How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in Missouri

• 

  Written by Jon Stubbs

• 

  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 Missouri averages 3.0% of the sale price. Considering a typical Missouri house is worth about $221,000, that’s a savings of $6,542.

However, trying to sell a home For Sale by Owner (FSBO) can be tough. You’ll be responsible for every step of the selling process, which can take up a lot of your time and energy. 

In the end, selling a house without a real estate agent isn’t worth it for most homeowners in Missouri. Many sellers don’t even realize that there are low commission real estate companies that offer professional assistance at reduced prices. 

If you’re considering selling a house without a realtor in Missouri, 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 Missouri 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 Missouri
• 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 Missouri

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	$280 to $360	To price your home more accurately
Photography	$144	To compete with homes listed by agents
Staging	$1,150	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	$100 to $800	To get listed on the MLS
Buyer’s agent commission	2.8% of sale price	To compensate the agent that represents the buyer (it’s customary for the seller to pay)

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 Missouri, 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 Missouri, sellers pay an average of 3.0% to a listing agent. Considering the median home value in Missouri is $221,000, that amounts to $6,542. 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 Missouri 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 Missouri FSBO sellers, here’s what you need to know.

1. Get your home ready to sell

If you’re wondering how to sell a house by owner in Missouri, the first step is to take care of outstanding small repairs like burned-out bulbs and leaky faucets. Also address big expensive repairs like a leaky roof, since these can be deal breakers for many buyers.

Next, put down a fresh coat of paint. It’s inexpensive, and you can do it yourself.

Refresh your home’s landscaping with hardy native plants like the cardinal flower and blue wild indigo.

Deep clean and declutter your home. Experts suggest removing at least half of your furniture to make your space look roomier. 

If you’re not happy with how your remaining furniture looks, consider a professional home staging service. They’ll select and provide furniture that complements your spaces, along with decor like rugs and wall art. In Missouri, staging costs an average of $1,529.

Finally, take your listing photos from the corners of each room during hours with plenty of natural light. If you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself, you can hire a professional photographer. In Missouri, it’ll cost you, on average, $140.

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 home’s list price can make or break your sale: price it too low and buyers might think your home has hidden flaws, price it too high and they’ll assume you’re a difficult seller and hesitate to make an offer. 

To find your home’s ideal list price, we recommend the following options: 

Get a comparative market analysis (CMA)

A comparative market analysis (CMA) uses data from recent sales of properties similar to yours to produce an up-to-the-minute, statistically viable list price for your home. You can get a CMA from a flat fee MLS company, a realtor (they typically provide them for free to prospective clients), or you can create your own CMA.

Hire an appraiser 

A home appraiser is a licensed professional who will come to your home, examine its features and condition, and estimate its value in a detailed report. An appraisal is more formal and involved than a CMA, which is why banks and lenders lean on appraisals to justify loan amounts. In Missouri, 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

First, list your Missouri home for sale by owner on free FSBO websites like:

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

Further spread the word by posting on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor — they’re free, and can potentially reach a huge audience. 

Tap into word of mouth by telling coworkers, friends, and family members about your home sale.

Finally, put up a yard sign to let the neighborhood know your home’s for sale. Sellers are allowed to put a “For Sale” sign in their yard throughout the state, but specific sign regulations vary by city.

For example, sellers in Kansas City can have:

• One sign per street frontage
• Signs up to 4 feet tall
• Signs up to 8 square feet in area
• Signs that don’t have any flashing, moving, or animated signals

However, in Raymore, FSBO yard signs must:

• Not exceed 4 feet in height
• Be less than 6 square feet in area
• Not be illuminated in any way
• Only be installed once the property is actually available for sale
• Be removed once a final contract has been approved

Check with your local county to see if there are any specific regulations about on-premise FSBO signs.

These are all low-cost strategies, but if you want maximum exposure, think about working with a Missouri flat fee MLS company.

Missouri flat fee MLS companies

A flat fee MLS company will get your listing onto high-traffic real estate sites like Zillow and Redfin by uploading it to the multiple listing service (MLS). The MLS is only accessible to agents, but since flat fee MLS companies are licensed brokerages, they provide an alternative route that allows you access to the database without an agent.

Flat fee MLS companies don’t typically offer many services beyond the listing, but they charge very little compared to a conventional agent. 

In Missouri, a flat fee MLS listing could cost anywhere from $80 to $1,000. Our top picks for flat fee MLS companies in Missouri are:

🥇 BuySelf Realty: Best for sellers on a tight budget
🥈 Flat Fee Group: Best for inexperienced sellers
🥉 MLS My Home: Best bang for your buck

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

Required Missouri seller disclosures

Missouri is a “buyer beware” state, meaning sellers aren’t obligated to disclose any specific defects in the home under state law. Sellers only have to tell prospective buyers if the property:

• Was used as a site for methamphetamine production
• Has a permitted or unpermitted solid waste disposal site or demolition landfill
• Has lead paint or other sources of lead (if it was built prior to 1978)

To give buyers greater peace of mind and make your home more appealing, you can complete the Missouri disclosure statement. This document includes questions about the property’s:

• Appliances
• Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and sewage systems
• Foundation
• History of pest infestations
• HOA fees and regulations
• Past repairs or alterations
• Roof and gutters

As in all U.S. states, Missouri sellers are required to disclose the possible presence of lead-based paint in homes built before 1978, using this form. They can also use this federal form to disclose flood risks. 

Make your disclosures available by attaching them to the listing, sending digital copies to interested buyers, and bringing hard copies to showings. 

4. Manage showings on your own

Running open houses and showings is a lot of work. Stay on top of things by coming up with a solid system.

Find a free calendar tool that will manage your appointments, and track buyer contact info using a spreadsheet. If you use a flat fee MLS company, they may give you some tools.

Some advice on showings:

• Block showings together to build up competition among buyers
• Try not to be present during showings; if you must be there, give the buyers space
• Consider using a lockbox to share keys for secure, independent showings

Provide info packets to buyers containing listing info, disclosure forms, and your contact information. Place these packets in a highly visible area like the kitchen counter. 

Many buyers will have questions about your home after their showing, so be ready to handle them via phone, email, or in person. 

5. Review and negotiate offers

You’ll most likely receive offers via email from buyers’ agents in the form of a purchase and sale agreement (also known as a “buy-sell”). 

Evaluate your offers by doing the following:

• Carefully read the full text of the offer. If you’re unclear on any points, ask for clarification.
• Look for any buyer contingencies. One or two contingencies are common, but several can pose higher risks for your sale.
• Consider financing. Is it a cash offer or a financed offer? Many sellers prefer cash offers, since they come with less risk.
• Note any requests for repair credits. Alternatively, you could offer to do the repairs yourself.

To counteroffer, simply amend the purchase agreement and return it. Use these negotiation strategies to get a good deal.

When it comes to your for sale by owner contract, Missouri does not require you to hire a lawyer to oversee the sale. Still, it’s a good idea for FSBO sellers to have a lawyer look over the purchase agreement.

6. Allow the buyer to conduct due diligence

The “due diligence” period is the time between both parties signing the purchase agreement and final closing. During this time, the buyer or their lender will conduct:

• The home inspection
• The home appraisal
• Mortgage underwriting
• Property title search
• The final walkthrough

The buyer may want to renegotiate after seeing the results of the above. Depending on the purchase agreement, they could also use a contingency to back out of the sale. If you want to back out of the sale, but don’t have a seller contingency giving you an escape hatch, speak to an attorney about your options.

Once everything is settled, both parties can proceed to final closing.

7. Close

Check your purchase agreement to see the date of closing.

A few days before closing, you’ll receive the closing statement. This document lists all charges that go along with the sale, as well as who has to pay them. If you find mistakes, you’ll have a few days to get them corrected.

At the closing itself, you and the buyer sign all the necessary paperwork to close the deal. Closing is usually facilitated by a third party; most often it’s handled by the title company, though a broker or attorney sometimes steps in.

After all the paperwork is completed, you’ll sign over the deed to the buyer, and give them the keys. In Missouri, sellers typically receive their money the same day as closing. Congrats!

For sale by owner paperwork in Missouri

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

• Seller Disclosure Form (optional)
• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
• Flood Risk Disclosure
• Missouri Purchase and Sale Agreement

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 Missouri

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

Still have questions about selling your Missouri home? Check out these additional resources to learn more:

Average Real Estate Commission in Missouri: What’s Fair in 2022?: Whether you decide to sell your home FSBO or with a realtor, you should still offer the buyer’s agent commission. Find out what agents in Missouri expect to earn from a sale in 2022!

Top We Buy Houses Companies in Missouri REVEALED: If you need to see your house quickly, selling to a We Buy Houses company may be a good option. Learn how much you can expect to earn, how long it will take to close, and other details here.