Zillow Listing Fees: Costs of Selling FSBO on Zillow

Published July 29, 2023

Written by Michael Warford
Edited by Jessica Johansen

Listing your home for sale by owner (FSBO) on Zillow is absolutely free. No costs, no fees.

However, Zillow comes with drawbacks if you don’t have a realtor. Your home will have limited exposure, as Zillow separates FSBO sales from agent-listed homes, burying them under a tab of “other listings.” And selling FSBO — regardless of whether you use Zillow or not — is fraught with risks and unwanted surprises.

Zillow might be free for FSBO sellers, but don’t expect the marketing to be the same as listing with an experienced agent. In fact, if you’re listing FSBO to save on commissions, it’s worth knowing that agents often sell homes for higher prices than FSBO sellers. The price difference can dwarf the money you save by selling on your own, especially if you’re listing with a low-cost realtor.

If savings is your top priority, we recommend finding a full-service agent who offers discounted listings fees. Agent matching services like Clever Real Estate can connect you with low-cost realtors who charge a fraction of the traditional real estate commission. You could save thousands, plus you’ll have a realtor on your side working to sell your house for a top asking price. Talk to Clever to save on your next home sale.

How much are Zillow for sale by owner fees?

There are no fees to list a home for sale by owner on Zillow.

But the average FSBO house sells for anywhere from 5.5% to 26% less than comparable homes represented by a real estate agent. If you “save” 3% on realtor fees but sell your home for 10% below its true value, you’ll lose out on a lot of money, especially considering how much time and effort it takes to sell a house yourself.

That said, it might make sense to sell FSBO on Zillow if:

You’re selling in a red-hot sellers market
You have experience selling homes and know the process well
You’re a skilled negotiator

But even for experienced sellers, there are probably better alternatives that offer fewer risks — such as working with a low-commission real estate agent.

» MORE: Top alternatives to selling FSBO on Zillow

Pros and cons of selling FSBO on Zillow

Pros

Zillow is the most popular home-buying website, with over 200 million monthly visitors.
It’s free to list for sale by owner on Zillow.
Zillow offers a free app for creating virtual home tours.

Cons

FSBO homes are harder for buyers to find on Zillow.
Zillow actively encourages buyers to use agents, so you’ll almost certainly pay a buyer’s agent commission.
Your potential savings may not be worth the time and hassle. Most people who attempt selling FSBO end up listing with an agent or accepting less money for their home.

FSBO listings are hard for buyers to find

Unfortunately, Zillow puts FSBO sellers at a big disadvantage. When a buyer searches for homes on Zillow, the map’s default view only shows properties that have a real estate agent. To see FSBO properties, a buyer must select the “Other listings” button. It’s an easy-to-miss button, and many buyers don’t know it exists.

The harder your FSBO Zillow listing is to find, the less interest you’re likely to get from potential buyers. That means more time on the market, which could make it more difficult to get top dollar for your home.

Zillow nudges buyers into using agents

When you list for sale by owner on Zillow, you’ll likely still have to pay a buyer’s agent commission.

Zillow places a huge “Contact Agent” button near the top of the page, so buyers are far less likely to contact you directly and more likely to do so through an agent.

To find your contact information, buyers must scroll to the bottom of the Overview section and click “Property Owner.” This link opens a form where the buyer can email you directly, but the link is intentionally hard to find.

There’s a reason Zillow makes it so difficult for buyers to contact FSBO sellers directly. It’s the same reason Zillow lets you list for sale by owner for free. It may not be charging you fees, but it is making money from your listing.

Every time Zillow connects a realtor with a customer on the website, the agent pays a fee. Simply put, if a potential buyer clicks “Contact Agent” on your listing, Zillow makes money. But if the buyer contacts you directly, Zillow makes nothing.

How does Zillow make its money?

Zillow’s biggest source of revenue is advertising. Zillow charges fees for property management companies, individual realtors, and real estate brokerages to have their names advertised on property listings.

Zillow also encourages buyers to connect with sellers through Zillow-affiliated agents, because when they do, Zillow earns a networking fee off the real estate transaction. This is why it’s difficult for FSBO sellers to connect directly with buyers.

Many real estate agents pay a premium to join Zillow’s Premier Network. Being in this network gives agents more visibility and often leads to more clients. Zillow supplies agents in its Premier Network with user data that agents can use to connect to buyers and sellers. In order to sell FSBO on Zillow, you have to opt in to share your data. Zillow agents may then call you persistently to convert your FSBO sale into an agent-listed property.

When you sell FSBO, you don’t pay Zillow directly, but you do contribute to Zillow’s revenue indirectly.

How to list FSBO on Zillow

Price your listing | Edit your listing | Extend your listing | Cancel your listing

To learn how to list FSBO on Zillow, click “Get Started” for a visual guide or follow the written steps below:

Search for your home on Zillow.
In the Home value section, click “Unlock owner dashboard.” This opens the “Your home” page. Note: If you recently bought your home, you may not see the “Unlock owner dashboard” option. Instead, click on the “More” button in the top right. From the drop-down menu, click “Claim ownership.”
Near the top of the page, click on the “LIST HOME” drop-down menu, and click “List for sale by owner.”
Create your FSBO listing by setting a price, entering contact information and details about your property, writing a listing description, adding photos and a 3D virtual tour, and scheduling one or more open houses.
Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click “Post for sale by owner” to submit your Zillow listing for review.
Zillow takes up to 72 hours to verify your listing. After verification, your listing will appear under the “Other listings” tab in the search results.

Your FSBO listing will remain active on Zillow for 90 days, unless you cancel it before then. If your home doesn’t sell within 90 days, you can extend the listing from your owner dashboard.

MORE: Why can’t I find my Zillow listing?

How to price your property

Choosing the right list price is one of the most important steps of selling a home FSBO. Research your local market to find homes like yours that have sold recently, then consider whether yours has any upgrades — or defects — that affect its value.

Pricing a home can be tricky, especially if your property is unique. If you value your house too low, you risk leaving money on the table. If you price it too high, you may scare off buyers who would otherwise be interested.

If you’re considering selling FSBO, it’s worth talking to a few real estate agents for advice on pricing. An experienced realtor knows the ins and outs of your local market and can give you an objective assessment of what buyers are willing to pay for homes like yours.

Agents will typically give sellers a comparative market analysis (CMA) for free, and you can use that information to set your price, even if you decide not to list with them.

Don’t rely on Zillow’s Zestimate to price your home

You should never price your home based only on the Zestimate (Zillow’s estimate of what your home is worth). Based on Zillow’s data, Zestimates for off-market homes have a median error rate of 6.9% — on a $400,000 home, that’s a difference of more than $27,000!

That said, you still want your Zestimate to be as accurate as possible. Buyers can see your property’s listing price and Zestimate side by side. They may feel your home is overpriced if the listing price is a lot higher than the Zestimate.

Zillow doesn’t let you set your own Zestimate, but it does let you update the data that determines your home’s Zestimate. To update the data, click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the Zillow home page. From the drop-down menu, click “Your home.”

Scroll down to the Your Zestimate Tools section, and click “Review Facts.”

From here you can update any inaccurate or incomplete information, like square footage and number of bathrooms. You can also add information about your home’s architectural style, amenities, heating, and roof type.

How to edit your Zillow FSBO listing

To edit your Zillow FSBO listing:

Log in to Zillow.
Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of Zillow’s homepage.
Select “Your home.”
Select “Edit listing.”
Make changes to your listing.
To save your changes, select “Update For Sale By Owner” at the bottom of the page.

You can edit the listing price, photos, videos, number of bedrooms, size, and more. If you want to add a 3D home tour, click on “Add 3D home.”

By making these changes directly from your Zillow dashboard, your listing on the site will update almost immediately. If you make changes to your MLS listing instead of directly on Zillow, then it could take up to 72 hours for your Zillow listing to update.

Don’t edit your listing price more than a few times. This can turn off buyers, who may think there’s something wrong with the home.

How to extend your Zillow FSBO listing

Zillow FSBO listings automatically remain active for 90 days. If you want to extend your listing, you can do so for another 90 days for free. Here’s how:

Log in to Zillow.
Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of Zillow’s homepage.
Select “Your home.”
Select “More.” Then select “Extend listing.”
A prompt appears to confirm that you want to extend your listing for 90 days. Click “Extend listing.”

You’ll receive a confirmation that your listing has been extended along with its new expiration date. You can re-extend your listing as many times as you want.

How to cancel your Zillow FSBO listing

You can cancel your FSBO listing on Zillow anytime. Here’s how:

Log in to Zillow.
Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of Zillow’s homepage.
Select “Your home.”
Select “More.” Then select “Cancel listing.”
A prompt asks if you’re canceling the listing because you’re house has sold or because you no longer wish to sell it. Choose the appropriate response.
Select “Update Status” to confirm your listing’s cancellation.

Zillow reviews from FSBO sellers

Generally, FSBO sellers and other customers give Zillow poor reviews. On the review site Consumer Affairs, Zillow has a cumulative average of 2.7 out of 5 stars across 1,400+ reviews. On Trustpilot, Zillow has a rating of 1.7 out of 5 stars across 300+ reviews.

After analyzing the reviews, we found these themes:

✅ Helpful features on the site: “Zillow presents a logical and statistical approach to posting real estate options. … The market trends, pricing and property descriptions offered by Zillow are superior to any I have reviewed in the past and would be invaluable to anyone looking to buy!” —Thomas, Consumer Affairs

❌ Incorrect information in the listing: “Zillow is not allowing us to edit the listing, and is showing inaccurate descriptions of our home. … I have tried emailing, calling for weeks now with no response. I even tried deleting our posting and paying for a brand new listing, but instead they just reposted the old, inaccurate details again.” —Laura, Consumer Affairs

❌ Inaccurate Zestimates: “Zillow’s estimate of my property is so far off the mark, it’s absurd. All they will say is ‘our computer does it and we leave it.’ They don’t investigate the hard information to see if their computer is completely wrong.” —Marci R., Trustpilot

❌ Pushy sales tactics: “Upon listing on Zillow, I was bombarded by realtors wanting to ‘help’ me or list the home. After getting over 300 calls, texts, and emails in only 12 days, I de-listed it.” —Sharron R., Trustpilot

❌ Hidden FSBO listings: “Zillow changed their format so the average person cannot find For Sale By Owners. You have to know to click on the ‘other listing’ box or you never see them. I can’t find anyplace easy to inform you of that. If you don’t want to list them just do away with the service, don’t make people feel like they are using a useful service.” —Mike C., Trustpilot

❌ Poor customer service: “Recently listed my home, which was priced by an experienced real estate agent. Zillow’s Zesitmate was over 100k less than the listing price, and I contacted them to address the issue. It’s been over two days, and still nobody has gotten back to me. I sent it again today, and still no response.” —Don C., Trustpilot

If you sell FSBO on Zillow, you can expect an easy listing process. But be prepared for numerous calls and emails from agents trying to steer you toward listing with them instead of selling on your own. This happens because Zillow sells data on FSBO sellers to its agents.

Some customers also complain about customer service and the fact that Zillow makes it harder for potential buyers to find FSBO listings.

Alternatives to selling FSBO on Zillow

Zillow is the most popular real estate website, but it’s not the only option for listing a home without a realtor. Other free sites get a substantial amount of traffic, so you should list on them as well for maximum exposure.

And if you’re willing to spend a bit of money — especially through a discount realtor or a flat fee MLS company — you can attract a lot more potential buyers, both from Zillow and elsewhere.

Use a flat fee MLS service

Pros

You can list on the MLS for as little as a few hundred dollars.
The MLS gives your listing a lot more exposure to potential buyers.

Cons

Most flat fee MLS companies offer limited support.
Homes sold without an agent tend to sell for significantly less.

If you want to get on the MLS without a real estate agent, you need a flat fee MLS listing service.

A flat fee MLS company will post your home to the multiple listing service (MLS) for a flat rate.

Getting on the MLS is best way to attract potential buyers to your property. The MLS is the main database of homes for sale. Real estate agents use it to find homes for their clients, and it’s where the vast majority of listings on Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and other major real estate websites come from.

Once on the MLS, your listing is included in Zillow’s main search results instead of the “hidden” FSBO section. Your property listing will be easier for buyers and their agents to find, which can lead to more potential buyers.

Flat fee MLS companies vary in cost and the level of service they provide. Some post your listing for as little as $100 but leave the rest of the selling process to you. Others charge a higher fee for add-ons like lockboxes, agent consultations, and contract and offer reviews.

One catch is that your contact information won’t appear publicly with a flat fee MLS listing. Instead, leads will go to the broker managing your listing. Before hiring a flat fee MLS company, ask how the broker will forward buyer inquiries to you. This detail can make or break your success with a flat fee listing.

» MORE: Everything you need to know about flat fee MLS services

List with a reputable discount broker

Pros

You can still save on realtor fees.
You’ll get more support to sell your home.
You’re less likely to run into legal issues or undersell your home when working with an agent.

Cons

You’ll need to pay a listing fee at closing.
Some discount realtors don’t offer full service.

Working with a discount agent can be less risky than using a flat fee MLS service.

Many discount realtors provide the same services as a traditional real estate agent — but charge a much lower commission rate. Your agent will list your home on the MLS, and they’ll support and guide you through the entire selling process.

You can find discount agents through well-rated, national companies like Clever Real Estate. Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated local agents from major brands like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway. When you find an agent through Clever, you get a full-service experience for a fraction of the typical cost.

List on a FSBO site

Pros

Most FSBO sites let you list your home for free.

Cons

Your listing will be hard for most buyers to find, leading to fewer potential offers.
You get very limited support unless you pay for a premium package.

FSBO websites offer a way to market your home either for free or for a small cost. Some paid options even offer MLS access, which will get your listing in front of a lot more potential buyers.

Free FSBO websites typically offer only a listing on their website. You don’t get on the MLS, and buyers have to visit the website to find your listing. Free FSBO sites don’t have nearly the traffic that Zillow has, so don’t expect to get a large number of interested buyers.

But if you have the time, there’s little risk in posting your listing to a free FSBO site on the off-chance that you find a buyer.

» MORE: Top 12 For Sale By Owner Websites

List on Facebook Marketplace

Pros

Posting a listing on Facebook is free.
You get a fairly large audience of local buyers.

Cons

Many buyers are bargain hunters and may try to aggressively negotiate the price down.
There’s no dedicated support for home sellers.

Listing your house on Facebook is free, and many listing are viewed by a large number of potential buyers.

In fact, our Data Center survey found that 23% of buyers look for properties on Facebook.

However, we also found that many of those buyers are bargain hunting and looking for as-is properties. If you’re looking to sell your house for top dollar, you may struggle to find a serious buyer through Facebook.

» MORE: How to Sell a House on Facebook

List on Craigslist

Pros

Posting a listing on Craigslist is free.
You get a fairly large audience of local buyers.

Cons

Many buyers are bargain hunters and may try to aggressively negotiate the price down.
The platform is notorious for scammers and fraudsters.
The out-of-date interface makes it hard to show off your property’s best attributes.
There’s no dedicated support for sellers.

Listing FSBO on Craigslist is free, and our research shows that about one in five buyers still uses it to look for houses. But it’s rarely the best option for selling a house.

Like on Facebook, many of those buyers are looking for bargains and may try to negotiate you down to a low price. Plus, Craigslist’s interface is clunky and outdated, and it’s notorious for scammers.

If you do post on Craigslist, you’ll need to be vigilant against offers that sound too good to be true while also holding your ground against buyers looking for a bargain.

» MORE: How to Sell a House on Craigslist

FAQ

Can FSBO sellers list on Zillow?

Yes, FSBO sellers can list on Zillow. If you use a flat fee MLS listing service, your house appears on Zillow automatically. You can also post your FSBO listing on Zillow manually, but your home will likely get less visibility.

Is selling with Zillow worth it?

Whether you're selling FSBO or working with an agent, advertising on Zillow puts your listing in front of potential buyers. But there's a lot more to selling your house than posting it on Zillow. If you decide FSBO isn't your best option, you can still save big on commission by selling with a real estate agent that charges discounted listing fees. Find a low cost realtor in your area!

How long does it take Zillow to post for sale by owner?

Zillow typically posts for sale by owner homes in three days or less. When you create a FSBO listing manually, it takes Zillow up to 72 hours to verify that you're the property owner. If you list your house on the MLS instead, it should appear on Zillow quickly — but it could take a maximum of 24–48 hours. Find other websites that let you list your house for sale by owner.

How do I list on the MLS through Zillow?

You can’t list on the multiple listing service (MLS) through Zillow. If you’re listing your house FSBO on Zillow, that listing won't be reposted to the MLS — it'll be visible only on Zillow. But if you list on the MLS first, then that listing will get reposted to Zillow. You need a realtor or a flat fee MLS company to post your house on the MLS.

Can I list my home on Zillow without a realtor?

Yes, you can list your home for sale by owner on Zillow. However, if you don’t have a realtor, your listing won't be displayed with the listings that do have realtors. Instead, your listing will be relegated to a section on Zillow that's harder to find. So while you can list a home on Zillow without a realtor, you’ll likely get far fewer potential buyers than if you list with an agent.

Is there a charge to post on Zillow?

There's no charge to post a home for sale on Zillow, regardless of whether you work with a realtor or sell for sale by owner (FSBO). However, if you don’t have a realtor, your listing will be much harder for buyers to find on Zillow. Learn why FSBO listings on Zillow are kept at a disadvantage.

Zillow Listing Fees: Costs of Selling FSBO on Zillow

How much are Zillow for sale by owner fees?

Pros and cons of selling FSBO on Zillow

Pros

Cons