How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in New York

selling a house without a realtor in New York

Selling your home without a realtor means you won’t have to pay a listing commission, which in New York averages 2.7% of the sale price. Considering a typical New York house is worth about $387,000, that’s a savings of $10,302.

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 New York. Especially considering there are low commission real estate companies that offer professional assistance for a lower cost.

If you’re considering FSBO in New York, 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 (2.7% on average in New York). But in exchange for those savings, you’ll have to do everything from advertising your home to negotiating the final deal.
In most cases, you’ll still need to offer a buyer’s agent commission. 2.4% is typical in New York.
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 York 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 York, that puts 2.7% of your final sale price back in your pocket. However, you will still need to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission (2.4% is typical in New York).

» LEARN: How realtor commissions work in New York

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 take on all the tasks a realtor normally handles.

You’re in a hot seller’s market.

If you’re in a high-demand area with low inventory, you could find a buyer relatively easily with just a flat fee MLS package or a “For Sale” in your yard.

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

Avg. days on market	Avg. listing price
57 days	$689,500

^{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. 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 York.

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 York 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, they can lose money by pricing too low or scare away buyers by pricing too high.

If selling your home without a realtor sounds too risky or like too much work, you have other ways to save on commissions. You can work with a discount broker, save money, and not have to deal with the stress of selling without a realtor.

What does a realtor do in New York?

Whether you’re selling an apartment in New York City or a house in Albany, you will have to put in a lot of effort if you plan on selling property without a realtor. Not only will you have to handle the majority of the house selling process alone, but you also have to be mindful to avoid mistakes that could deal a major blow to your overall profit.

If you're ready to take those risks as a FSBO seller, know you'll have to take on a variety of responsibilities, such as:

Prices homes competitively

If you’re earlier in the home selling process and just need a general idea of what your house is worth, you can plug your address into several free home value estimators.

However, a realtor can provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) for a more accurate valuation. CMA home values are calculated based on the strength of your housing market, how much similar properties are selling for, new upgrades or renovations, and other variable factors.

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

Home size	Home value in New York
2 bedrooms	$239,031
3 bedrooms	$256,074
4 bedrooms	$401,597
5+ bedrooms	$655,902

^{Based on Zillow data}

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 can only be accessed by real estate agents, who use it to find homes to show their clients. Without a realtor, you’ll need to pay a flat fee MLS company to list your property, or you will face a much smaller pool of potential buyers.

Finds potential buyers

An agent can market your home, schedule open houses, and follow up with people who toured your home.

Agents will also take care of negotiating with prospective buyers and dealing with paperwork to ensure the sale doesn’t fall through.

Cost of selling a house without a realtor in New York

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	$320 to $425	To price your home more accurately
Photography	$197	To compete with homes listed by agents
Staging	$1,963	To stand out to local buyers
Real estate attorney	$252 per hour	To assist with paperwork, contracts, and legal requirements
Flat fee MLS listing	$199 to $999	To get listed on the MLS
Buyer’s agent commission	2.4% of sale price	To compensate the agent that represents the buyer (it’s customary for the seller to pay)

^{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 York, 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 York, sellers pay an average of 2.7% to a listing agent. Considering the median home value in New York is $387,000, that amounts to $10,302. 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 York FSBO paperwork and regulations

If you decide to sell without a realtor, you’ll be responsible for collecting, preparing, and filing all the correct paperwork.

» FIND: All the paperwork FSBO sellers need

But know that every state has its own laws and regulations for real estate sales — and New York is no different. Here are some additional forms you may need to close on a house without a realtor in New York:

6 steps to sell a home in New York without a realtor

🤔 Did you know?

2 out of every 8 buyers use free online marketplaces to find a home.

Free websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are still popular with those looking to buy a home. That popularity makes these websites promising avenues for you to reach a broad audience when selling FSBO — but only if you know what you’re doing. If you don’t have online marketing experience, it’s best to consult with a discount broker for help.

Source: 2022 Clever Real Estate Survey

1. Get your home ready to sell

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.

You can also hire a professional stager to get your home picture-perfect for showings. While prices vary from city to city, in New York it costs an average of $1,963 to stage a house.

High-quality photos of your property can make a huge difference when attracting buyers. Prices can vary based on your location, but in New York you can expect to pay $197 on average for a session with a professional photographer.

2. Price your home accurately

To accurately price your home, you can get a CMA report from a realtor or hire an appraiser.

A CMA is estimated based on similar properties in your neighborhood that have recently sold. Many agents are willing to do a CMA for free in the hopes of gaining your business. An appraisal, on the other hand, is performed by a professional appraiser who thoroughly examines your home and estimates its value.

But if you don’t want to meet with an agent or pay for an appraisal, and just want a quick ballpark home value estimate, we recommend using several free online home value estimators.

Comparing pricing estimates from multiple tools can get you an estimate that’s closer to your home’s fair market value — especially if one of the websites relies on inaccurate or outdated information.

⚡ What is my house worth? Get a free, instant home valuation

3. List your home

There are plenty of free or affordable websites where you can list your home. However, purchasing a flat fee MLS package often gives FSBO sellers the best bang for their buck.

In New York, this will cost you $199 to $999, but without a realtor, it’s the only way to get your property listed on the MLS — which is how most buyers find homes.

4. Show your home

Once buyers start contacting you, it’s important to have a system to track showing appointments and their contact information.

During a showing, be available to answer the buyer’s questions, but don’t follow them around from room to room. That can come off as overwhelming and scare buyers off.

5. Consider offers

Reviewing offers is about more than the price. You also need to consider whether the buyer’s moving timeline aligns with your own and what types of contingencies or concessions they’re asking for. Those parts of the offer will impact negotiations and how much you’ll actually walk away with.

6. Use a title and/or escrow company

It’s important to have a third party that will take care of collecting signatures and fees before and during closing. Often this will be your title company, but in some cases, you might have to find a separate escrow company to manage the money involved in the transaction.

Alternatives to selling without a realtor in New York

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, here are a few other low-cost options.

New York flat fee MLS companies

Getting your home listed on your local MLS is the best way to reach more buyers. The biggest home search sites (Zillow, realtor.com, etc.) all pull their listings from the MLS. Unfortunately, the only way to get your home on the MLS without a realtor is by purchasing a flat fee MLS package.

In New York, this will cost you about $199 to $999. However, if you want more support from a real estate professional, there are better options.

💰 Service is an additional cost or not included in the basic package
	Houzeo	Realmart Realty	Flat Fee Realty	Netrealtynow.com
Price	$269–$499	$395–$695	$179	$299–$1,299
Number of Photos	6-Max	6-25+	6-25	Up to 36
Listing Term	6 months	6-12 months with free extensions	6 months	6 months
Pricing Assistance	💰	💰	❌	❌
Negotiation Support	💰	💰	❌	💰
Yard Sign	💰	✅	❌	❌
Open Houses	✅	💰	❌	✅

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

New York 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 in New York

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 lawyer to sell my house in New York?

No, you don’t need a lawyer to sell a house in New York, but it's a good idea to hire one, especially for those selling without a realtor. There are a lot of legal documents to complete and submit, and a real estate attorney will ensure that you are covered.

Is selling a house without a realtor worth it in New York?

If you have experience selling real estate and are confident that you know your market, then it can be worth it to sell without a realtor. Selling FSBO can save you the 3% commission fee that listing agents usually charge — but it also creates the risk of losing a lot more of your profit if you aren’t careful. For example, simple errors in your paperwork can lead to legal complications that could be expensive to fix.