How to Sell by Owner in Florida | Pros and Cons | Costs and Taxes | Florida FSBO Contracts | FSBO Alternatives | FAQS About FSBO in Florida
While selling a home “for sale by owner” (FSBO) in Florida can save you money, it comes with challenges.
This guide to selling a house in Florida without a realtor covers pros and cons, costs, the Florida FSBO contracts you’ll need, and more so you can decide if FSBO is right for you.
You’ll also learn about alternatives that can help you save on commission without the hassle of selling your own home. For example, Clever Real Estate is a free agent matching service that pre-negotiates lower commission rates of just $3,000 or 1% of your home’s value.
You’ll get the support of a full-service agent, while still saving thousands on commission. Contact Clever today to see how much you can save!
Florida FSBO: Pros and Cons
Selling a home without a realtor in Florida isn’t for everyone. While you’ll get more control over your sale, there are real drawbacks in terms of time and money.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You avoid paying listing agent commission (usually 2.5-3% of your home's price) | The average FSBO home sells for about 6% less than agented listings |
| It’s easier to sell to friends or family | If you misrepresent your house or make a mistake on a contract, you can end up in legal trouble |
| Not using a real estate agent means you don't have to prep your home for the open market | You'll be negotiating on final sale price with professional negotiators |
| You control the process from start to finish | You control the process from start to finish, which means everything falls on your shoulders |
How much Does it Cost to Sell FSBO in Florida?
Many people are interested in selling without a realtor in Florida because they can avoid paying the listing agent commission.
However, even without listing fees, selling FSBO in Florida isn’t free.
There are many expenses and hidden costs you’ll incur when selling a property yourself. And you may also lose out on getting the highest selling price for your home by foregoing expert advice. This is what you need to know.
Your home may sell for less
Partnering with an agent who understands the housing market allows you to get insider advice on what upgrades and pricing strategies work and what don’t in your market.
Partly due to that, FSBO homes usually sell for less than homes sold by agents. A study found that these homes sold for 6% less on average compared to agented properties. That decrease in price could cut into any potential savings you hoped for by selling on your own.
Thankfully, there’s another option if you want to sell your home for top dollar while still saving on commission. Our friends at Clever Real Estate have pre-negotiated low commission rates of just $3,000 or 1% with top agents across Florida.
You’ll have to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission
In a traditional sale, you pay a 6% commission of your final sale price split between the buyer’s agent and seller’s agent.
Selling a house in Florida without a realtor means that you won’t pay a listing agent. But, in almost all cases, the person who buys your home will still have an agent.
So, while you could theoretically save up to 3% of your final sale price, you’ll still be on the hook for offering a competitive commission fee (usually around 3%) to the buyer’s agent.
You’ll have to cover these Florida FSBO costs
Listing agents manage a number of tasks for you as part of their commission. If you sell your property yourself, you’ll have to spend both time and money to handle every step of the transaction.
You may have to pay for:
- A flat-fee company to list your home on the MLS
- Professional photographs to attract buyers
- Signage and other staging materials
- A real estate lawyer to review your for sale by owner Florida contracts
Other expenses may include the following.
| Cost | Description |
|---|---|
| Lien Search | This process checks to see if there is any debt against your home. This debt could be as normal as a mortgage or something unexpected like unpaid child support. Either way, liens need to be investigated and paid in full when a home sells. |
| Property Taxes | In Florida, FSBO sellers must pay property taxes for the amount of time they lived in the home that year so buyers aren’t left with taxes on a home they don’t occupy. |
| Buyer’s Closing Costs | Many times, sellers will pay the buyer's closing costs in exchange for a larger offer or expedited sale. This is more common than it once was, but not a given. |
| Warranty Fees | To offer buyers peace of mind, many sellers warranty their home for the first year after selling to ensure buyers are confident about their home’s condition. |
| Title and Escrow Charges | Escrow providers charge a portion of the sale price to manage the home transfer process. Closing costs are not just for buyers! |
| Other Fees | In addition, Florida has special costs associated with selling a home, like the Documentary Stamp Tax. This tax varies by county, but expect to pay around $2,000 on a $300,000 house sale. |
How To Sell A House By Owner in Florida
Increase your chances of selling for a higher price (and fast!) by following these general steps.
Not sure if you’re up for selling on your own? The best realtors in Florida will offer a free comparative market analysis (CMA) that outlines their selling strategy and suggested price point. Even if you still decide to go FSBO, this can give you insight into your local market.
1. Stage your home and prepare it for sale
Making your home look its best is essential. Declutter and depersonalize by removing photos and decorative options. Make sure each room has a defined purpose, such as a bedroom or office. Ensure furniture doesn’t obscure key features, like fireplaces.
If there are any repairs that absolutely need to be done before selling, don’t neglect them. A leaky roof might not be that expensive to fix, but it’ll be a big turnoff to anyone who spots it while they’re looking at your house.
✍️ Editor’s Note
In Florida, water damage tends to be a problem because of our intense rain and seasonal hurricanes. Because of this, buyers are even more likely to be on the lookout for water-related issues. Make sure you fix damage BEFORE inviting buyers to view your property.
2. Set a price for your property
Your property will get the most attention immediately after it’s listed. While you could drop the price later, you may miss out on buyers if your property isn’t priced right from the start.
Compare what similar properties have sold for recently to determine what’s appropriate for your home. Or, as noted, ask a Florida realtor for a free CMA.
3. Arrange for professional photographs
Most buyers find properties online. You need to ensure your home makes an excellent first impression. This usually means taking professional photos.
Be sure your home is photo-ready and hire a professional to capture its best features. Consider looking for a package that includes aerial or drone footage if you have an attractive lot or nice view.
4. Market your property
The multiple listing service (MLS) is the most comprehensive and widely used database of properties for sale. Unfortunately, only licensed agents can list properties on it.
If you’re selling by owner in Florida, you can use a flat-fee MLS site to get your home listed. You’ll pay a few hundred bucks to get your house up on most major real estate websites.
You can also market your home by:
- Putting FSBO signs up in your neighborhood: Go to a local printer or sign shop and have some simple “For Sale by Owner” signs made. Include your phone number and other contact information.
- Listing on sites like Craigslist and Zillow: You can post listings on Craigslist for free, and you can even create a listing on Zillow’s For Sale by Owner page. This is a great way to get more exposure.
- Hosting an open house: An open house makes it easy for interested buyers to drop in and see the house for themselves.
5. Show your home to potential buyers
Interested buyers will contact you to schedule showings. Arrange for them to visit your property, making sure your home is clean and looking its best.
Don’t underestimate the time and energy this process will take. According to Zillow, some of the slowest housing markets are in Florida. You may need to make your home available and open to buyers for two months or more.
6. Negotiate if you receive an offer
When a buyer is interested in your property, you should receive an offer from their agent.
You’ll need to decide whether to accept the buyer’s proposed terms, reject them outright, or make a counter offer if you wish to change things such as the offer price, the number of days they have to inspect the property, or the closing date.
✍️ Editor’s Note
The purchase price isn’t the only thing you’ll have to negotiate on. If repairs and a home inspection are part of the deal, you’ll need to decide who is going to pay for what. If you had an agent, this is another obstacle that they’d help you to navigate, but when you’re selling FSBO these details are your responsibility.
7. Find the right for sale by owner Florida contracts
Unfortunately, Florida FSBO contracts are where most sellers run into trouble. According to an interview with Florida real estate lawyer Anthony Suarez, only 50% of Florida FSBO deals end up closing, compared to 95% of deals involving real estate agents.
Even worse, you may wind up in situations where you prepare your documents incorrectly, and end up facing legal or financial issues.
According to another interview with Florida title expert Michael Bluem, this is sadly common in Florida. He sees many homeowners enter into improper contracts and end up with clouded titles. To avoid this, you need to protect yourself.
Use the buyer agent’s contract
In most cases, the agent representing the buyer will submit the contract and you’ll simply review it. Whatever contract you sign, make sure it includes information on:
- Price
- Personal property
- Financing contingency
- Closing date
- Inspection
- Title and survey
- Riders
What if the buyer has no agent, though?
Prepare your own for sale by owner Florida contracts
Using an “AS IS” residential contract to sell your house FSBO is another way to make sure you don’t end up in trouble.
These forms are developed and used by industry experts to ensure the least chance of litigation, and therefore are one of the best choices in real estate contract forms in Florida.
Whatever contract you use, remember that Florida is a “Duty to Disclose” state, which means that you must disclose known defects of the property.
Unless you are absolutely confident that you can correctly use and negotiate a contract, consider listing your home with the help of a real estate agent.
8. Sign the contract
Once you have a written contract that you feel comfortable with, it’s ready to sign! From there, you’re legally bound to go forward with the sale unless the contract contains contingency clauses.
Contingencies are conditions that must be met before the sale can go through. For example, you could make the sale contingent on your ability to find a new home.
9. Work with the buyer to get to closing
If you can get through closing day without a hitch, you will have successfully sold your house by yourself! But there are lots of key details that need to be lined up for closing day to go smoothly. For instance:
- Buyer needs to have financing approved and ready: Since you don’t have a real estate agent, you need to communicate with the buyer leading up to closing to make sure that their financing is approved and ready for the closing date. Failing to check this out could result in a nasty surprise on closing day.
- Buyer needs to be prepared to pay closing costs. Buyers usually pay most of the closing costs, so make sure your buyer is prepared to pay for these. These costs are due on closing day, but failing to vet your buyer could cause the whole deal to fall through.
- You need to meet any contingencies in the purchase agreement. If contingencies were included in the agreement – such as the seller agreeing to fix the roof before closing, get those things done as soon as possible. All of the contingencies need to be removed by closing day.
- Documents need to be signed and witnessed by the closing agent. In the days and weeks leading up to closing, communicate closely with your closing agent or attorney to find out exactly what documents they need from you, the buyer, and the seller. It would be a shame for your deal to fall through over some missed paperwork.
10. Pay the buyer’s agent and other closing costs
Finally, you’ll close on your home, which means the buyer will transfer funds and you’ll transfer ownership. At that time, you’ll typically need to offer a commission of 2.5-3% to the buyer’s agent (depending how much you agreed to offer when listing the home).
You’ll also pay other closing costs, such as transfer taxes and title insurance fees. These costs generally add up to between 1% and 3% of your home’s value. They’ll need to be paid on or before the date of closing and typically come out of the proceeds of the sale.
Find an Alternative to FSBO
If you’ve decided that the time and energy of selling FSBO in Florida isn’t right for you, you have options!
For example, our friends at Clever pre-negotiate low listing fees of 1% or $3,000 (for homes under $350,000) for Florida sellers.
You’ll get the support of a full-service agent who can help you sell your home fast and for top dollar. Contact Clever today to learn more!
Florida FSBO FAQs
How do I sell my house without a realtor in Florida?
To sell your house without a realtor in Florida, you will:
- Prepare your home for sale by staging the property, decluttering, and making minor repairs and upgrades
- Determine a fair price based on sales of recent comparable properties
- Arrange for professional photographs
- List your home on the MLS using a flat fee MLS service or consider other marketing tactics such as advertising on social networks
- Show your home to potential buyers
- Negotiate a sale price and Florida FSBO contract terms
- Accept an offer with the right buyer
- Work with the buyer through inspections and appraisals to get your property to closing
These steps can be a challenge if you aren't an expert in your local market and don't know how to effectively read a sales contract to best protect your interests. In these cases, a discount commission company may be a better bet.
What is the best FSBO service in Florida?
There are many different FSBO services in Florida. The best one for your needs will balance price with features. Look for a service that charges a reasonable cost while moving quickly to list your home on the MLS.
Where can I find Florida FSBO contracts?
In most cases, the buyer (or buyer’s agent) prepares the contract for you to review. Make sure you understand all of the terms contained within it, as it’s a legally binding agreement. If you’re not sure what any of the terms mean, consider talking with a real estate attorney. You can also find sample contracts online.
How much does it cost to sell a house in Florida without a realtor?
When you sell a home without a realtor, you will forgo working with a listing agent but generally an agent will still represent the buyer. Expect to offer around 2.5% to 3% of the home’s sale price as a buyer's agent commission. You will also incur closing costs, such as title fees and transfer taxes. These typically cost around 1% to 3% of the home’s price. You’ll owe these regardless of whether you work with a realtor or not.
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