Zillow for sale by owner fees | How does it work? | Zillow FSBO reviews | How to list on Zillow for sale by owner | Improve your Zestimate | Should you list your home FSBO?
Listing your house on Zillow for sale by owner (FSBO) can be a great way to get your home in front of potential buyers, but you should know what you’re getting yourself into.
Selling DIY can help you save on realtor commission, but the process is time-consuming and difficult. There’s also a big risk you won’t actually save money in the long run — on average, FSBO homes actually sell for 6% less than similar properties.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about posting your house on Zillow for sale by owner: fees, pros and cons, improving your listing, and more. But, if savings are your top priority, you may actually keep more cash in your pocket by working with a low commission real estate agent.
For example, our friends at Clever Real Estate help sellers like you save thousands by pre-negotiating listing fees of $3,000 (or just 1% for homes above $350,000) with full service realtors from top brokers like Keller Williams and RE/MAX.
» SAVE: Find out how much you can save with Clever!
How do Zillow FSBO listings work?
Most homes listed on Zillow’s website come directly from the multiple listing service (MLS), a database where local realtors advertise the properties they’re selling. But, if you’re listing FSBO and aren’t putting your house on the MLS, you can post it on Zillow manually.
Unfortunately, Zillow puts FSBO sellers at a big disadvantage. When you search for homes on Zillow, the map’s default view only shows you properties that are listed with an agent.
To see FSBO properties, a buyer must select the “Other listings” button. Many buyers won’t even notice this option.
Unfortunately, this could have a direct impact on your bottom line.
Fewer eyes on your FSBO Zillow listing means less interest from potential buyers and more time on the market, which could make it more difficult to get top dollar for your home.
✍️ Editor’s Note
If you post your FSBO home on a flat-fee MLS listing service, it will appear on Zillow automatically. Like other popular home buying websites, Zillow syndicates all MLS listings — for sale by owner properties included. This may be a better approach for some sellers.
Zillow for sale by owner fees: The true cost
You pay nothing to create a Zillow FSBO listing – at least not upfront. The true cost comes after a buyer fills out a form to speak with an agent about your home.
How Zillow makes money
Even though you’re listing your house as for sale by owner, Zillow still places a huge “Contact Agent” button near the top of the page. To find your contact information, buyers must scroll all the way to the bottom of the “Overview” section.
Clicking “Property Owner” will open a form where the buyer can email you directly, but the button is intentionally MUCH harder to find. If a buyer isn’t already working with an agent, they’re far more likely to click “Contact Agent” than get in touch with you directly.
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.
Zillow buyer’s agent commission fees
If you’re listing on Zillow for sale by owner, it’s likely because you don’t want real estate commission fees to eat into your profits. By listing FSBO you can avoid paying a listing agent, but you’ll still likely have to cover buyer’s agent fees — typically around 3% of the sale price — especially if your buyer finds your house through Zillow due to these reasons.
When that agent calls you to arrange a showing, they’ll ask for details about commission. If you aren’t offering buyer’s agent commission, they may refuse to show your home and steer your would-be buyer toward other properties.
The bottom line: Even if you sell FSBO, realtor fees will likely cost you around 3% of the sale price. And it’s more likely that you’ll pay those fees by listing FSBO on Zillow. Of course, that’s way cheaper than listing with an agent who charges standard rates, but selling a house is time-consuming and often leads to a lower sales price.
For many sellers, listing with a low commission real estate agent is a better option. The top discount brands, like Clever, offer listing fees as low as 1%. Your total commission will only cost 4%. That’s not much more than selling on Zillow FSBO — but you’ll ALSO get the expert local market guidance of a full service realtor from a top brokerage.
For sale by owner on Zillow reviews
Zillow reviews online for FSBO sellers are generally positive. But, as with any company, you’ll find plenty of complaints too.
Based on Zillow reviews across independent websites, these are the pros and cons of selling on Zillow for sale by owner:
- ✅ Pro: Zillow is the most popular home buying website
- ✅ Pro: It’s free to list on Zillow for sale by owner
- ✅ Pro: Zillow offers a free app for creating virtual home tours
- ⛔️ Con: FSBO homes may get less attention on Zillow
- ⛔️ Con: You’ll likely get LOTs of cold calls from listing agents
- ⛔️ Con: Your potential savings may not be worth the time and hassle
✅ Pro: Zillow is the most popular home buying website
Aside from listing on the MLS, posting for sale by owner on Zillow is the fastest way to advertise your home to as many potential buyers as possible.
For many home buyers, Zillow is their first and only destination when browsing houses online. And not only is Zillow the most popular home buying app, but the company will also post your listing on its other websites (including Trulia), which collectively attract more than 220 million unique monthly visitors.
✅ Pro: It’s free to list on Zillow for sale by owner
Zillow doesn’t charge listing fees, so you can post your home for free, even when you’re selling it yourself. That’s a HUGE advantage over other popular FSBO websites, especially considering how many buyers use Zillow to browse homes. For example, FSBO.com, which has a fraction of Zillow’s users, charges $99.95 just to list your house on its website.
That said, since it’s free to list on Zillow, you may have a difficult time getting help when you run into problems. Many Zillow complaints from FSBO sellers suggest that reaching customer service is a major challenge.
✅ Pro: Zillow offers a free creating virtual home tour creator
Zillow offers a free app called Zillow 3D Home Tours that allows you to create and add a virtual home tour to your listing.
Including a virtual home tour in your listing is a great way to show off your home to potential buyers. And since some sellers won’t take advantage of this free tool, it could help you set your listing apart from the competition.
⛔️ Con: FSBO homes may get less attention on Zillow
Zillow is one of the best places to advertise for sale by owner properties, but the company’s decision to hide FSBO listings by default will make it harder for you to get your listing in front of buyers.
And, as the following Zillow review notes, this process is confusing for buyers as well.
Most buyers’ agents will only show your home if they’re certain you’re offering a competitive commission fee. So, if your goal is to avoid realtor fees entirely, you may have a difficult time finding a buyer through Zillow.
⛔️ Con: You’ll likely get LOTs of cold calls from listing agents
Since selling a home yourself is more difficult than some sellers realize, real estate agents view FSBO listings as a great potential source of new customers.
Many realtors cold call FSBO sellers regularly, hoping that they’re frustrated that their home hasn’t sold and ready to hire an agent.
So, while your for sale by owner listing may not get as much attention from buyers, you’ll likely get LOTS of unwanted phone calls from realtors.
⛔️ Con: Your potential savings may not be worth the time and hassle
Many FSBO sellers mistakenly think they’ll be able to eliminate realtor fees altogether by selling without an agent. But, as we mentioned above, you’ll likely still be on the hook for buyer’s agent commission — UNLESS you find a buyer who’s not working with a realtor.
Unfortunately, the odds are against you. Approximately 90% of buyers work with an agent, and that remaining 10% includes a large number of people who are buying from a family member or close friend.
As a result, you should expect realtor commission to cost about 3%, depending on the average rates in your area. That’s much less than working with a full-price listing agent — on a $325,000 home, FSBO could save you more than $9,500. But, it means you’ll have to do a lot more work too.
If you sold with a low-fee company instead, you’ll save nearly as much on realtor fees WITHOUT the headache of selling a house yourself. There’s plenty of low commission companies to pick from, but we think Clever is your #1 option.
With Clever, you can work with a top local agent for a listing fee of just $3,000 or 1%. On that same $325,000 home, selling with Clever would save you $7,000 — plus, you won’t have to fuss with complicated FSBO staging, pricing, and paperwork.
How to list on Zillow for sale by owner
If you do decide to list your house on Zillow for sale by owner, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Zillow profile or register for an account.
- Find your home by searching the address.
- Select “Claim ownership” under the “More” dropdown menu and complete the verification questions.
- From your home’s owner dashboard, select “List for sale by owner” under the “List Home” menu.
- Create your FSBO listing by setting a price, entering contact information and details about your property, writing a listing description, adding photos, and scheduling one or more open houses.
- Upload a virtual home tour using Zillow’s free 3D Home app.
- Click “Post For Sale By Owner” to submit your Zillow FSBO listing for review.
- Once Zillow approves your listing, your home will appear as “for sale” on the website and app.
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.
How to price your Zillow for sale by owner property
Choosing the right list price is one of the most important steps to selling 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. Value your house too low, and you risk leaving money on the table. Price it too high, and you may scare off buyers who would otherwise be interested.
✍️Should I use Zillow’s Zestimate to set my listing price?
No, you should never price your home based on its Zestimate alone. Based on Zillow’s own 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!
If you’re considering selling FSBO, but not 100% sure, 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 home value report (often called a comparative market analysis or CMA) for free, and you can use that information to set your price, even if you decide not to list with them.
How to edit your Zillow FSBO listing
To edit your Zillow FSBO listing, navigate to your owner dashboard by clicking on your profile icon at the top-right corner and selecting “Your Home.”
Click “Edit Listing” to add photos, change the asking price, revise your property details, or update your listing status once you’ve gone under contract.
How to maximize your Zillow FSBO listing
Ready to post your house on Zillow for sale by owner? Here’s how to get the most out of your Zillow listing so you can find a buyer quickly and pocket as much profit as possible.
Take incredible photos
When you’re selling FSBO, photography is an area where you should NOT pinch pennies. Hiring a professional photographer is one of the best investments you can make. It generally only costs a few hundred dollars, but it can have a huge impact on your sale.
Research has found that homes with professional photos sell up to 32% faster. And homes that go under contract quickly tend to sell for more than properties that sit on the market for a long time.
Plus, since so many FSBO sellers pay too little attention to getting their photos right, investing in incredible, professional-quality listing pictures will make your home stand out.
Nail your listing description
After taking care of your photos, you should write a listing description that will help buyers form an emotional attachment to your home before they even step foot on the property.
Buyers look at lots of Zillow listings, so you only have a few seconds to capture their attention. Think carefully about your home’s most important details, and highlight those in your description.
A classic marketing technique is to “turn features into benefits.” Don’t just state facts about your home, help buyers visualize themselves living there. For example, instead of stating that your property has a large backyard, emphasize that the “enormous half-acre lot gives your furry friends plenty of room to run.”
✍️ The #1 Mistake in Zillow FSBO Listings
Way too many sellers forget to put their phone number and email address directly in their listing description.
If you want to maximize your commission savings by cutting out the buyer’s agent fee, you need to make it easy for house-hunters to find your contact details before they click that gigantic “Contact Agent” button.
Improve your FSBO Zestimate
While Zestimates (Zillow’s estimate of what a home is worth) are improving over time, they’re often still wrong — sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars. Home buyers may not realize this, so do what you can to increase your Zestimate, especially if it’s far below your list price.
Zillow does not let you change your Zestimate directly, but you can influence it by ensuring that Zillow is calculating your estimated home value based on accurate information. Update your home facts to fix incorrect or outdated information details, especially to major features like the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage.
The algorithm Zillow uses also bases your estimate on public records, including tax assessments and previous sale prices. If your home profile has errors — an outdated tax assessment, for instance — you can alert a customer service representative through the Zillow Help Center.
Should you list your home FSBO on Zillow?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You avoid listing agent commission (saving you 2.5-3%) | FSBO homes sell for 6% less than agent-listed properties on average |
| No one knows your house better than you do | You'll be negotiating price and contracts with an experienced agent |
| You control the sale process from start to finish | You control the process from start to finish… which means everything falls on your shoulders |
If you’re a skilled negotiator, experienced home seller, in a seller’s market, and have lots of time on your hands, you can save on real estate commission by listing your house on Zillow for sale by owner.
However, for most homeowners, selling FSBO carries huge risks — and may have limited benefits in the long run. Remember, the average FSBO house sells for 6% less than comparable homes. If you “save” 3% on realtor fees but sell your home for 6% below its true value, you’re coming out WAY behind, especially considering how much time and effort it takes to sell a house yourself.
Luckily, you don’t have to choose between commission savings and the support of a full service real estate agent. Many discount real estate companies provide a similar experience to selling with a traditional realtor, but charge a fraction of the price.
Our friends at Clever offer the lowest commission rates of any nationwide, full service real estate company. Clever pre-negotiates $3,000 listing fees (or 1% on homes above $350,000) with the best realtors in your local market, including agents from top brokerages like Berkshire Hathaway.
Clever’s service is 100% free — and there’s ZERO obligation to work with any of its partner agents. Clever will connect you with as many agents as you like until you find the perfect fit. Or, if you decide FSBO is still your best option, you can walk away at any time.
Related links
What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees?: Want the savings of FSBO without the hassle? Selling with a low cost realtor could save you thousands (or more!), while still giving you the expert guidance and support of a full-service agent. Check out our rankings of the BEST low commission real estate companies.
11 of the Best For Sale By Owner Websites in 2021: If you’re selling FSBO, Zillow is a great place to advertise your property. But, it’s not your only option. To reach as many buyers as possible, consider posting your listing on these other top for sale by owner websites too.
Read This BEFORE You Pay For a Flat Fee MLS Service: If you’re selling FSBO, a flat-fee MLS (FFMLS) listing may be a wise investment. But, picking a FFMLS package can be tricky — and choosing wrong could cost you. Read our complete guide to FFMLS services here.
Zillow for sale by owner FAQs
Can FSBO sellers list on Zillow?
Yes, FSBO sellers can list on Zillow. If you use a flat-fee MLS listing service, your house should appear on Zillow automatically. You can also post your FSBO listing on Zillow manually, but your home will likely get less visibility.
Does Zillow charge a fee for FSBO sellers?
No, Zillow allows FSBO sellers to list their homes for free. However, you might receive phone calls from agents soliciting their services. And you'll likely pay a 3% buyer's agent commission when you sell. Want the savings of FSBO without the stress? Check out our rankings of the best low commission real estate companies!
Is selling your house on Zillow a good idea?
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 does Zillow make money?
Zillow makes money by charging real estate agents fees to advertise on its home buying website and app. It has also started buying and selling homes itself through a service called Zillow Offers.
How long does it take Zillow to post for sale by owner homes?
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.
Beth says
Great advice as it is a bit overwhelming choosing the right flat fee company. I live in Martin County Florida and am searching for a good flat fee company. Any recommendations? Thank you so much !!
Zachary says
This post was extremely helpful. One problem we’ve encountered is that our Zestimate is almost 10% below what we believe it should be, and we think this may hurt our FSBO prospects. We recently added a bedroom and full bathroom, but none of the real estate websites have updated that information. We’re not sure if the public records are outdated or what. Anyway, I manually changed the number of bedrooms and bathrooms on the Zillow listing, but it didn’t change our Zestimate (which Zillow claims it updates immediately upon such changes). I’m not sure how to combat this, and I’m worried that prospective buyers will think we’re delusional with our asking price.
Ryan says
The Zestimate has certainly been the bane of both agents and sellers existence for years now. It’s either too high or too low in many cases. What market are you selling in? Agents tend to be good at setting client’s expectations, so if you end up working with a buyer that is using a buyer’s agent, you may have more luck (the agent has had a chance to educate the buyer on the real values in the market). Also, look at Redfin’s calculator as well. Go to Realtor.com and get their estimate. Try to find one that is most accurate and use that as your proof for any potential buyers that balk at your price.
Trish says
When my Zestimate was too low (I was using Make Me Move), I contacted Zillow (with back-up information) and they increased the Zestimate accordingly.
Heather says
We just put $40,000 in renovations in our house but zestimate is killing us because the zestimate is before renovations. How do we get Zillow to change this?? !!
Ryan says
Hey Heather,
You can actually claim the property and update the facts to include the renovations so you’re not missing out on that. Here is a link to a forum posting on Bigger Pockets that describes this in more detail: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/484655-any-way-to-get-the-zestimate-changed
Ronni says
Zillow does NOT allow you to use your phone number or email address.
It gets edited out automatically.
The best I could do is explain how to scroll down to the bottom of the ad to where it says contact seller and a CALL button.
Anyone have any better suggestions?
Also, can the order of photos be changed on Zillow? I cannot find a way to do that.
Teresa says
My house’s address doesn’t even come up on Redfin or Realtor, because is is 2495b and all the sites say that address does not exist, how can I fix that?
Heather says
I didn’t read this before listing my fsbo now what you said would happen has happened & even worse it won’t let me edit my own listing! Help what can I do?
Neil says
Not that many people will run into this problem, but if you’re flipping houses or land, Zillow will not allow you to list a property if they discover it’s been recently sold (in the last 2 months).
Janet says
What kind of back up information did you have to supply Zillow to have your estimate increased?
Laurie says
We listed on Zillow FSBO in September 2018. You should know that Zillow will no longer allow the seller’s phone number anywhere in the listing text.
Beach Dreams says
Fyi, Zillow deleted my contact information and website in the copy and sent me an email explaining that it violated Zillow’s policies to do so. :/
I welcome buyer’s agents but people have no way to contact me unless they drive by the sign. I’m going to try to upload a photo with the sign but they may remove that as well.
Suggestions?
Carol says
I would like to know where to leave your phone number at the top of your listing. There is so place to leave it. The only option you have is at the end….at the bottom of this listing. How do you add that information?
Anita Tellis says
When working with an agent with Zillow are you or the agent able to log into the Zillow site and make changes to the home history. Things such as home price changes?
Pete says
Zillow FSBO + MLS. Some questions and thoughts…
I have the knack for making a really productive and informative Zillow listing. But I also feel you still need to be on MLS (and other feeds).
Is there a way to make it so that the MLS does not push the Zillow FSBO listing out of the way?
Bruce H. Anderson says
I just had Zillow delete some old photos of the house, because they were grouped in with new photos. But they deleted them all except the Google Maps street view. Now they say I have to contact the agent who sold me the house to add new photos. A few weeks ago this wasn’t a problem.