FSBO on Zillow: Free Listing, but Is It Worth It?

Zillow is one of the most popular real estate websites in the US, attracting more than 365 million monthly visits in 2024.[1] Anyone can post a listing for free, including sellers listing their home for sale by owner (FSBO) or with a realtor. Zillow rental listing fees are also free, unless you upgrade to the premium service.

While there are no Zillow listing fees, hidden costs and limitations do exist. The platform defaults to showing agent-represented properties, and buyers have to search for FSBO properties specifically. And Zillow doesn’t offer multiple listing service (MLS) access, which limits your listing’s reach to a smaller pool of potential buyers.

How much are Zillow listing fees?

Listing on Zillow is free, whether listing through a real estate agent or as a FSBO home. While there are no upfront fees, some factors might impact FSBO sellers’ selling experience.

At its core, Zillow is an advertising platform — not a direct real estate service. It makes money mainly by selling advertisements and leads to real estate agents through its Premier Agent program.[2]

Zillow also earns revenue by:

• Selling advertisement space for brokerages and property management companies
• Offering a premium rental listing service
• Connecting buyers with Zillow-affiliated agents

As a result, the business model favors agent-listed properties, ensuring they receive more visibility and buyer inquiries. FSBO listings, by contrast, are often harder to find. FSBO sellers may need to invest in additional marketing or professional services to compete with the agent-listed properties that get prioritized on the platform.

Zillow FSBO fees: Is selling by owner really free?

Yes, selling FSBO on Zillow is free, but there are trade-offs.

The biggest drawback is reduced visibility. When buyers search Zillow, agent listings are displayed by default. But FSBO listings are placed in a separate section of Zillow’s search results under the “By owner & other” filter. Buyers must manually select the option to view FSBO homes, which many buyers don’t bother to do.

As a result, potential buyers are less likely to see FSBO listings. Additionally, FSBO sellers may struggle to generate or attract as many inquiries and buyers as agent-listed properties. In fact, Zillow found that FSBO listings page views decreased by about 80–85% after this separation.[3]

While the Zillow listing itself is free, FSBO sellers may want to budget for some expenses to increase their home’s exposure and attract buyers. For instance, FSBO sellers may want to pay for professional photography to attract interest, take time and money to market their listing on social media or other platforms, and use a flat fee MLS service to get their listing on the MLS. 

Zillow fees for listing with a real estate agent

Real estate agents can list on Zillow for free. When agents list a home on the MLS, the posting is automatically republished on Zillow and other major real estate sites.

Being on the MLS can increase your property’s visibility, making it easier for buyers and their agents to find your listing. Listing on the MLS and Zillow can help you attract 500 times more visitors than advertising a FSBO property only on Zillow.

But listing with a real estate agent isn’t free. Listing agents typically earn an average commission of 2.74%, with the nationwide average total realtor fees at 5.32%.[4]

You can reduce commission costs while maximizing your property’s exposure with a discount broker like Clever Real Estate. Clever connects you with full-service, low-commission real estate agents who charge only 1.5% commission.

Zillow rental listing fees

You can post listings directly to Zillow Rental Manager for free.[5]

Free listings also receive access to tools to assist with managing your rental properties, such as:

• Online tenant screenings
• Digital lease signing tools
• Online rent payments

You also can upgrade when first posting or after your listing is active to a premium listing for a one-time fee of $29.99 to boost visibility. You get premium benefits for 90 days. You get to choose which properties you upgrade if you have multiple listings.

A premium listing gives you:

• Increased exposure by being positioned higher in search results
• Customized insights on pricing, listing performance, and leads
• Recommendations to help you optimize your listings’ performance
• Access to priority support 

Is listing FSBO on Zillow worth it?

Home buyers frequently search online when looking for a new home. As the leading real estate website with millions of monthly visitors, a Zillow listing can help your home’s visibility.

But remember that FSBO listings on Zillow are harder to find. Zillow’s interface and business model favor agent-assisted home sales. FSBO listings frequently don’t attract as many views or potential buyers.

FSBO homes also typically sell for less than agent-assisted homes, with FSBO homes selling for $55,000 less on average compared to agent-assisted home sales.

Selling FSBO also comes with additional risks. Many FSBO homes spend a longer time on the market. And FSBO sellers often struggle with real estate tasks such as setting the price, negotiating with buyers, and understanding the paperwork for selling a house without a realtor.

If you want to increase your listing’s visibility, you could consider alternative strategies like using a flat fee MLS service. Prices of these services vary but can be cheaper than hiring a real estate agent. This alternative puts you in control of selling your home while getting the advantage of better visibility on the MLS, Zillow, and other real estate websites.

How to list a home FSBO on Zillow (step-by-step)

Listing a FSBO home on Zillow is an easy, straightforward process. Here are the steps.

Step 1: Create or log in to a Zillow profile.

To create a Zillow account, click the “Sign In” tab. Choose either the “sign in” option if you already have an account, or select the “new account” option. Then follow the prompts.

Step 2: Search for your home and claim the property.

Once you log in, type your property address into the search bar on the Zillow homepage. Check the search results to find your property. If your home is already listed, you must claim it before you can list it.

Claiming your property is an essential step that lets you manage your listing information and move forward with the home sale process on Zillow.

Step 3: Enter listing details.

After you claim your property, go to your Zillow account dashboard. Under the "Sell" option, choose "Post for Sale by Owner" to start the FSBO listing process.

Enter all the important property details. This includes the asking price, property type, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, lot size, and any other relevant information. Adding clear and correct details helps potential buyers get a complete view of your property.

Step 4: Upload professional-quality photos.

Select high-quality photographs that showcase your home’s best features to capture potential buyer’s attention. You can easily upload photos and reorder them using the drag-and-drop feature.

Step 5: Set an appropriate price using comparative market analysis.

Zillow offers its Zestimate valuation, which can be helpful, but you shouldn't depend only on this number. Many online home value estimators, including Zestimate, don’t account for factors like recent upgrades or repairs and are also prone to errors.

To determine the price, look at the selling price of similar homes that recently sold in your area. Consider current market trends and your home’s special features.

Step 6: Submit the listing for Zillow’s approval (up to 72 hours)

After you submit your listing, it can take up to 72 hours to receive approval. You will receive a call from Zillow at the phone number you provided during signup. Be sure to answer this call. Otherwise, your listing may not be approved, and you’ll have to restart the process.

Your listing will appear in search results once it is verified.

Tips to maximize your Zillow listing’s visibility

Invest in professional photography

Professional photography grabs attention and can make your home stand out, ensuring a strong first impression among buyers. About 66% of all home buyers state that photos are the most useful detail on real estate websites.[6]

Professional photos may also help speed up the selling process. For instance, a Redfin study found that homes using professional photography in the $400,000 price range sold three weeks faster and for over $10,000 more than listings using amateur photos.[7]

Write a compelling listing description

Your listing description tells the story of your home, highlighting your property’s unique selling points.

Your listing description should be concise (250 words or less), have a benefits-driven headline, and accurately point out your home’s key features.

You’ll also want to proofread your listing to minimize grammatical errors.  

Use competitive pricing 

Selecting the right price for your home is critical. If you price it too high, you’ll turn off potential buyers. If you price too low, you could miss out on profit.

As discussed, online home value estimators don’t always provide an accurate home value. They may not factor in recent upgrades or selling features and are prone to error.

To help, research recent home sales near you, especially those similar to your property’s size, age, and upkeep. You can search Zillow to find recently sold homes in your area.

You can also consider requesting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a local real estate broker or agent. A CMA takes into account your home’s unique features, recent sale prices, and local market trends. 

Consider a flat fee MLS service

As discussed, listing on the MLS will help you reach a wider audience. But only real estate professionals can post listings to the MLS.

If you want to sell FSBO, you can use a flat fee MLS service to get your FSBO listing on the MLS and other real estate and FSBO websites. This listing will also show up on Zillow. Flat fee MLS companies sometimes offer additional services, so pricing can range from as little as $100 to over $1,000. Look for a company that fits your needs.

Only entertain offers from pre-approved buyers

Any buyer can use Zillow, including unqualified buyers. As a result, you can end up having your deal fall through at the last minute if the buyer can’t actually finance the purchase.

To help avoid this situation, you can decide to accept offers only from pre-approved buyers. This way, you can have confidence that the prospective buyer is able to afford your home. 

Market beyond Zillow with social media and beyond

Only 6% of home sales were by FSBO in 2024.[8] So, most of your competition will have their homes listed across many real estate websites and advertising channels. Giving them increased visibility compared to FSBO listings.

To compete, consider also listing on additional real estate websites and social media—not just Zillow. Networking among friends, family, and co-workers can also attract local buyers. 

Zillow listing fees: The bottom line

Zillow is a popular online real estate marketplace that many prospective buyers use. Listing on Zillow is free and easy to set up. However, it comes with downsides. Agent-assisted listings are prioritized over FSBO listings. And buyers must know to look in the separate tab to find your property. This can limit your visibility, making it hard to find prospective buyers.

Using a low-commission real agent can help you save on commission fees while giving you better exposure and expert assistance so you can maximize your profit.

Clever prenegotiates with agents to charge just 1.5% in commission, and Clever’s agent network includes top realtors from big brands like Re/Max and Keller Williams. Get started talking to Clever agents today!

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