Is FSBO Your Move?

When pure FSBO works

Pure FSBO (no agent, no flat-fee service, just you and Craigslist/Zillow FSBO) is high-risk but viable in specific scenarios. If you check multiple boxes below, you can probably pull it off:

Scenario 1: You already have a buyer

• The setup: Friend, family member, neighbor, or tenant wants to buy your home. Price and terms are mostly agreed upon. You just need to formalize the contract and close.
• Why FSBO works: You skip the marketing grind entirely. No MLS, no showings, no buyer agent commission (if the buyer is unrepresented). Just hire a real estate attorney ($500-$1,000) to draft the contract and coordinate escrow. Total cost: under $2,000. Savings vs. agent: $20K+.
• Risks: Buyer financing falls through, or you discover during inspection that the "agreed price" was optimistic. But if the buyer is cash or pre-approved and you trust them, this is the cleanest FSBO scenario.

Scenario 2: Hot seller's market + experienced seller

• The setup: Inventory is extremely tight. Buyers are desperate. Homes are getting multiple offers within 48 hours. You have sold 2-3 homes before and understand pricing, disclosures, and negotiation.
• Why FSBO works: Strong demand compensates for weak marketing. Even mediocre photos and generic copy will attract traffic because buyers have no alternatives. Your experience means you will not misprice or over-concede. You can sustain the phone availability for 7-14 days until you have offers.
• Risks: Markets shift. If demand softens while your listing is live, you are stuck with a stale FSBO listing and no agent to pivot strategy. Also, "hot market" does not mean "ignore execution"—you still need professional photos and flat-fee MLS to maximize offers.

Scenario 3: You have unlimited time and energy

• The setup: You are retired, self-employed with flexible hours, or between jobs. You can answer calls at 9 AM, schedule showings for 6 PM, and follow up on weekends. You are detail-oriented, enjoy research, and are not intimidated by contracts.
• Why FSBO works: The biggest FSBO killer is time scarcity. If you have 20-30 hours per week to dedicate to the sale and can maintain fast response times, you eliminate the execution tax. Pair this with professional photos and flat-fee MLS ($500-$700), and you can compete with agent-listed homes.
• Risks: Even with time, you need knowledge. First-time FSBO sellers often misjudge pricing, over-concede in negotiations, or miss compliance requirements. Budget $500-$1,000 for a real estate attorney to review your contract and disclosures.

Bottom line on pure FSBO: It works if you have a buyer lined up, or if you combine market strength + experience + time availability. For everyone else, the execution tax (Chapter 4) will likely erase your commission savings.

When Meydomo makes sense

Meydomo is the middle path: FSBO-level savings ($199 + $999 vs. $10K-$15K agent commission) with professional execution. It makes sense if you check these boxes:

Scenario 1: You want savings but cannot sustain 24/7 availability

• The setup: You work full-time. Evenings and weekends are family time. You cannot answer buyer calls at 10 AM or schedule showings during work hours. But you are comfortable making strategic decisions (pricing, offer selection, negotiation).
• Why Meydomo works: Our AI agents handle every call and text within seconds, 24/7. Showings get booked instantly. You review the calendar and feedback reports on your schedule. You avoid the response-time trap (Chapter 4) without hiring a $12K listing agent.
• What you give up: Nothing significant. You still control pricing, offers, and negotiation. We handle logistics and execution. Cost: $1,198 total. Savings vs. traditional agent: $10K-$14K.

Scenario 2: First-time seller who wants guidance

• The setup: You have never sold a home before. You understand the FSBO savings but are nervous about execution mistakes. You want professional MLS syndication, momentum reports, and compliance support without paying 3% commission.
• Why Meydomo works: We provide the scaffolding that prevents costly errors. Weekly momentum reports flag pricing issues early. Licensed partners ensure disclosures are complete. Offer intelligence helps you compare multiple bids strategically. You get the learning support without the commission bleed.
• What you give up: Hand-holding on every decision. We provide data and recommendations, but you make the final calls. If you want someone to do everything for you, hire a traditional agent (and pay 3x more).

Scenario 3: You value transparent, flat-fee pricing

• The setup: You hate percentage-based fees. The idea of paying $15K on a $500K sale when the work is identical to a $300K sale offends you. You want predictable, transparent costs.
• Why Meydomo works: $199 upfront, $999 at closing. No percentage creep. No transaction fees. No premium placement upsells. The cost is the same whether you sell for $300K or $700K. You know exactly what you are paying before you commit.
• What you give up: The illusion of "free" agent services. Traditional agents do not charge upfront, but you pay 3% at closing whether you realize it or not. Meydomo makes the cost explicit and slashes it by 90%.

Bottom line on Meydomo: If you want FSBO savings without the grind, Meydomo is built for you. You stay in control, we handle execution, and you save $10K-$15K vs. traditional agents.

When to hire a traditional agent

Sometimes the 3% listing commission is worth it. Hire a traditional full-service agent if you check these boxes:

Scenario 1: Complex or distressed property

• Examples: Estate sale with multiple heirs, foreclosure/short sale, major structural issues (foundation problems, mold, fire damage), tenant-occupied property with lease complications.
• Why agents are worth it: These situations require specialized knowledge, attorney coordination, and often months of negotiation. Experienced agents have seen these scenarios before and know how to navigate them. DIY or flat-fee services will not cut it.
• What you give up: $10K-$15K in commission. But you gain risk mitigation and expertise that prevent $50K+ mistakes.

Scenario 2: You want zero involvement

• The setup: You are relocating for work, managing a family crisis, or simply do not have mental bandwidth to think about pricing, showings, or offers. You want to hand someone the keys and say "sell this, update me when it closes."
• Why agents are worth it: Full-service agents handle everything: pricing, staging, marketing, showings, negotiation, paperwork. You review and sign documents, but they do 95% of the work. If your time and mental energy are worth more than $10K, this makes sense.
• What you give up: Control and $10K-$15K. But you buy peace of mind and delegation.

Scenario 3: Ultra-luxury or unique property

• Examples: $2M+ homes, architecturally significant properties, ranches/farms with acreage, waterfront estates.
• Why agents are worth it: These properties require targeted marketing (luxury publications, high-end photography, private showings) and access to networks of wealthy buyers. Top-tier agents earn their commission by tapping buyer pools you cannot reach via MLS alone.
• What you give up: $30K-$60K+ in commission on a $1M-$2M sale. But you gain access and presentation that increases sale price by 5-10%, offsetting the fee.

Bottom line on traditional agents: If your situation is complex, you want zero involvement, or your property requires luxury-tier marketing, hire a great agent and pay the 3%. For everyone else, the commission is not justified.

Decision flowchart

Use this quick framework to choose your path:

Final reality check

FSBO is not for everyone. The data is clear: only 6% of sellers attempt it, and the median FSBO price is $55,000 lower than agent-assisted sales. The commission savings are real, but execution is everything.

If you go pure FSBO: Invest in professional photos ($200), use flat-fee MLS ($500), hire a real estate attorney ($500-$1,000), and acknowledge the time commitment (40-80 hours). Study pricing, negotiation, and compliance. Use the tools in Chapter 5. Expect stress. If you execute well, you will save $10K-$12K. If you do not, you will undersell by $20K-$50K.

If you choose Meydomo: You get FSBO-level savings ($1,198 total cost) with professional execution. We handle the grind (MLS, calls, showings, momentum tracking), you handle strategy (pricing, offers, negotiation). You save $10K-$15K vs. traditional agents without the 24/7 chaos.

If you hire a traditional agent: Pay the 3% ($10K-$15K on a $400K-$500K home) and get full delegation. Make sure the agent is competent, experienced, and actively marketing (not just throwing your home on MLS and waiting). Interview 2-3 agents, check reviews, and negotiate commission if possible (some markets allow 2-2.5% instead of 3%).

Next steps

If you choose pure FSBO:

1. Research flat-fee MLS providers in your state (search "[state] flat fee MLS")
2. Hire a professional photographer and schedule the shoot
3. Download your state's required disclosure forms
4. Set up a Google Voice number for buyer calls (keep your personal number private)
5. Prepare to commit 10-20 hours/week for 4-8 weeks

If you choose Meydomo:

1. Launch your listing for $199 (pay $999 at closing)
2. We handle MLS setup, photography coordination, and AI agent deployment
3. Review weekly momentum reports and adjust pricing if needed
4. Evaluate offers as they come in (we provide side-by-side analysis)
5. Close and save $10K-$15K vs. traditional agents

If you choose a traditional agent:

1. Interview 2-3 local agents with strong reviews and recent sales in your neighborhood
2. Ask for their marketing plan, average days on market, and list-to-sale price ratio
3. Negotiate commission if possible (2-2.5% in some markets)
4. Sign listing agreement and let them handle execution
5. Stay engaged—review pricing strategy weekly and push back if the home sits too long

You have reached the end

Seven chapters. Real data. Honest trade-offs. You now understand what FSBO demands, what you save, where sellers lose money, which tools help, and when to get professional support.

The choice is yours. Choose wisely. Execute well. Save thousands.