How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in Mississippi

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  Written by Jon Stubbs

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  Edited by Lindsay Stefan

Should I sell without a realtor? | Cost of selling FSBO | How to sell without a realtor | FSBO paperwork | Best alternative: discount realtors | FAQs

Selling your home without a realtor means you won’t have to pay a listing commission, which in Mississippi averages 2.7% of the sale price. Considering a typical Mississippi house is worth about $163,000, that’s a savings of $4,434.

However, trying to sell a home For Sale by Owner (FSBO) can be tough. It will cost you a lot of time and energy.

In the end, selling a house without a real estate agent isn’t worth it for most homeowners in Mississippi. Especially considering there are low commission real estate companies that offer professional assistance for a lower cost. 

If you’re considering FSBO in Mississippi, read on to find out everything you need to know to do it successfully.

Should I sell my house without a realtor?

Selling a house for sale by owner in Mississippi comes with many pros and cons. While it’s not recommended for everyone, FSBO can help experienced home sellers save on commission—but only if they know what they’re doing. 

✅Selling your home without a realtor might be right for you if…

• You want to save on commission
• You have plenty of time to take on the responsibilities of a real estate agent
• You already have a buyer lined up 
• You’re in a hot seller’s market and you have a desirable home

🚫 Selling without a realtor might not be right for you if…

• You don’t have a lot of free time
• You’ve never sold a home in Mississippi
• You want to sell for market value – or higher

If you’re still not sure, check out our thorough guide to selling FSBO to help you decide. If you’re open to other options, some low-commission real estate companies, like Clever Real Estate, allow you to work with a top local real estate agent at half the typical cost.

Cost of selling a house without a realtor in Mississippi

Below, you’ll find a list of prices for common services you might want to consider if you decide to sell without a realtor. However, know that if your home is in need of repairs or is in a buyer’s market, you might need to spend a lot more to prep and market your property.

💸 Common costs for FSBO sellers

Appraisal	$350 to $395	To price your home more accurately
Photography	$181	To compete with homes listed by agents
Staging	$1,529	To stand out to local buyers
Real estate attorney	$204 to $359 per hour	To assist with paperwork, contracts, and legal requirements
Flat fee MLS listing	$90 to $1,000	To get listed on the MLS
Buyer’s agent commission	2.7% of sale price	To compensate the agent that represents the buyer (it’s customary for the seller to pay)

Overall, on average, it costs 7.5% of the home price to sell by owner and about 10% of the home price to sell with a real estate agent. However, the amount you’ll actually save will depend on repairs you need to make, concessions, and other expenses.

Use our calculator to get an idea of how much you can expect to spend if you sell without a realtor.

If you’re considering selling without a realtor in Mississippi, check out our friends at Clever Real Estate. Clever eliminates all the hassles and headaches of FSBO while helping you pay less than you would for a traditional realtor.

In Mississippi, sellers pay an average of 2.7% to a listing agent. Considering the median home value in Mississippi is $163,000, that amounts to $4,434. But with Clever, you can sell with a top local agent for just 1.5%, letting you keep more of your home’s equity in your pocket.

7 steps to sell a home in Mississippi without a realtor

Selling a home without a realtor involves many of the same steps as selling with one, except you’re on your own. To learn more about the basic steps to sell, read our simple, 12-step guide to selling a house. 

For Mississippi FSBO sellers, here’s what you need to know.

1. Get your home ready to sell

Start getting your home ready for the market by fixing things like leaky faucets, burned-out lights, and loose doorknobs.

Next, a fresh coat of paint is an affordable way to dramatically refresh your home. Don’t forget your home’s exterior. Refresh your landscaping, with a focus on hardy, aesthetically pleasing native plants like red and orange milkweed, and American beautyberry.

Take care of any large, needed repairs like a new HVAC system or roof. These can be deal breakers for a lot of buyers.

Deep clean your home, and declutter as much as possible. Remove at least half your furniture to make your home seem roomier. If you’re not confident in your home’s appearance, a professional home staging service costs an average of $1,529 in Mississippi.

Finally, take your listing photos. You can take them yourself, or get a professional; a pro photographer costs an average of $140 in Mississippi. 

If your home needs too much work to sell to a typical buyer, you might consider selling to a cash buyer. You can quickly compare cash buyer offers against your home’s value on the open market with Clever Offers. Try it for free with no obligation.

2. Price your home accurately

Your list price can make or break your sale. Price your home too high, and buyers will look right past it. Price it too low, and they’ll suspect it has unseen problems. 

To find just the right list price, we recommend the following tools: 

Get a comparative market analysis (CMA)

A comparative market analysis (CMA) uses data from recent sales of properties similar to yours to produce a suggested list price based on present-day market conditions. 

You can get a CMA…

• From real estate agents, who typically offer them for free
• From a flat fee MLS company, though you may have to pay an additional fee
• By creating your own – just remember to stay objective and use accurate, current data

Hire an appraiser 

Think of a home appraisal as the analog equivalent to a high-tech CMA. An experienced home appraiser will visit your home, closely examine it, and produce a number that’s based more on your home’s “true value” than the price it can fetch in present market conditions.

In Mississippi, the average cost of a home appraisal is $300 to $435. 

» LEARN: Should I get an appraisal before selling?

3. List and market your home

Your first step should be to review Mississippi laws regarding real estate advertising. It’s important to stay compliant with the law during your sale.

Next, list your home on free FSBO-friendly sites like:

• ForSaleByOwner.com
• Facebook Marketplace
• Craigslist
• Zillow and Trulia (in FSBO section)

Advertise your listing on social media; platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Nextdoor, and LinkedIn have great reach and are free.

Word of mouth is a powerful way to spread awareness — tell friends, family, and coworkers about your home sale.

Finally, put up a yard sign to let your local community know your home is on the market. According to Mississippi real estate laws, yard signs are legal, but double-check with your local laws on issues like size and placement. 

If you want maximum exposure, think about working with a Mississippi flat fee MLS company.

Mississippi flat fee MLS companies

Flat fee MLS companies help FSBO sellers by dramatically increasing the visibility of their listing. FFMLS companies get your listing onto the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), an online directory only accessible by agents, and from there it’s uploaded onto big real estate sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com.

Going with a flat fee MLS company is a lot cheaper than paying the average realtor commission, but the MLS listing is pretty much the only service you get.

In Mississippi, this will cost you about $80 to $1,000. Our top picks for flat fee MLS companies in Mississippi are:

• UList Realty: Best for extra support
• List with Freedom: Best for rock-bottom pricing
• Flat Fee Realty: Best for experienced sellers

Read our in-depth guide to Mississippi’s flat fee MLS companies to decide which one works best for you.

Required Mississippi seller disclosures

Mississippi has a fairly standard disclosures law that states sellers have to disclose “known physical defects” as soon as possible “before transfer of title.” 

Mississippi also has a strong flood risk disclosure law, and, as in all U.S. states, sellers are required to disclose the presence of lead-based paint. Sellers should use this disclosure form for general disclosures, this form for flood risk disclosures, and this form for lead-based paint disclosures.

Make these disclosures available by attaching them to your listing, furnishing hard copies at showings and open houses, and sending digital copies to interested buyers.

4. Manage showings on your own

Hosting showings and open houses is a lot of work for an agent, so it’s safe to say it’s challenging for a FSBO seller. 

Come up with a system and stick to it. Look for free tools to help you manage your calendar and store buyer contact info. If you decide to use a flat fee MLS company, they may give you a showings tool as part of their standard service. 

Here’s our best advice on how to conduct your own home showings:

• Schedule showings back-to-back for your own convenience and to encourage competition between buyers.
• Try not to be present while buyers look at the place, as they may feel inhibited by your presence.
• If you must be there, give them space.
• Consider using an electronic lockbox to store keys for independent showings.

Supply prospective buyers with documents listing the house’s information and your own contact info. Attach completed disclosure forms and place the packets in a conspicuous area like the kitchen counter. 

Finally, expect serious buyers to have questions after the showing and be prepared to answer them.

5. Review and negotiate offers

When offers come in, they’ll be in the form of a purchase and sale agreement, sometimes known as a buy-sell agreement. Once signed by you, it acts as your FSBO contract in Mississippi.

In evaluating offers, here are some things to consider beyond the purchase price:

• Carefully read the text of the offer and don’t sign until you’re clear on every point.
• Is it a cash offer or financed offer? Many sellers prefer cash offers, since they typically come with less risk.
• Is the buyer asking for repair credits? You can negotiate the amount or offer to do the repairs yourself
• Note all contingencies. You can also include your own contingencies, if you like.
• To submit a counteroffer, simply amend the purchase agreement and send it back.
• To negotiate the best possible deal, try these strategies.

Mississippi real estate contract law requires the buyer to select and hire an attorney to examine and certify the title. This certification takes the place of title insurance in Mississippi.

6. Allow the buyer to conduct due diligence

The due diligence period is the time between when the offer is accepted, and closing.

Depending on the specifics of the purchase agreement, this is when the buyer conducts:

• The home appraisal
• The home inspection
• The property title search
• The mortgage underwriting
• The final walkthrough

The buyer may want to negotiate the terms of the purchase agreement, and they may use a contingency to walk away from the deal. If you want to back out of the deal but don’t have a contingency allowing you to, talk to an attorney.

When negotiations (if any) are done, you can move on to closing.

7. Close

Your close date will be specified in the purchase agreement. 

A few days before closing, you should receive a closing statement. This lists all the charges and fees involved with the sale and who has to pay them, including the answers to questions like, “What does the seller pay at closing in MS?”

On the actual day of closing, the closing appointment is typically facilitated by a third party; usually the buyer’s attorney or real estate broker. At closing, you and the buyer will sign all required financial and legal paperwork and transfer the deed. The buyer receives the keys to the house, and you get paid. In Mississippi, sellers are paid the same day as closing. 

For sale by owner paperwork in Mississippi

Here’s a list of the Mississippi paperwork you’ll need to sell your home without a realtor.

• Seller Disclosure Form
• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
• Flood Risk Disclosure

Not finding what you’re looking for? Check out our comprehensive list of paperwork for selling your house without a realtor.

Best alternative: work with a discount broker

For many people, trying to sell without an agent isn’t worth the hassle. If you think you’ll need some help along the way, a discount broker is a good alternative.

Discount brokers are full-service real estate agents who are willing to work for a reduced commission rate. Sellers can save thousands while still receiving assistance from an expert local agent.

» READ: The Best Discount Real Estate Brokers in Mississippi

For discount broker services, we highly recommend our friends at Clever! Clever pre-negotiates with top agents to offer you low commission rates without compromising on service quality.

Related links

If you’d like some more advice about selling your home, here are a few great resources to check out:

How realtor commissions work in Mississippi: Even if you decide to sell your house without an agent, it’s still a good idea to offer commission to the buyer’s agent. Learn how much realtors expect to earn and what you can do to make your listing more appealing to agents and their clients.

Top We Buy Houses Companies in Mississippi REVEALED: If you need to sell your home in a hurry, a We Buy Houses company may purchase your house as-is for a reduced rate. Find out if this option could be the best option for you here!

How Much Does it Cost to Sell a House? True Costs Revealed: Wondering how much you’ll have to pay to sell your house? Check out this article to calculate your repair budget, closing fees, marketing expenses, and more.