Selling a home without a real estate agent can save you on realtor commission. You'll likely save on listing agent fees, which cost between 2-3%, or $10,000-15,000 on a $500,000 home.
But maximizing your sale's potential often requires more than just cutting costs, and we don't recommend this strategy.
Here's why: Choosing a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) approach and posting your listing on Zillow generally results in lower selling prices and reduced visibility. The listing won't automatically appear on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Using a flat fee MLS provider is a cost-effective alternative compared to posting solely on Zillow. For a reasonable fee ($100-400), your home gets listed on the MLS, reaching dozens of additional platforms and becoming visible to a vast network of real estate professionals who might share your listing with potential buyers.
The bottom line: Posting FSBO on Zillow isn't a bad idea. But for the most visibility and best potential outcome, we recommend you list on the MLS without a realtor.
Who should list FSBO on Zillow?
Listing FSBO on Zillow may help you sell your home quickly and at a higher price than other for sale by owner listings, but it isn’t for everybody.
You may want to sell your home FSBO on Zillow if you:
Want to save money. Listing on Zillow is free, so you won’t pay to increase your home’s visibility. You’ll also save on realtor fees by not paying a commission to a listing agent. However, you may be responsible for paying a buyer’s agent (2-3% of your home's sale price), as many sellers cover this cost. And your listing's visibility will be greatly reduced compared to listing on a flat fee MLS service.
Are creative and tech-savvy. When creating your Zillow listing, you take responsibility for photography, writing the home description, and managing the listing online. You won’t have the safety net of a real estate company to market your home professionally. However, if you’d like to hire contractors to manage some of the tasks you don’t feel comfortable managing, you can always find a local photographer or another professional to help you.
Can promote your home off of Zillow’s platform. You must showcase your home on more than Zillow to get the most from your FSBO listing. FSBO sellers should also plan to post their homes on social media (Facebook, Instagram) and other FSBO platforms, like Craigslist and ForSaleByOwner.com.
Understand real estate market trends. Homeowners who sell FSBO also set the listing price for their homes. Normally, a realtor would complete a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help with this. It’s essential to know how to compare your home to others in your neighborhood so that you can set a competitive price for your property.
You may want to avoid listing FSBO on Zillow if you:
Want maximum exposure on your listing. Selling with a realtor increases exposure because they have exclusive access to the MLS, which syndicates listings to platforms like Trulia, Realtor.com and Zillow. One way to sidestep MLS exclusivity is by listing on the MLS without a realtor through a flat fee MLS company. It gives you access to the same powerful marketing tools as realtors – while saving on real estate commissions.
Don’t have time to promote the listing yourself. If you have a busy schedule, the last thing you want to do is take on the responsibility of selling independently. Opting to work with a realtor makes more sense if you don’t have the time.
Aren’t confident about marketing your home. Showcasing your home through photography and videos, writing a compelling listing description, and setting a listing price takes skill and effort. This DIY approach may not work if you have no experience assessing your property value and are unsure what will draw buyers in.
Want support during your real estate transaction. You handle the entire sale when listing FSBO, including negotiating with buyers, managing paperwork, and understanding legal requirements. You may make less on your sale or run into legal problems if you aren’t knowledgeable about the process.
Looking for a better solution?
Working with a low-commission real estate company can maximize profits without the risk of selling FSBO.
For example, Clever Real Estate negotiates on your behalf to secure 1.5% commission rates and matches you with trusted full-service realtors from reputable brokerages like Re/Max and Compass, saving you thousands of dollars and expanding your marketing reach. Just fill out this form to match with top agents near you!
Steps to listing FSBO on Zillow
1. Create a profile
To list your home FSBO on the platform, you must create a Zillow account by clicking the "Sign In" tab on the top right-hand corner and selecting "New Account."
2. Find and claim your house
Search for your home on Zillow and navigate to your home’s property page.
3. Click "more" and then "List for sale by owner"
After searching your address, click the "List for sale by owner" option under the "more" tab. If you haven't already, you’ll need to claim ownership.
4. Set sales price
Add your desired listing price to the "Set your price" box.
5. Upload photos
You can drag and drop photos that showcase your home. At this point, you can also add a URL to a Virtual Tour and create a 3D home walkthrough.
6. Update home details
Enter basic information about your home in the "Home facts" section, and then provide more detailed information on the page in the "Additional information" area.
7. Provide your contact info
Add the phone number you want Zillow to give to prospective buyers.
8. Agree to the terms of use
Click on the check box below your contact info to agree to terms of use.
9. Submit your listing for review
Click the “Post for sale by owner” button to submit your listing for review.
10. Verify listing
After Zillow’s verification team reviews your listing, you must attest that the information is correct when your listing goes live. Verification can take up to 72 hours.
Pros and cons of listing FSBO on Zillow
Listing FSBO with Zillow seems like a great choice on the surface. Sellers can access a popular platform at no charge, exposing their listing to more prospects who want to buy a FSBO listing.
Pros
- Greater reach
- Free to list
Cons
- Subpar customer service
- FSBO listings not prioritized
- You'll likely get calls from agents
Working with Zillow to sell your home without a realtor has several advantages. It offers greater reach by exposing your property to millions of monthly visitors. Also, listing your home as FSBO (For Sale By Owner) on Zillow is completely free and comes without any hidden fees. Finally, Zillow provides an intuitive online platform that makes managing your FSBO listing straightforward.
However, there are some drawbacks according to user experiences. Some customers have reported subpar customer service, noting little to no response from Zillow's team.[1] Additionally, FSBO listings often do not take priority on the platform, and sellers frequently report being contacted by realtors more than potential buyers.[2] Users also criticize Zillow's estimation tool, the Zestimate, with some pointing out inaccuracies such as receiving an estimate that didn't even correspond to their actual property.
Listing with Zillow is more harmful than helpful⭐ “...their Zestimate info was for a house across the street which was demoed after Hurrican IAN. With no pictures of the interior of the house and a bad Zestimate buyer are being turned off.” - Customer, Trustpilot |
Alternatives to listing FSBO on Zillow
Choosing a low-cost alternative to Zillow’s free FSBO listings may give you a better overall experience and make you more money in the long run. We recommend looking into these options instead:
- Using a flat-fee MLS listing service or flat fee real estate agent
- Selling to a cash buyer or iBuyer
- Listing with a discount real estate broker
If you want to save money on commission and have the best selling experience possible, Clever Real Estate might be the right fit for you. Clever matches its users with high-quality agents and negotiates with realtors to score a lower commission rate.
The bottom line
Zillow’s for sale by owner service works best for self-motivated homeowners who want to sell without a realtor’s services. If you’re tech-savvy and have deep market knowledge, a FSBO listing on Zillow may work for you.
However, you may want to expand your reach beyond the platform to get the most out of your listing.
Many Zillow FSBO users felt like listing on the platform was a negative experience overall, with some stating that Zillow’s for sale by owner option caused more harm than good in the long run.
Selling FSBO also comes with more risk than selling with an agent.
When you sell independently, you take responsibility for every aspect of your real estate transaction. Many FSBO sales also bring in less profit, with FSBO homes selling for $55,000 less than agent-assisted sales last year.[3]
To get the most out of selling your home AND a positive customer experience, we suggest trying Clever. With Clever, you’ll match with top agents from trusted brokers like Re/Max and Compass, all while benefiting from a low 1.5% commission rate.
Fill out this form to match with top agents near you!
FAQ
How do I price my house?
You can determine your home’s fair-market value by assessing comparable properties and considering home improvements. Still, the best way to determine your home’s value is by hiring a home appraiser.
Working with a professional will give you an impartial estimate that takes market data analysis, the cost to reproduce your home, and how much income it produces into account. Learn more about home appraisals here.
Does Zillow charge for FSBO listings?
No, listing for sale by owner on Zillow is free, with no strings attached.
Is selling FSBO on Zillow worth it?
Selling FSBO on Zillow may work for some users but comes with risks. Zillow users found that the company rarely connected them with prospective buyers and that the customer service was lacking.
How do I edit, extend, or cancel my listing on Zillow?
You can edit, extend, or cancel your listing from your home’s property page. Here’s how:
To edit your listing
- Sign into your Zillow profile and click your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Your Home” from the menu options and click on your home’s tile to enter the owner view.
- Once in owner view, click the “Edit Listing” icon to adjust your photos, price, home facts, or status.
- Scroll to the bottom of your page and click the “Update For Sale by Owner” button.
To extend your listing
- Follow the instructions to reach the owner view of your listing.
- Select the “Extend Listing” option for the “More” dropdown menu.
- Click the “Extend Listing” button to extend your listing for 90 days.
To cancel your listing
- Follow the instructions to reach the owner view of your listing.
- Select the “Cancel Listing” option from the “More” dropdown menu.
- If you sold your home, follow the instructions to mark the property as sold.
- If you are relisting with an agent or the property is no longer for sale, follow the directions to remove the listing from Zillow.
- Finish by clicking the “Update Status” button.
How does Zillow make money?
Zillow makes money in three ways:[4]
- Charging property management companies to advertise on the Zillow Rental Manager
- Offering advertising and Premier Agent services to real estate agents
- Selling ad space to mortgage lenders and other real estate businesses