🏡 Thinking of Selling Your Home Without an Agent? Here’s What You Should Know About FSBO

In 2025, more Maryland homeowners are asking the same question: “Do I really need a Realtor to sell my home, or can I do it myself and save the commission?” This is what’s known as For Sale By Owner (or FSBO). It’s tempting—especially in a strong market. But before you stick a “For Sale” sign in your front yard, there are a few critical things to consider. Let’s break down the pros, cons, and risks of going the FSBO route in today’s market.

📈 Why Some Sellers Choose FSBO
It’s easy to understand the appeal. The biggest motivator? Avoid paying a commission. Other reasons include:

• Wanting full control of the process
• Having sold a home before
• Thinking the market is hot enough to sell “easily”
• Having a buyer already lined up

But here’s the thing—what you save in commission, you might lose in pricing, negotiation power, marketing, lost salary from taking time off work for showings or legal protection. Not to mention, that 92% of homebuyers are work with an agent, there is a very good chance you end up paying at least a buyer’s agent commission because……well they don’t work for free.

🧾 The Reality of FSBO in Today’s Market
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), only 6% of all home sales in 2024 were FSBO—and those homes sold for about 15% less on average than those listed with an agent. Why? Because FSBO sellers often:

• Underprice or overprice the home due to lack of local market data
• Miss key marketing exposure, especially on the MLS
• Struggle with paperwork, inspections, and negotiations
• Limit buyer access due to poor showing coordination
• Get taken advantage of by savvy investor buyers

🔎 What It Takes to Successfully Sell FSBO
If you're going the FSBO route, be prepared to:

• Research your local market deeply—comps, trends, buyer demand
• Hire a real estate attorney to draft and review contracts
• Market your home everywhere (Zillow, Facebook, yard signs, etc.)
• Handle all showings and open houses yourself
• Negotiate directly with buyers and agents
• Manage inspection, appraisal, and closing coordination
• It’s not impossible—but it’s a lot of work.

⚠️ The Risks of Going Solo
While selling your own home may sound empowering, there are some real downsides to consider:

• Legal Liability – If something goes wrong with the contract or disclosures, you could be legally and financially responsible.
• Lost Exposure – The MLS and agent networks are where the serious buyers are. FSBO listings often miss that exposure.
• Negotiation Gaps – Agents know how to protect your net proceeds. FSBO sellers often make costly mistakes at the negotiation table.
• Emotional Decisions – Selling your own home is personal. That can make it hard to stay objective in high-stakes moments.

💡 A Hybrid Option: List with a Pro, Keep More Equity
If your goal is to maximize your profit, working with an agent may be the smarter financial move—even after commission. I often help sellers:

• Put sellers in a great financial position due to strategic pricing
• Avoid stress with full contract-to-close support
• Attract more qualified buyers through the MLS and pro-level marketing
• Protect their deal through inspections, appraisals, and contingencies

🏁 Final Thought
FSBO might seem like a way to “save,” but in today’s complex market, it could actually cost you more—in time, money, and peace of mind. Having a real estate professional to deal with other Realtors and industry professionals is crucial.

Thinking about going FSBO? Let’s have a no-pressure conversation. I’ll show you what your home is worth and what your bottom line could look like with or without representation.

You deserve the full picture—then you can decide what’s best.

Sean Tavalozzi ~ Realtor
Keller Williams Flagship of Maryland
Danmar Properties Group
Personal Cell: 203-233-8445
Main KW Office: 410-729-7700
Work Phone: 301-945-8697