Category Archives: For sale by owner tips

Have you decided to sell your home independently? Choosing the “For Sale By Owner MN” route can be rewarding but also extremely demanding because a lot of tasks that are usually handled by a real estate agent, such as advertising, paperwork, staging, and hosting showings, will now be your responsibility.

But don’t worry. We will help you with a mini guide that simplifies the “For Sale By Owner MN” process. At Real Estate Corners, we assist FSBO homeowners in selling their property, helping them save thousands of dollars on commission fees in the process.

Analyze the market

The first thing to research is the current state of the housing market in your area. How quickly are homes selling? What prices are they going for? Many real estate websites include timestamps showing when a listing was first posted, which gives you an idea of how long the home has been on the market.

Tip: If homes near you are taking longer than 70 days to sell, consider lowering your asking price to speed things up. For a more precise valuation, think about obtaining a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This report outlines recent sale prices of comparable homes in your area, usually from the past 90 days, to help you set a competitive price to attract buyers.

Understand appraisals

If your buyer needs financing, their lender will require an appraisal to verify that your asking price aligns with the property’s market value. If you price your home well above the appraised value, it could lead to delays or even a potential deal falling through.

You might consider getting your own appraisal before listing the property to prevent issues. This can help confirm that your asking price reflects the market value and provide confidence during price discussions.

Tip: Be open to price adjustments, especially if your property doesn’t receive much interest or if you receive feedback from potential buyers about the price being too high.

Research local regulations

Every locality has specific requirements for property sales. If you’re navigating the “for sale by owner MN” process, make sure to look into federal, state, and local regulations to understand what’s required, including disclosures, documentation, and any necessary certifications.

This is also why having a real estate attorney or agent can be beneficial, as they are familiar with these regulations and can guide you through the process.

Tip: If the high commission rates of real estate agents are a concern, consider finding a flat fee MLS listing service.

Get your home ready

Initial impressions matter, and the curb appeal of your home greatly influences how buyers perceive your property.

Here’s a checklist of things you can do to get your home ready for sale:

• Declutter and depersonalize
• Deep clean
• Clean walkways and driveways
• Neat and healthy landscaping
• New front door mat and carpets
• Fresh paint
• Fix any repairs and leaks
• Stage furniture for the perfect presentation

Don’t forget:

• Check that all your light bulbs work and that your windows are clean.
• Make sure appliances are running smoothly.
• Look for foundation issues, leaks, or cracks and fix them.
• Test electrical and plumbing systems.
• Take care of any hazards, like a missing stair railing or uneven walkways.
• Add fresh flowers or plants for a pop of freshness and color.

Use high-quality photos

High-quality visuals are critical if you want to quickly catch potential buyers’ attention. We recommend hiring a professional photographer to take photos of your newly-organized home, as professional photos show that you have made an effort to make your home look attractive and presentable.

If you choose to take the photos yourself, make sure you use a high-resolution camera, make the most of natural lighting, and carefully stage each room to showcase your home’s best features.

Get listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

If you’re not yet familiar with the term, MLS is a database that agents use to share information about properties for sale. It’s essentially a marketplace accessible only to licensed real estate agents that they can use to find potential buyers for your home.

Tip: List your home as “For Sale by Owner MN” with us and enjoy a professional MLS listing that offers everything a 6% agent provides, plus the cost-saving benefits of FSBO—all for an affordable flat fee.

With MLS Property Syndication through MLS Online Minnesota, your listing will be featured on hundreds of websites that showcase MLS listings, including major platforms like Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Zillow.com, EdinaRealty.com, Redfin.com, and CBBurnet.com. This goes far beyond simply posting your property on a single site like Zillow or Craigslist.

How to handle showings and open houses

With MLS Online Minnesota, you have complete control over when and how your property is shown. You can schedule showings at a time that works for you, and even host open houses to attract more attention.

Tips:

• Schedule showings at a time when light is at its best (mornings before noon or mid-afternoons).
• Keep your pets out of sight (they’re cute but can be a distraction).
• Prepare handouts with details of the property.

How to handle negotiations and closing

Negotiation is part of the process, so expect some back-and-forth on price, closing costs, or move-in dates.

On closing day, the buyer’s lender will release funds, and you’ll sign the documents to finalize the transfer of ownership. Most of the logistics will be managed by the title company or attorney, but it’s critical to carefully review all the paperwork.

Need help selling your home as a For Sale by Owner listing in MN? Call us at (612) 483-1230.

Selling your property the FSBO way means you’ll handle the whole selling process on your own, without a real estate agent. It’s a great choice if you’re ready for the challenge and want to save on commission costs.

But of course, there are also cons that come with selling a home by yourself. Getting enough exposure to attract potential buyers is one of the biggest challenges of this path. This is where an FSBO list on MLS (Multiple Listing Service) comes in handy.

For those who are new to real estate, the MLS or Multiple Listing Service is essentially a database where real estate agents and brokers list properties for sale. Think of it like a marketplace for homes, where agents can search and find listings that fit their buyers’ criteria.

How does MLS benefit you as a seller, you might ask? Why should you use it as an FSBO seller?

1. It gives your property more visibility

Since MLS is a popular platform used by real estate agents and brokers, listing your home on the database increases your property’s visibility. A lot of first-time homebuyers hire real estate agents to find their dream home on the MLS. This means that your property has more chances of getting sold as compared to listing it only on a single agent’s website or social media page.

Can you list your FSBO MN property on the MLS by yourself? Unfortunately, no. The MLS is restricted to licensed real estate agents and brokers who are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

But what if you are not a fan of the commission fee that realtors charge?  In that case, a flat fee MLS listing service might be an option for you. This type of service allows homeowners to list their property on MLS for a one-time flat fee, so you can avoid the 6% commission fee typically charged by realtors without compromising on the exposure and benefits of using MLS.

Without an FSBO listing service on MLS, you’re going to miss out on 90% of potential buyers who use the platform through their real estate agents to discover new listings. More exposure means you have better chances of selling your home quickly at a higher price. Using a flat fee MLS listing gives you, the homeowner, the edge to sell faster and for more money compared to other marketing options.

2. It gives more credibility to your listing

We’ve seen so many horror stories about FSBO deals gone wrong. For many buyers, dealing directly with a homeowner feels risky and unprofessional. That hesitation alone can turn serious buyers away.

A flat fee MLS listing helps avoid that. When your property appears on the MLS, it signals that you’re serious and that the sale is being handled through a trusted, professional platform. Buyers feel more confident making an offer because they know the process is being managed properly.

That added credibility attracts more qualified buyers who are ready to pay a fair price. And that means a faster sale, fewer headaches, and more money in your pocket.

3. It saves you a lot of time

Selling a home means juggling a variety of tasks, from advertising to coordinating showings and dealing with paperwork. The MLS simplifies all of these by acting as a central hub for your listing. Agents and buyers can view critical information about your property, like your property details, asking price, and showing instructions, all in one convenient place.

This organized approach reduces back-and-forth communication, which in turn saves you a significant amount of time. Instead of answering the same questions repeatedly, you can focus on preparing your home for showings and negotiating with potential buyers.

4. It helps you reach the “right” audience

Just like how businesses need targeted marketing to reach their ideal customers, selling a home requires reaching the right audience. With online listing platforms, you can easily target specific groups of buyers by filtering through various demographics, preferences, or even locations.

For example, if your home is in a highly sought-after school district, families searching in that area are more likely to find your listing and take interest. Likewise, if your property has a large backyard or inviting outdoor space, highlighting it can attract buyers who are interested in gardening or want space to relax outside.

5. It gives more data so you can price your property properly

The MLS gives you access to valuable data like recent sales, current listings, and pricing trends in your area so you can set a price that’s both realistic and competitive. It also helps you stay flexible — if market conditions change, you’ll have the data you need to adjust your price with confidence.

How Real Estate Corners Help

If you’re looking to sell your home by yourself in Minneapolis, MN, we’re here to help. With our FSBO Package, you can list your home on the local FSBO list on MLS and reach thousands of potential buyers.

Without an MLS listing, most buyers might never come across your property, and that’s something we’re sure you want to avoid. You can list your FSBO home in Minnesota with us and receive a professional MLS listing that includes everything a 6% agent offers, plus the cost-saving advantages of selling on your own for a simple flat fee.

Call us at (612) 483-1230 or fill out our form so we can talk about how we can add your property to Minnesota’s FSBO list on MLS.

When it comes to selling your house, there are essentially two options: the seller can hire a real estate agent or do everything themselves. This second option is what’s known as ‘for sale by owner’ or FSBO, which means that the homeowner is handling the sale directly. FSBO sellers do not work with traditional realtors. However, they often work with companies that offer FSBO packages to help them list their properties on the MLS. Here at Real Estate Corners, we offer such services to provide a way for homeowners to sell MN homes for sale by owner quickly and effectively.

Now, you might be wondering: Is buying an FSBO home in Minnesota a good idea? Wouldn’t it be tricky dealing directly with the seller? We’re going to dive into those questions in this blog post, exploring exactly what FSBO homes are all about and helping you decide if they’re the right fit for you.

Why home sellers go the FSBO route

You might find that MN homes for sale by owner aren’t as common as those listed through traditional real estate agents. However, this way of selling is definitely becoming more popular because it lets homeowners keep more of their money and potentially earn a larger profit from the sale.

A major reason people choose to sell MN homes for sale by owner is to avoid paying the listing agent commission —  that’s the commission paid to the seller’s real estate agent, which is typically 3-6% of the sale price.

While it was common for listing and buyer’s agents to share a commission, the National Association of Realtors has implemented new rules that increase transparency and negotiation around agent compensation. These new rules specifically address how buyer’s agents are compensated. Sellers now have more flexibility in offering compensation to buyer’s agents, and these offers will be negotiated outside the MLS. In an FSBO situation, the seller avoids paying a listing agent’s commission. And while negotiating who pays the buyer’s agent’s fees has always been possible, the new rules make those negotiations more clear-cut.

Ultimately, these changes create more opportunities for buyers and sellers to save money. And that’s where we come in. At Real Estate Corners, our flat-fee MLS solution starts at just $399. For that small, fixed fee, we’ll list ‘MN homes for sale by owner’ on the local Multiple Listing Service.

More control over the home sale

Homeowners who want more control over the home selling process find the FSBO route to be appealing — because they won’t be working with an agent, they get to handle everything, from setting the price to marketing, negotiations, paperwork, and closing.

However, for some sellers who lack experience, all that work may be overwhelming. That’s why we offer a flat-fee MLS listing service that can help them in marketing a home. Our solution lists MN homes as for sale by owner on the MLS for 6 months, with up to 24 photos and unlimited changes or edits. Plus, we forward the buyer leads to the seller and provide home-showing electronic services that allow buyers like you to request showings and give feedback.

Should you buy an FSBO home?

Statistically, MN homes for sale by owner cost less than agent-listed ones. This means you could get the home you want for less. According to NAR, these properties sold for a median of $380,000 in 2023. Meanwhile, agent-assisted homes sold at a median of $435,000.

That said, it’s important to be cautious when buying an FSBO home. Remember to do the following:

Research and inspect the house

Take the time to do your due diligence to ensure that it’s the right home for your budget and needs. You want to invest in a property that won’t surprise you with major problems down the road. Arrange a title search and a home inspection to ensure that there are no hidden issues.

Hire a real estate attorney

You will be working directly with the seller, so it’s important to have a real estate attorney review the contract and other paperwork before closing. Our agent can also go over the paperwork to ensure that you don’t miss a thing.

Check agent-listed homes

Looking for MN homes for sale by owner? You’ve come to the right place. When homeowners use our FSBO package, we showcase their full listing right on our website. And to make your search easier, we can even recommend listings that are carefully selected to match your specific needs.

We have a home buyer service

We want to make buying MN homes for sale by the owner even better for you, so we offer cash rebates! Just have us represent you as your buyer’s agent, and you’ll get a rebate when the deal closes.

Found your dream FSBO home in Minnesota? Great! We’ll act as your buyer’s agent and give you a 1% rebate of the home’s selling price (up to $4,000) at closing. And if you’re also looking to sell your current home, we can help with that, too. We’ll represent you on the buying side and give you a 0.5% rebate on the new home, check our rebate page for details.

We can help you buy an FSBO home in MN

At Real Estate Corners, we take the time to understand your unique needs when buying a home. We look into various factors, from your budget to family size, community, and location, so we can identify your requirements and recommend the right MN homes for sale by owner. Additionally, we want to ensure a smooth-sailing home-buying experience in Minnesota.

Let the pros streamline your home-buying journey

Although you can buy MN homes for sale by owner without a realtor, having one can give you more edge in negotiations. At Real Estate Corners, we can help you navigate the legal paperwork and contracts for a safer and smoother transaction. If you’re interested, call us today at (612) 483-1230.

The Multiple Listing Service is a primary database for anyone looking to buy a house in a specific area. If you’re selling in Minnesota, getting your property listed on the local MLS can help you sell quickly. But there’s a problem: only licensed real estate brokers and agents can actually create and manage Minnesota MLS listings. So, if you’re going the “for sale by owner” or FSBO route, you’ll need a way to get your property on the MLS. That’s where a flat-fee MLS listing service —like the one we offer — comes in.

Here at Real Estate Corners, we help homeowners in Minnesota sell their homes through the MLS while saving them thousands of dollars in the process. How? Read on as we unlock the secrets of MLS listings in Minnesota in this blog. We will share everything you must know about Minnesota MLS listings and how they can make your home-selling experience less stressful and much more rewarding.

Benefits of MLS listings

Think of the MLS as a great marketing and selling tool for real estate around the country. Licensed Realtors, real estate agents, and brokers use it to show clients potential homes in a certain area. At Real Estate Corners, we specialize in Minnesota MLS listings with our FSBO package. Here are ways by which your home sale can benefit from the Multiple Listing Service:

Expand your listing’s reach

If you’re selling your house and it’s not on the MLS, many potential buyers will never find out about it. You’ll miss 90% of home buyers who might be looking for your property. Listing your property on the MLS is different from using selling platforms like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. It expands your property’s exposure, which lets you price your home more competitively and sell it as soon as possible.

Minnesota MLS listings appear on hundreds of other real estate websites, thanks to the property syndication in the state. This means your home will also be shown on Trulia.com, Realtor.com, EdinaRealty.com, Zillow.com, and other major property websites that display MLS listings.

Save money

A flat-fee MLS listing service will give your property more exposure while saving you money. Here at Real Estate Corners, we can get you started for as low as $399. That’s significantly cheaper than the listing broker’s 2.5-3% commission, so you can keep more profit from the sale. This could mean thousands of dollars in savings while benefiting from the vast exposure from the MLS.

Gain control over your home sale

One of the biggest reasons to go FSBO is for greater control over the home-selling process. Flat-fee MLS services allow you to take on a hands-on approach and make choices by yourself without a traditional Realtor. You can set the asking price, negotiate directly with a buyer or their agent, and schedule showings. This lets you get involved directly with the sale and control it according to your schedule and preferences. In turn, it allows you to align the sale with your goals while ensuring efficiency.

How to list your property on the MLS

The best way to do this is by engaging a flat-fee MLS listing broker like us. Our service will save you money as we present your home to eager buyers. We provide a reliable and cost-effective solution to sell your house quickly.

What’s in an FSBO package?

Our FSBO package will market your property on the MLS for 6 months, with up to 24 photos and free unlimited changes or edits. We will forward all email and phone leads to you at no additional cost. Plus, we make it easier for buyers and their agents to request showings and give feedback through home-showing electronic services.

Considerations before using an FSBO service

Check for hidden fees, especially when you want to cancel and pull out your listing from MLS. At Real Estate Corners, our Minnesota MLS listings come with no surprise charges. Plus, you can cancel at any time without additional costs. We’ll provide the required state disclosures and broker listing support and feature your full ad here on our website.

Get additional support

You can maximize the marketing power of Minnesota MLS listings with solutions like color brochures, a professional yard sign, and an online open house directory. We offer these services for additional fees, but they may be worth considering if your home sale needs an extra boost. We can also provide the following:

• Monitoring of the competition: This will help you stay up-to-date and competitive in your neighborhood. The MLS will email you for any sold or new properties or price updates in your market.
• Market analysis: Do you want to sell your home at top dollar quickly? Our licensed Realtor will provide a comparative market analysis and suggest the best listing price.
• Email blast to other Realtors: We will send digital brochures to local Realtors in your market.

Extend Minnesota MLS listings to 12 months: Our basic FSBO package is good for 6 months. We can extend it to 12 months for an additional $200.

Not just for selling homes

Moving homes in the same state? Browsing Minnesota MLS listings can also help you find your dream home. The local database makes it easy for local real estate agents like us to find and share information on properties for sale so we can connect buyers looking for properties that meet their needs and budgets.  It provides detailed information on available properties, so you can see all the important details like square footage, listing price, and key features all in one place. This helps you make informed decisions and find the perfect home for your needs.

Navigate MLS listings with Real Estate Corners

Take charge of Minnesota MLS listings with our flat-fee FSBO service here at Real Estate Corners. Set a meeting with our team by calling (612) 483-1230.

Selling your home without a real estate agent means listing it as a For Sale By Owner property in Minneapolis. Also known as FSBO, this strategy will save you from paying commission fees that typically go to the agents.

Is it really possible to sell your home by yourself? Yes. The statistics are encouraging: The National Association of Realtors says that 77% of FSBO homes sell in less than two weeks, often because the seller already knows the buyer.

But what if you don’t know anyone who might want to buy your home? In that case, we’re here to help! At Real Estate Corners, we offer affordable solutions to help you sell your home as an FSBO property without the traditional agent. How? In this blog, we will share a guide to selling your home independently while saving time and money and how our services can take the guesswork out of FSBO sales in Minneapolis.

Working with a flat-fee MLS listing agent

One of the services we offer here at Real Estate Corners is our For Sale By Owner package in Minneapolis. For a flat fee, we will list your home for sale on the Multiple Listing Service to help you market it.

An affordable way to sell your home

We only charge a low one-time fee for our For Sale By Owner package. For as low as $399, we will list your property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to market it to more potential buyers and their agents. Your property can be promoted to a wider audience because it will appear on many other real estate websites, including Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and CBBurnet.com. It’s better than listing your home on one platform like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, which might attract some casual browsers, but they aren’t specifically designed for real estate transactions. Plus, you save the hassle of manually posting your ad on multiple websites.

As you can see, our For Sale by Owner in Minneapolis can help you save thousands of dollars. At the same time, you can benefit from wider exposure when your property is listed on the MLS.

Understanding real estate transactions

Selling a home traditionally usually involves two real estate agents: one representing you as the seller and another representing the buyer. These agents typically charge a commission of 5% and 6% of the final sale price.

At Real Estate Corners, you can list your home without needing to pay a commission to a listing agent. This allows you to potentially save 2.5% to 3% of the sale price!

Get your home listed on the MLS

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is like a giant online network for real estate professionals. It’s where real estate agents and brokers list all the homes they’re selling. Essentially, the MLS helps connect potential buyers with sellers by making it easier for agents to find the right homes for their clients/

Real Estate Corners is part of this network. We work closely with other real estate agencies in the region to keep the MLS up-to-date. This means we can see all the homes for sale listed by other agents, and they can see our listings.

Only licensed real estate agents like us can access the MLS. So if you want to sell your home as For Sale By Owner listing in Minneapolis, working with one of our experts at Real Estate Corners will ensure success.

Our flat-fee MLS package includes marketing your home on the Multiple Listing Service for 6 months, with up to 24 photos and free unlimited changes and edits. In addition, we will also:

• Forward email and phone leads to you
• Provide home showing electronic services to organize showing requests and gain feedback
• Post your full ad and listing on our website
• Provide broker listing support

Hassle-free service

With Real Estate Corners, you won’t have to worry about hidden fees when listing your home as For Sale By Owner in the Minneapolis MLS. We’ll provide the required state disclosures and allow you to cancel at any time at no extra cost.

Maximize your home’s marketing potential with add-ons

For additional fees, we can take your marketing efforts to greater heights. We offer color brochures, a professional 6-foot yard sign, and email blasting to local Realtors. Plus, we can extend your MLS listing to 12 months and monitor your competition! Our team can also facilitate the transaction to give the buyer more peace of mind when buying your home and ensure a smoother closing.

Tips for a smoother FSBO sales process

Minnesota has a competitive real estate market that provides For Sale By Owner sellers in Minneapolis more chances to save money. You just need to take the time to handle the paperwork, showings, and negotiations. Here are ways to overcome those challenges for a smoother transaction:

• Set a competitive selling price for your home – Did you know that 8% of sellers had to reduce their asking price in November 2024 because their initial pricing was inaccurate? This resulted in homes remaining unsold for more days. If you’re selling as For Sale By Owner in Minneapolis, check the prices of similar properties in your area.
• Make sure your home is market-worthy – Staging your home creates a positive impression and positively influences the buying decisions of 58% of buyers. We recommend highlighting the best features of your property so a buyer can visualize themselves in your space. Take the time to declutter, remove personalized items, and enhance the house’s exterior.
• Boost your home’s visibility – One of the things to do when selling your house as for sale by owner in Minneapolis is ensuring that it’s visually attractive and visible. You can do this by hiring a professional photographer and writing an engaging property description. Listing on the MLS can also maximize your property’s exposure online, so be sure to use our service!

Ready to sell your home?

Allow us to take the guesswork out of selling your home as for sale by owner property in Minneapolis. Call us at (612) 483-1230 to learn more about our flat-fee FSBO and MLS listing package.