How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in New Hampshire

Selling your home without a realtor means you won’t have to pay a listing commission, which in New Hampshire averages 2.5% of the sale price. Considering a typical New Hampshire house is worth about $418,000, that’s a savings of $10,450.

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 New Hampshire. 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 New Hampshire, read on to find out everything you need to know to do it successfully.

✍️ Key Takeaways of FSBO Sales

Selling without a real estate agent means avoiding a listing commission (2.5% on average in New Hampshire). But in exchange for those savings, you’ll have to do everything from advertising your home to completing legal paperwork to negotiating the final deal.
In most cases, you’ll still need to offer a buyer’s agent commission. 2.3% is typical in New Hampshire.
Selling without an agent is best for experienced sellers or people selling to family or friends.
For most sellers, there are better cost-saving options that will net you more money and provide professional support.

Should I sell my house without a realtor?

Not sure if FSBO is right for you? Use the checklists below to find out if selling your New Hampshire home without a realtor is the best option for your situation.

✅ Selling without an agent might be right for you if…

You want to save on commission.

When you sell without a realtor, you won’t pay a listing agent commission. In New Hampshire, that puts 2.5% of your final sale price back in your pocket. However, you will still need to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission (2.3% is typical in New Hampshire).

» LEARN: How realtor commissions work in New Hampshire

You already have a buyer.

If you’ve already lined up a deal with a friend or family member, there’s no need to pay an agent to list your home on the MLS, host open houses, or negotiate on your behalf.

You have lots of time to spare.

Selling a house is a lot of work! You’ll need time to complete all the tasks an agent would typically take care of, such as preparing the home for sale, marketing the property, reviewing paperwork, and much more.

You’re in a hot seller’s market.

If you’re in a high-demand area with low inventory, buyers are more likely to come to you. With a flat fee MLS package or a “For Sale” in your yard, it can be easy to find a buyer without an agent’s help.

Here’s how fast and for how much homes in New Hampshire are currently selling for so you see how your local market compares.

Avg. days on market	Avg. listing price
23 days	$475,000

^{Based on data from realtor.com}

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

You’re short on time.

If you’re on a tight deadline, hiring an agent might be your best option. Unless you already have a buyer lined up, you’ll have to squeeze home selling tasks into your nights and weekends — or make sacrifices elsewhere in your schedule.

You’ve never sold a home in New Hampshire.

Without an agent, you won’t have any professional guidance about increasing your property’s curb appeal, pricing your home, or choosing the best offer.

We can’t say this enough: If you’ve never been through a New Hampshire home sale or are facing a complicated transaction, do not try it without a real estate agent.

Making one mistake could cost you tens of thousands of dollars or create some serious legal headaches for you.

You want to sell for more money.

There are conflicting studies about whether FSBO properties sell for less compared to those sold by agents.

On the one hand, FSBO sellers are more likely to sell to friends or family and offer them a good deal on the home. This lowers the average price of homes sold without a realtor.

However, if a FSBO seller is inexperienced with pricing a home, they can lose money by pricing too low or scare away buyers by pricing too high.

There are other ways to save on commissions if selling your house without a realtor sounds too risky or stressful.

Clever Real Estate offers a free service that gets home sellers lower rates from top agents at trusted brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. You’ll get full service from a local agent (guaranteed), but pay just 1.5% in listing fees — half the rate agents typically charge. Get started today!

What does a realtor do in New Hampshire?

Real estate agents in New Hampshire do much more than show people around your house. Experienced realtors juggle several tasks to make the selling process as stress-free as possible, from connecting you with local pros to negotiating with buyers to listing your home on the MLS.

Even in hot real estate markets, you’ll need some basic knowledge to successfully sell a home without an agent. If you don’t hire an agent, you’ll be responsible for handling every aspect of the selling process on your own.

Prices homes competitively

Agents will provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) to accurately price your home. They look at the popularity of your housing market, how much similar properties are selling for, new upgrades you’ve added to the home, and other variable factors.

But if you’re earlier in the home selling process and just need a general idea of what your house is worth, you may not need to contact a realtor. Try online home value estimators instead.

To get an idea of how much home values can vary, here’s a comparison of different sized homes value in New Hampshire.

Home size	Home value in New Hampshire
2 bedrooms	$314,885
3 bedrooms	$418,828
4 bedrooms	$537,707
5+ bedrooms	$607,605

^{Based on Zillow data}

⚡ How much is my house worth? Get a free home value estimate!

If you decide not to work with a realtor, you should consider getting an appraisal. A state-certified appraiser will assess the condition, amenities, location, and other factors of your home that could affect its sales price.

An appraiser can offer an objective estimate about your property’s worth within your local real estate market. Since pricing your home accurately is such an important factor when listing your property for sale, it pays to get a professional’s opinion.

» MORE: Learn about the difference between CMAs and appraisals

Connects you with local pros

Experienced agents have networks of the best professionals in the area. They can connect you with handymen, stagers, photographers, and other service providers so you don’t have to track down reliable pros on your own.

Lists your home

Working with an agent will get your property listed on the multiple listing service (MLS) database. This site can only be accessed by real estate agents, who use it to find homes for their clients. Without a realtor, you’ll either need to pay a flat fee MLS company to list your property on the database or forgo this marketing opportunity altogether.

» MORE: Read This BEFORE You Pay For a Flat Fee MLS Service

Markets and negotiates

An agent can market your home, schedule open houses, reach out to potential buyers, and follow up with people who toured your home.

Agents will also take care of negotiating with prospective buyers. Homeowners can often struggle to think of their homes objectively, so negotiating can be an intimidating and frustrating process for FSBO sellers.

Completes paperwork

Agents can take care of all the paperwork required to complete the real estate transaction, which can be a huge relief for sellers. It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the sheer number of documents you’ll need to finalize the transaction.

» MORE: How to Sell a House By Owner: Paperwork You Need

Do I need a real estate attorney in New Hampshire?

Yes, New Hampshire is one of several states that requires sellers to hire a real estate attorney for the closing process. An attorney can answer your questions, review your paperwork, and help you avoid common legal complications that can come up during real estate transactions.

Cost of selling a house without a realtor in New Hampshire

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	$315 to $420	To price your home more accurately
Photography	$175	To compete with homes listed by agents
Staging	$772	To stand out to local buyers
Real estate attorney	$250 to $375 per hour	To assist with paperwork, contracts, and legal requirements
Flat fee MLS listing	$200 to $1,500	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)
New Hampshire transfer tax	$0.75 per $100 of home price	Paid by seller to state

^{Based on service estimates from across the country}

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 New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire, sellers pay an average of 2.5% to a listing agent. Considering the median home value in New Hampshire is $418,000, that amounts to $10,450. 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.

New Hampshire regulations FSBO sellers should know

Each state has its own unique regulations for FSBO sellers. The regulations listed below are standard for New Hampshire sellers across the state, but make sure to check with your local county to see if there are any additional rules you need to know about.

Whether you’re selling a seaside villa in Hampton or a modern condo in Concord, you’ll need to keep these general FSBO requirements in mind:

Disclosure requirements

New Hampshire doesn’t require sellers to disclose all known issues with their properties. New Hampshire’s disclosure laws only require sellers to tell buyers about:

The type of private water supply system (if applicable)
The private sewage disposal system (if applicable)
The home’s insulation, including its type and location
Radon gas, lead paint, and/or arsenic hazards

Do I need to test my private well water for contaminants before I sell?

Well water testing isn’t mandatory at the state level, but some mortgage lenders or specific cities might require it. Having a test done can’t hurt, and it can give buyers extra peace of mind.

About half of New Hampshire homes use public water and sewage systems. If your property uses public systems, most of the disclosure requirements don’t apply to you.

However, choosing to fill out the state’s standard disclosure form can help attract buyers. People will feel more confident purchasing your house if you’re honest about its known issues.

The disclosure form lists several questions that you can respond to with “Yes,” “No,” or “Unknown.” You’re also encouraged to provide additional details you think buyers should know about, such as:

The age of your home
Known problems with your heating, cooling, electrical, or plumbing systems
The condition of the roof
Past repairs
Current or past pest infestations

If your property is a condo or part of an HOA, there’s another document you can add to the general disclosure form. The HOA disclosure document should list important information about the property’s insurance, monthly fees and assessments, and any pending litigations.

FSBO marketing rules

FSBO signs are allowed in most zoning districts in New Hampshire. Throughout the state, sellers just need to follow a few basic rules when putting up real estate signs:

Don’t obstruct views of traffic signs
Don’t place the sign on public property or interfere with public right-of-way
Don’t use flashing lights or illuminate your sign in any way (if you live in a residential district)
Make sure the sign doesn’t cause glare on a public road or neighboring property
Remove the sign within 30 days of selling the property

In residential districts, real estate signs can’t exceed 8 square feet in area and 6 feet in height. No more than one sign per street is permitted, unless the property spans more than 500 feet on a single street. In this case, a second sign can be added to face that road.

9 steps to sell a home in New Hampshire without a realtor

Selling your home without a realtor can be intimidating. Here, we’ve created a step-by-step guide for you to rely on and make the selling process less daunting.

🏡 Section 1: Prepare your home for sale

✍ Section 2: List your home

📅 Section 3: Manage showings

🤝 Section 4: Accept an offer

🏡 How to get your home ready to sell

1. Make basic repairs

Simple repairs, such as fixing a squeaky door or repairing dents in the drywall, can greatly improve the aesthetic appeal of your house. Outdoors, a fresh coat of paint, and some basic landscaping work can boost curb appeal.

» LEARN: The 8 most important repairs to make before selling your home

2. Stage the rooms

You can hire a professional stager to get your home picture-perfect for showings, but this can be expensive. While prices vary from city to city, in New Hampshire it costs an average of $772 to stage a house.

3. Photograph the home

High-quality photos of your property can make a huge difference when attracting buyers. Prices can vary based on your location, but in New Hampshire you can expect to pay $175 on average for a session with a professional photographer.

✍ How to list your home for sale

4. Get an appraisal

Without an agent’s help, it can be hard to accurately price your home. However, you can hire a state-approved appraiser to estimate the market value of your home based on its condition, location, amenities, and other details. In New Hampshire, an appraisal costs $315 to $420.

» MORE: Tools for choosing the right price

5. Advertise your home

You can list your home for free or for a low rate on several different websites. Marketing your property on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist can help you reach more people, but buying a flat fee MLS package will probably be the best way to get more buyers through the door.

In New Hampshire, this will cost you $200 to $1,500, but without a realtor, it’s the only way to get your property listed on the MLS — which is how most buyers find homes.

📅 How to show your home

6. Get organized

Once buyers start contacting you, it’s important to have a system to track showing appointments and their contact information. If you don’t have one already, set up a digital calendar that will remind you when showings are and also allow you to take notes about the buyer.

Also, ask if they have a pre-approval letter from a lender before scheduling a tour. A pre-approval letter shows that a buyer is able and qualified to buy a house.

7. Don’t hover

Try not to follow visitors around your home during showings. This can come off as overbearing and pushy, which might scare off interested buyers. Instead, stay in a common area, such as the kitchen, so visitors can easily find you if they have questions.

🤝 How to accept an offer and close

8. Know your priorities

Make sure you look at more than the prices offered from potential buyers. Review each buyer’s timeline, their contingencies, and other negotiable factors to see if they align with your top priorities.

For example, if a buyer is willing to waive certain contingencies, that could save you money on expensive home repairs.

» LEARN: Common home buying contingencies

9. Use a title and/or escrow company

On closing day, meet with your real estate attorney at a title or escrow company to finalize the transaction. Your attorney will guide you through the required paperwork and answer any questions you may have. Then, the title company will collect the closing fees and complete the title transfer.

» LEARN: What fees sellers should expect to pay at closing

Alternatives to selling without a realtor in New Hampshire

Most sellers come to realize that trying to sell without an agent isn’t worth the hassle. If you think you’ll need some help selling your house, here are a few other low-cost options to consider.

New Hampshire flat fee MLS companies

If you’re confident about selling your home on your own, you might benefit from using a flat fee MLS company to increase the visibility of your property.

The top three flat fee MLS companies in New Hampshire include EntryOnly.com, Landfall Properties, and Flat Fee Realty. The cost of a package ranges from $179 to $1,499, depending on how many services you need.

💰 Service is an additional cost or not included in the basic package
	EntryOnly.com	Landfall Properties	Flat Fee Realty
Price	$499-$1,499	$499	$179
Number of Photos	20	Max allowed	6
MLS Listing	6 months	Up to 2 years	6 months
Pricing Assistance	💰	❌	❌
Negotiation Support	💰	❌	❌
Yard Sign	✅	✅	❌
Open Houses	✅	❌	❌

» READ: The Top Flat Fee MLS Companies in New Hampshire

Discount brokers

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 for Every Budget

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

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a real estate attorney to sell my house in New Hampshire?

Yes, New Hampshire is one of several states that requires sellers to hire an attorney for the closing process. A real estate attorney will help you avoid legal complications, complete the paperwork for the transaction, and ensure that the title transfer goes smoothly.

Is New Hampshire a "buyer beware" state?

Yes, New Hampshire is a caveat emptor or "buyer beware" state. Sellers only have to disclose if the property has a private water or sewage system or if the property has any radon, arsenic, or lead contamination. Besides these regulations, sellers aren't required to fill out a disclosure form about any problems with their home.