There are many ways to sell your house. You can list it with a real estate agent, put a sign in the yard, and wait for the offers to roll in.
But what if you want to sell your house quickly and don’t want to deal with agents?
We will explore 11 alternative ways to sell your house and how to sell your house without a realtor!
1. For Sale By Owner (FSBO)
One popular option is to sell your house yourself, without the help of a real estate agent. There are a few different reasons why you might want to do this.
Maybe you’re trying to save on commission fees, or maybe you just want more control over the sale process.
How to get started? With the power of the internet, it’s easier than ever to get your house in front of potential buyers. List your house on popular online listings sites like Zillow and Redfin or one of these other sites to sell stuff.
These sites get a ton of traffic from homebuyers, so it’s a great way to get your property in front of a large audience.
Potential drawbacks: Keep in mind that a buyer’s agent will only show your house if you are willing to pay them a commission.
Tactic for Success
Hold an open house at least once a week. Put out 20-50 signs around your neighborhood and surrounding areas to attract attention. This might sound excessive but the more eyes that see your signs, the more people that will come in the door, and the higher chance you will find your buyer.
2. Real Estate Company
If you’re looking for alternative ways to sell a home, you might want to consider selling it directly to a real estate company.
These companies usually have a large network of buyers and investors who are always on the lookout for new properties, whether it be for earning money with rental properties or flipping it for a profit.
How to get started? By working with a real estate company, you can get your house off the market quickly all without having to deal with any of the typical hassle and stress of going through the traditional real estate process.
Potential drawbacks: The downside is you likely won’t get top dollar for your home as the company will need to make a profit, but this can be a great option if you need a quick close.
3. Real Estate Investor
Another option is to sell your house to a real estate investor or a real estate developer business.
This can be a great way to get a quick sale, as investors are often willing to pay cash for properties and most likely are not reliant on getting approved for a mortgage.
Additionally, you won’t have to worry about making any repairs or improvements, as investors will typically purchase properties “as is.”
How to get started? It’s important to work with a reputable investor who has experience buying and selling houses in your local area, otherwise, you could end up getting taken advantage of.
Potential drawbacks: You likely won’t receive the full market value for your home, as the investor will want to make a profit.
Common types of investors
- Buy-and-Hold Investors – They will purchase a property and hold it for an extended period. These types of investors are looking for properties they can rent out and generate income from.
- Fix-and-Flip Investors – They will purchase a property, make any necessary repairs or improvements, and then quickly sell it for a profit.
- Wholesale Investors – They will purchase a property and then sell it to another investor, often at a higher price.
4. Family Member Or Friend
You can also choose to sell your home to a family member or friend. This can be a good option if you know someone interested in buying your property.
One advantage of this option is that it can save you money on commission fees.
If you are in a rush to relocate and haven’t received your payment yet, there are ways how to move out with no money.
How to get started? It can be quicker than selling through an agent, as you will not need to go through the process of listing your property on the market.
Potential drawbacks: It can be more difficult to negotiate a sale if you have a personal relationship with the buyer.
You will also need to consider whether you are comfortable with selling your property to someone you know, if anything goes wrong with the house they might blame you.
5. Reach Out To Neighbors
One of the best ways to sell your house is to talk to your neighbors and let them know that you are planning to put your house on the market.
How to get started? Your neighbors might have a friend or family member who has been wanting to move closer to them, and they would be happy to pass along your information.
Or they may be looking to make money with Airbnb, and the proximity to the location would make hosting much easier.
Potential drawbacks: Just note that selling to a neighbor’s friend can be tricky since emotions can get in the way of a good business deal, so make sure you are both on the same page before moving forward.
Tactic for Success
It is best to have multiple forms of contact. you can make a flyer and put it on your neighbor’s door with your contact info. Then when you see a neighbor stop and say hi, have a conversation, and ask in person. People are forgetful so following up is the best practice.
6. Home Auction
Another strategy is to hold a home auction, where potential buyers are invited to bid on your property based on its current condition and market value.
This approach allows you to save money on commission fees.
How to get started? The first step is to research auctioneers specializing in home sales.
Potential drawbacks: You may not receive any bids at your desired price, which could leave you stuck with your property.
Another potential downside is that some buyers are not comfortable with an auction-style sale and might not want to participate.
What questions to ask the auctioneer:
- How many houses have you sold? – Typically the higher the number the better.
- What are the fees associated with an auction? – It is important to know upfront what the costs will be so there are no surprises.
- What is your marketing plan? – Having a great marketing plan can help ensure a successful auction.
- What are your credentials? – In most states, real estate auctioneers are required to have a real estate license. Certified auctioneers complete a 3-year program which can be beneficial.
- Let me talk to your last 3 customers? – It is always a smart idea to check references.
7. Give Something Away
When you’re trying to sell your house, you’ll want to do whatever it takes to make it stand out from the competition.
One way to do this is by giving something away for free. This could be anything from a piece of furniture to a car.
How to get started? By giving away something the buyer also wants you can spark an emotional connection and make your house more memorable.
You may even find that this is the key to selling your house quickly and for top dollar.
Potential drawbacks: A drawback is you have to have something of value that buyers want.
Trend on the Rise
Giving a car away with the sale of a home might seem like a crazy idea but if you can work the price of the car into the purchase price of the home, it might not be as costly as you think. Plus, it’s a great way to stand out from the competition and attract buyers.
8. eBay
One way to make your home stand out is to sell it on eBay.
While it might sound crazy, eBay can be a great way to advertise your property and reach a new audience of potential buyers for a small listing fee.
Of course, it’s important to note that eBay cannot actually complete the transaction through the site and bids are not legally binding offers to sell the property.
How to get started? The first step is to create your listing and choose real estate as your category. Make sure to add plenty of pictures and a great description.
Potential drawbacks: Be sure to thoroughly vet any potential buyers carefully to avoid any scams.
9. Let Potential Buyers Move In For The Weekend
A creative approach to selling your home is to engage with poetical buyers—that is, buyers who are looking for more than just a house; they are also looking for an experience and a connection to the place they’re considering calling home.
How to get started? By opening your doors to such buyers on weekends or other special periods, you can allow them to fall in love with not just your house, but also the city itself.
This not only increases the potential for a sale but also helps potential buyers truly understand what makes your hometown so special.
Potential drawbacks: You’ll want to make sure you have a good screening process in place to avoid any issues, but if you do it right, this can be a great way to sell your home.
Trend on the Rise
Turning your house into a vacation rental. This is not only an easy way to make some extra money but it can also be handy if you’re looking to sell your property. For potential investors, it offers an opportunity to purchase a property that is already set up and generating income.
10. Use Facebook To Offer Up A Reward To People
Facebook is a powerful tool to help you get the word out there.
How to get started? Post an offer to reward anyone who finds the buyer for your home and you may be surprised at how quickly people start sharing the post.
This is a great way to reach a wider audience and potentially sell your home quickly.
Potential drawbacks: Just be sure that the reward you offer is something people will be interested in and that you carefully screen any buyers who come forward.
11. Raffle
You may be able to sell your house in a raffle. In most states, it is legal to raffle off your home as long as the proceeds are going to a non-profit organization.
This can be a great way to get people to donate to your chosen charity, but you will need to market the raffle correctly to make enough money.
How to get started? Make sure you have a plan in place to reach a large number of people and promote the raffle widely.
Potential drawbacks: This method should only be done if you do not need proceeds from your home and you want to donate the money to a good cause.
Wrapping Up
These are just a few of the many alternative ways to sell your house.
While each approach has its own set of pros and cons, it’s important to weigh all your options and choose the one that makes the most sense for you and your situation.
Tara is a licensed real estate agent in Southwest, FL. She helps buyers and investors find their dream home by educating them about real estate and how they can use it as an investment.
