Why I Sold My House “By Owner” (And Why You Might Want to, Too)
By Robert Urban – Florida Homeowner, Recovering Realtor-Commission Payer, Family Man
Let me start with a little confession: I needed a tutor in college-for math.
(Okay, fine… it was Calculus II, so not “counting change” math, more like “NASA launch trajectory” and proof that numbers can, in fact, cause emotional damage, but still. Math.)
Fast forward to me, standing in my kitchen years later, staring at a different kind of math problem-one that didn’t require derivatives or a graphing calculator. Just some basic subtraction. I figured my house in Lake Mary, Florida could probably sell for around $400,000. And if I went the traditional route-listing with a realtor-that meant handing over 6% of that price as full commission.
That’s $24,000.
Let that sink in. Twenty. Four. Thousand. Dollars.
That meant I’d be handing over $24,000-not just from market appreciation, but from the real work I put in over the years. I wasn’t just selling a house-I was selling my upgraded bathroom and kitchen, the weekends spent sweating over landscaping projects, the perfectly manicured lawn, and every monthly payment I’d made with pride. Not to mention the memories made along the way.
And I was about to give a massive chunk of that to someone just for printing a few flyers, unlocking my front door, and pointing at the kitchen island during an open house. Maybe they baked cookies?
$24,000. That’s a new car. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. That’s a big ol’ bite out of student loans or credit card debt.
So yeah-that’s when the lightbulb flickered on. I started digging. I did the math again, but this time, with a calculator and common sense. And I realized something that changed the game:
I could sell this house myself.
And not just make it work- I could make more money doing it.
So I did.
The term for this little rebellion against the traditional system? It’s called “For Sale By Owner,” or FSBO (pronounced fizz-bo, like the sound of a soda can opening right before a toast to your financial freedom).
Here’s why I chose it- and more importantly, how you can, too.
Why People Sell Their Homes (Because It’s Not Just About Money)
Selling your home isn’t always about chasing a profit. Sometimes, it’s about chasing peace. Or space. Or that dream kitchen that your wife and you always talk about.
There are a lot of reasons people decide to sell:
- Maybe you’ve outgrown your house-or maybe it’s outgrown you.
- Maybe the kids are gone, and the echo of their absence is louder than you expected.
- Upsize or downsize
- Maybe you landed a new job, or got happily married or happily divorced, or finally hit the point where walking up two flights of stairs just isn’t a good part of the day.
Life changes. So, we change where we live. It’s not just a transaction-it’s a transition.
Whatever your reason for selling, For Sale By Owner is a great option.
The math makes sense, so why don’t more people attempt it? A lot of folks don’t even consider selling their home by owner because they assume it’s complicated, or scary, or requires some special badge you get from attending the equivalent of “Real Estate Harvard” so they hire an agent.
Let’s flip that thinking, though…
Even when you hire an agent, guess who still:
- Cleans the house before showings
- Pays for the professional photos
- Stages the living room with throw pillows you’ll never sit on? ( Oh, the realtor bakes cookies? Not a hard skill worth several thousand in my opinion)
- Vacuums the dog hair out of the guest room
You. You do. So why not go all the way and keep the profit?
So How Did I Actually Do It?
Alright, here’s where the rubber meets the road. If you’re thinking about selling your home by owner, here’s a summary of what you need to do- FSBO-style. First things first: you’ve got to get the place looking its best. That means giving it a serious deep clean, clearing out the clutter, fixing those little things you’ve been ignoring (yes, that one door that squeaks every time it opens), and sprucing up the yard so it’s got some curb appeal. Maybe even stage a room or two to help buyers picture themselves living there. Once it’s looking sharp, it’s time to price it right. You’ll want to check out what similar homes in your area have sold for-real, recent comps-not just what people are asking. Pro tip- the “Zestimate” is not an accurate comp. You could even hire an appraiser if you want an expert opinion. The goal here is to land on a price that’s attractive, competitive, and leaves room to negotiate.
Next up, paperwork. I know-it’s not the fun part, but it’s important. In Florida, that means pulling together the required disclosures, lining up a solid purchase agreement, and connecting with a title company or a real estate attorney to keep things legally tight and hassle-free. Once that’s squared away, it’s showtime-literally. You’ll want great photos (trust me, this matters), a killer listing description, and you’ll post it everywhere: Forums, sites, social media, local groups-you name it. I offered the standard 2.5% to buyer’s agents, so I could attract agent-represented buyers but avoided paying for listing services I didn’t need. Don’t forget the classic “For Sale By Owner” sign in the yard. Old school still works.
As people start to schedule showings, you’ll manage your calendar, keep the house showing-ready, and welcome buyers in. Hand out flyers, answer questions, and let the house sell itself-because you know every inch of it better than anyone else. When the offers start rolling in, you don’t just grab the first one. You take a breath, read the details, compare terms, and negotiate like someone who knows their worth-because you do. No agent cares as much about the sale as you would.
Once you accept an offer, things get real. The buyer puts down earnest money, inspections happen, the title company does their thing, and if there’s financing involved, an appraisal gets ordered. Then, finally, you make it to closing day. The buyer walks through one last time, everyone signs the paperwork, the money moves, and just like that-you sold your house.
Now it’s just canceling utilities, wrapping up insurance, and maybe-just maybe-treating yourself to a little celebration trip with the thousands of dollars you didn’t spend on commission. You earned it.
Whoa, whoa, whoa… I get it-reading all of that might make it sound like selling your home FSBO is some kind of logistical nightmare. But here’s the truth:
If you can read emails, follow directions, clean your house, and keep your calendar straight, you can absolutely do this.
Now, just so we’re clear-I went the old-school FSBO route myself. It was me, Google, a notebook full of barely legible notes, and more browser tabs open than I thought was possible. Was it harder than I expected? Yes. Did I figure it out anyway and save a small fortune? Also yes. (Fun fact: more than I made in my entire first year in the Marine Corps.)
But here’s what I learned since then:
It doesn’t have to be that hard.
If you’re already reaching for a realtor’s business card, thinking “Forget it, this is too much,”-pause for a second. You’re not wrong to feel overwhelmed when you look at the necessary tasks ahead. What you don’t want to do is go at it completely alone and have to figure out what those tasks are.
That’s exactly where Home On Your Own comes in.
HOYONOW.com isn’t your average real estate website with a few vague articles and an annoying pop-up trying to lock you into a listing agreement. This is a full-blown FSBO support system, powered by cutting-edge AI and backed by real human experts who’ve actually been in the trenches. It’s clean. It’s smart. It’s built to walk you through the entire process from pricing to closing-step by step-with no pressure, no confusion, and no unnecessary costs.
Here’s what they help you with:
- Setting a smart, competitive price based on real data
- Handling all the legal paperwork-without turning it into a law degree
- Marketing your home where serious buyers are actually looking
- Managing showings, negotiating deals, and getting to closing like a pro
- Offering a plethora of vetted and rusted professionals you may need (i.e. Electricians, Painters, Photographers, Title companies, etc.)
Basically, it’s like having a top-tier agent in your corner-but you’re still the boss, and you keep the commission.
Honestly, I wish I’d had them when I did it. I still came out ahead, but I learned everything the hard way. You don’t have to.
If you’re even thinking about selling your home on your own, do yourself a favor: go to HOYONOW.com and check it out. It’ll change the way you think about selling your valuable real estate.
You don’t need a middleman.
You just need the right tools-and a little confidence.
Home On Your Own gives you both.
Selling your house isn’t just a financial decision-it’s a life move. And if you’re willing to put in a little effort, stay organized, and use the right support, going FSBO isn’t just doable-it’s hugely profitable.
I’m Robert Urban. I sold my house myself. And no, I don’t miss paying the full commission-not even a little.
Keep the profit in your pocket, where it belongs.
Happy Selling!