental materials like yard signs and legal forms in one convenient place
Cons
- Brokers may charge additional fees outside of advertised pricing
- MLS services are outsourced to independent brokers, so quality of service is inconsistent
P.O. Box 500145
Atlanta, GA 31150
About FSBO.com
FSBO.com has been in business for more than 20 years. It’s headquartered in Atlanta but partners with brokers to provide flat fee MLS listing services in all 50 states.
FSBO.com features a directory of FSBO homes for sale across the country. Sellers can list their home on the website, and buyers looking for a FSBO property can browse the listings.
Additionally, FSBO.com offers services to help FSBO sellers list on other popular home sale sites like Redfin, Zillow, and their local MLS.
It’s important to note that the MLS services FSBO.com offers aren’t delivered by the company itself. FSBO.com outsources your business to a third-party broker who handles your MLS listing.
Per the FSBO.com Terms and Conditions:
We believe service quality and customer focus takes a hit with so many intermediaries involved in the process.
Is FSBO right for me?
Before we go further into the pros and cons of FSBO.com, you should ensure that selling your house without a realtor is right for you.
Most FSBO sellers choose this approach to save money on real estate agent commissions.
However, FSBO statistics show that FSBO homes generally sell for about 5.5% less than those sold with a listing agent, which negates the 2.5–3% commission savings.
Sellers can benefit most from the FSBO approach if:
- They’re selling in an extremely hot seller’s market.
- They have an exceptionally desirable house that essentially sells itself.
- They have a lot of time on their hands, a spirit for DIY, and a passion for paperwork.
- They’re investors or other real estate professionals with much buying and selling experience.
- They already have a buyer lined up, like a friend or family member.
In most other situations, it’s best to stick with a realtor to ensure your home sells for top dollar and you don’t unnecessarily expose yourself to liabilities.
💡 Learn more: Do I Need A Real Estate Agent? Learn The TRUTH
Is flat fee MLS right for me?
The MLS is a local directory of homes for sale. Listing on the MLS is a worthwhile method to gain more exposure — according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than 91% of home sellers list on the MLS.
Typically, only licensed realtors or brokers can access the MLS to list or browse properties for sale. However, FFMLS companies like FSBO.com list FSBO homes on the MLS for a set fee (usually around $300), so buyer’s agents and their clients can see the listing when they search the MLS.
💡 Learn more: Read This BEFORE You Pay For A Flat-Fee MLS Service
Even with resources like FSBO.com, selling a home FSBO takes a lot of work.
Real Estate Witch’s top-rated Partner Agents provide all the support of a traditional realtor at a deep discount. You’ll save money and avoid the headaches of FSBO!
How much does FSBO.com cost?
FSBO.com offers two basic options: the FSBO and MLS packages.
| FSBO package | MLS package | |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month listing on FSBO.com with unlimited photos and 1 video | ✅ | ✅ |
| 6-month listing on Redfin in most markets | ✅ | ✅ |
| 6-month listing on local MLS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Listing syndication to Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com | ❌ | ✅ |
| Price | $99.95 | $399.95 |
To list on the MLS with FSBO.com, sellers must agree to offer a buyer’s agent commission.
Home sellers are traditionally responsible for paying the commission of both their listing agent and the buyer’s agent. When selling FSBO, sellers don’t have to pay a listing agent, but it’s recommended that they still offer a competitive BAC (2.5–3%).
The BAC acts as a bounty offered to the realtor who delivers the buyer with the best offer. Without a competitive BAC, realtors may not bring their clients to see your home since they won’t get paid if their client decides to purchase the house.
This will likely result in significantly less interest in your home, which in turn may result in a longer time on the market and a lower overall sale price.
FSBO.com is one of the most popular websites for people searching to buy FSBO properties, so there is some value in listing on it. But the company’s $99.95 FSBO package is not fairly priced for what it offers.
While $99.95 is pennies for a real estate transaction, most competitors don’t charge anything for a listing on their site. For example, Fizber allows you to list your FSBO property for free.
The FSBO.com FSBO package syndicates listings to Redfin (in some markets), which is a small benefit, as Redfin doesn’t typically allow FSBO listings. However, the FSBO.com website makes it difficult to find which markets this pertains to.
FSBO.com’s MLS package is priced fairly. Most FFMLS services cost about $300. The package includes the same services as the $99.95 FSBO package plus an MLS listing, so the $399.95 price is comparable to alternative services.
If you need additional items like yard signs or legal forms, FSBO.com has an online store where you can purchase those.
In some areas, it’s illegal to post a “For Sale By Owner” yard sign. To circumvent this, you may be able to use a more generic “For Sale” sign when selling FSBO.
Many regions have laws that require you to display your broker’s contact information on a yard sign if your home is on the MLS. FSBO.com uses third-party regional brokerages to list on the MLS, so you will have to post a sign with that broker’s name and contact information in front of your home if you live in an area where this is required.
The broker is supposed to forward any contact from interested buyers to you. But as this communication can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.
Is FSBO.com legit?
Yes, FSBO.com is a legitimate business.
The company’s been around since 1997 and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
FSBO.com reviews
FSBO.com reviews are mixed, with an aggregate rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars in online reviews. We hypothesize this is because the company works with different brokers nationwide, so service quality may vary.
When you sign up for the FSBO.com MLS package, you are handed off to an independent broker who’s a member of your local MLS. This person handles your listing and any updates or changes you make throughout the FSBO process.
This broker’s contact information is featured on your listing (to comply with MLS regulations) and on your yard sign in most areas.
The quality of service they provide appears to be hit or miss according to FSBO.com reviews.
FSBO.com pros and cons
✅ Major savings
FSBO.com helps FSBO sellers achieve their goal of cost savings. The table below shows that a seller can save $12,243 on selling a $408,100 home (the median home sale price) using FSBO.com.
| Cost | FSBO.com MLS package | Traditional sale with a listing agent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buyer's agent commission | $12,243 (3%) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Listing agent commission | $12,243 (3%) | ❌ | ✅ |
| MLS package | $399.95 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Total cost | $12,642.95 | $24,885.95 |
Of course, this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, as selling FSBO is a DIY experience that involves a big investment of personal time.
⛔ Limited online audience
The $99.95 FSBO package is not worth the price. Other websites reach more potential buyers and offer free listings.
FSBO.com is one of the most popular FSBO sites online. However, a survey found that just 12% of home buyers look at FSBO.com for listings. Comparatively, 69% of buyers go to Zillow to look for homes.
💡 Learn more: Read This Before You List Your FSBO on Zillow
⛔ May attract bargain-hunting buyers
People specifically searching for FSBO properties to buy may be looking for a deal. This is especially true on FSBO.com, as it features a special section highlighting foreclosed properties.
If you want top dollar for your property and prefer not to sell to an investor or cash buyer, listing on FSBO.com might not provide much value to you.
⛔ Brokers may have additional fees that aren’t communicated upfront
The regional broker FSBO.com uses for your MLS listing may charge fees in addition to the company’s $399.95 rate advertised on its home page.
For example, sellers listing on the Beaufort (Hilton Head) MLS in South Carolina must pay the broker an additional 0.25% of their home price at closing. On an average-priced house, that is $858 in addition to the $399.95 flat fee! — more than triple what’s on the home page!
Brokers in different states offer various add-on services at conflicting prices.
A broker’s yard sign (which may be required in your area) in South Carolina costs $45, while a sign in Montana costs $60. A broker in Connecticut charges a $100 rush fee to list on the MLS the same day, while other states don’t feature that service at all.
Brokers in different states also charge varying amounts to add photos and videos to listings (likely due to varying costs on each local MLS).
These various charges can be confusing and frustrating for sellers when they expect to pay no more than the fee FSBO.com advertises on its home page.
⛔ Uneven broker quality
Since FSBO.com outsources the MLS listing part of its offering, you’ll be dealing with an external party, not a FSBO.com employee.
This broker will handle the administrative side of adding your listing to the MLS:
- To comply with legal requirements, their name will be listed as the contact person on your MLS listing and its syndication to other sites like Realtor.com and Zillow.
- Their name and number will be on your yard sign in many cases.
- You will communicate with them on updates and changes to your listing throughout the sale process.
- They will be responsible for forwarding any communication from potential buyers to you.
When our mystery shoppers spoke with a FSBO.com representative, they mentioned that often a single broker is handling all the MLS listings for the entirety of a state. Obviously, that’s a lot of listings to stay on top of and ensure incoming leads are forwarded promptly.
Our mystery shoppers asked the FSBO.com rep how a potential customer could know their broker is good (for example, vetted and held to some kind of quality standards). The rep replied that they’re “no one you’ve ever heard of” and really only do administrative “data entry” work. That answer did not instill confidence in broker service quality.
FSBO.com Reviews
FSBO.com reviews are mixed, with an aggregate rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars in online reviews. We hypothesize this is because the company works with different brokers nationwide, so service quality may vary.
When you sign up for the FSBO.com MLS package, you are handed off to an independent broker who’s a member of your local MLS. This person handles your listing and any updates or changes you make to it throughout the FSBO process.
This broker’s contact information is featured on your listing (to comply with MLS regulations) and on your yard sign in most areas.
The quality of service they provide appears to be hit or miss according to FSBO.com reviews.
✅ Helpful but hard to reach customer service
The FSBO.com customer service person our mystery shoppers spoke with was pleasant and knowledgeable about real estate and the company’s offerings. However, it was difficult to reach the company on the phone.
Our shoppers spoke to FSBO.com twice, and both times had to try more than five times throughout the day before a real person answered the phone. We think this is because there is only one person handling customer inquiries.
Considering FSBO.com is a large nationwide company, it’s surprising they would have such a small staff helping customers. That’s not a good thing if you are a first-time FSBO seller and may need many questions answered throughout the sale process.
Still, FSBO.com reviews noted the company’s service was helpful.
⛔ Sellers are spammed by agents
Some FSBO.com reviews indicate that sellers are often spammed by agents trying to win their business. These agents are essentially rooting for them to fail at FSBO so they’ll be forced to go the more traditional agented route.
A website like FSBO.com that only lists FSBO properties is a prime place for agents looking for business to troll. This can be annoying and add to the frustrations that often come along with a FSBO sale.
Is FSBO.com right for me?
Since FSBO.com’s offerings are pretty bare bones, they’re best for FSBO sellers with some real estate experience.
FSBO.com does not offer additional services like contract reviews or open house hosting like some alternative services do (though the third-party broker you’re paired with may offer these services at an additional cost).
FSBO.com is generally best for sellers who know what they want and don’t require any hand-holding. Additionally, FSBO.com sellers should have plenty of time to devote to the process.
Using a FSBO or FFMLS like FSBO.com isn’t the only way to save when selling your home! Real Estate Witch will help sell your house for a significantly discounted commission (1.5%) — the average seller saves $7,000.
Alternatives to FSBO.com
Budget-conscious sellers should consider these options if FSBO.com doesn’t sound like a fit.
Clever Real Estate
Clever pairs you with knowledgeable local realtors who will sell your home for $3,000 or 1.5%, a significant savings.
Clever’s Partner Agents provide the same level of service you’d get from a traditional realtor. Additionally, Clever’s concierge team is fully licensed to provide expert real estate advice and guide you through your transaction.
With Clever, you get unparalleled support and a huge discount. Why drive yourself crazy selling FSBO when you can spend a little more and let our team do the hard work for you?
FSBO and flat fee MLS (FFMLS) companies
There are companies similar to FSBO.com that offer basic services to help FSBO sellers.
ForSaleByOwner.com
ForSaleByOwner.com is one option. It also provides a directory of FSBO homes for sale. However, ForSaleByOwner.com is a better value, since you can list there for free.
Unlike FSBO.com, ForSaleByOwner.com does not offer an MLS listing service on its website. (However, a customer service rep told us they do offer this on a case-by-case basis.) Alternatively, the company provides a full-service option for 5-6% realtor commission through its partner Rocket Homes.
Fizber
Fizber is another FSBO company to consider. It also has an online directory of FSBO homes where you can list your property for free.
Like FSBO.com, Fizber has other bundled options priced similarly, including an MLS package for $395 that offers the same services as FSBO.com’s.
💡 Learn more: Read our full Fizber review
Other local companies
In addition to national companies like these, there are smaller local companies across the country that help FSBO sellers market their homes on the internet and the MLS. Since many of these national businesses outsource MLS listings to local brokerages, you might prefer to cut out the middleman and work with one directly, though your home may get less exposure on nationwide sites.
Check out this piece to find the best FSBO and FFMLS services in your area: Read This BEFORE You Pay For A Flat-Fee MLS Service.
Discount and limited service brokerages
Some brokerages like Redfin and Assist-2-Sell provide assistance to home sellers at a discounted rate.
These companies don’t offer a traditional full-service listing. Instead, they may cut back on certain service elements for cost-savings.
For example, you may have to host your own showings. Or you may only receive online support from your agent (rather than in-person interactions).
Some of these companies charge a flat-fee for the services they offer; others charge a reduced commission rate. Some offer packages that outline exactly which services they’ll provide; others feature á la carte offerings so you can pick and choose exactly what you want help with — for example, you may want negotiation support but feel confident in arranging your own home photography.
In general, these services are best for experienced home buyers and sellers who know exactly what services they need and don’t require an agent to guide them through the transaction.
💡 Learn more: The Best Discount Real Estate Brokers for Every Budget
Bottom line: Should I use FSBO.com?
If you’re an experienced seller and want to take the DIY route, FSBO.com’s MLS package is a competitively priced option for marketing your home.
The FSBO.com FSBO package is not a good value, as many similar FSBO websites offer free listings.
Before you sign up with FSBO.com, make sure you’ve read all the information in its Terms & Conditions and on the page that breaks down fees and requirements in your state specifically to avoid any surprise expenses.
FAQs
What are the best for sale by owner sites?
There are a number of online tools to help FSBO sellers. These include sites like Zillow, Fizber, and HomeAdvisor.
What's the best for sale by owner MLS listing service?
MLS listing services help FSBO sellers market their home to prospective buyers. Some of the best MLS listing sites include Fizber and HomeLister.
How much does FSBO.com cost?
FSBO.com offers two packages. One is a $99.95 package that gets your home listed on FSBO.com and Redfin. The other is a $399.95 package which will get you listed on the MLS.
Related reading
Want to learn more about selling a house for sale by owner? We’ve got you covered!
15 Mind-Blowing FSBO Tips to Help You Win at Real Estate!: We interviewed real-life FSBO buyers and sellers to deliver the best hacks that will get you the most for your money.
How Much Does It Cost To Sell A House By Owner?: We all know FSBO will save you money, but how much exactly? This guide will help you budget for your sale whether you sell FSBO or with a traditional realtor.
Do I Need A Real Estate Agent? Learn The TRUTH: Wondering what exactly a realtor does to earn their commission? Read this to learn more about the services a real estate agent provides.
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