Thinking of Selling Your House Without an Agent? Read This First

The Marketing Work

Make a plan for professional photos, accurate property details, showing access and prompt replies. If you use a flat-fee MLS service, read its agreement to see which services it provides and which tasks remain yours. A portal listing alone does not handle buyer qualification, appointments or the contract.

In Wellington, describe the property you actually have: a condominium, a neighborhood single-family home and an equestrian property need different information. Document association requirements or horse facilities where they apply. Avoid promising a feature or permitted use from a neighbor's listing.

Price From Comparable Homes

Start with recent closed sales of genuinely similar homes, then check the properties competing for the same buyer today. Separate condos, townhomes and single-family homes. Compare condition, lot, living area, roof age and relevant equestrian features rather than using a village-wide average as your home's value.

An asking price tells you what another owner wants; a closed sale tells you what a buyer paid. An online estimate can start the conversation, but it cannot inspect your home. Ask for a property-specific comparison and a written net sheet, with marketing, closing costs, concessions and any negotiated brokerage fees shown separately.

Negotiate the Whole Offer, Including Compensation

Compare the deposit, financing, inspection terms, requested credits, appraisal provisions and closing date alongside the price. Check who the buyer's broker represents rather than assuming that person advises you. A higher offer with costly concessions can leave a different net than the headline suggests.

Broker compensation is fully negotiable and is not set by law. A buyer may request seller-paid compensation, but it is not an automatic seller obligation. Evaluate any request with the rest of the offer and put the agreement in writing. Under the NAR practice rules effective August 17, 2024, participating MLS professionals working with a buyer need a written agreement before touring; those rules do not mean every visitor to your FSBO must sign one with you.

The Fine Print in Florida

Florida Realtors/Florida Bar contracts include both standard and AS IS versions; there is no single required contract for every resale. The signed terms control deposits, inspections, financing, title and cancellation rights. The contract publisher's guidance explains that the AS IS form has an inspection cancellation right. Have a Florida real estate attorney review your particular contract and deadlines before you sign.

Selling AS IS or without an agent does not erase disclosure duties. Under Johnson v. Davis, a home seller must disclose known facts materially affecting value that are not readily observable and are not known to the buyer. See the Florida Bar committee's residential disclosure instruction 416.42. Keep written records of disclosures and supporting repair documents.

There are separate statutory requirements. Florida's flood disclosure must be provided at or before execution of the residential sales contract. For a covered HOA community, the association disclosure summary is due before the contract is signed. Condominium resales have their own document and disclosure rules. Ask your attorney which provisions and documents apply; one generic rider is not a complete disclosure plan.

Run Both Scenarios Before You Decide

Compare your likely net and the work you will handle by owner with a proposed listing plan and its negotiated fee. No approach guarantees a higher price or a faster sale. If you already have a buyer, ask what limited services and legal help you need rather than paying for work you do not need.

For your next step, review our selling process and request a home valuation. If you are buying another home too, we can help you compare how the sale and purchase timelines fit together.