Selling your house by owner in Hawaii can potentially save you from paying an average of $21,854 in realtor commission to a listing agent.[4]
But selling your house for sale by owner (FSBO) doesn't guarantee savings. Selling FSBO also isn't the only way to save money when selling a home, nor is it the only good option to sell without a realtor in Hawaii.
Compare the savings you'll get with a discount broker to the potential savings of selling FSBO, or read on for more about managing your own sale and FSBO alternatives.
Should you sell FSBO? Know the risks.
Selling FSBO isn’t worth the risks for most sellers.
- Financial risk. FSBO homes typically sell for about 23% less than those listed with agents, which may outweigh the money you save doing it all on your own.[1] While you're not required to offer a buyer's agent commission, you should consider offering a 2-3% seller concession to help buyers cover the cost of hiring a buyer's agent.
- Legal risk. 36% of recent FSBO home sellers said they made legal mistakes because they didn't use a real estate agent.[2]
FSBO is a viable option for experienced Hawaii home sellers who are willing to put in the required time and effort to navigate the complexities of selling without a realtor.
It's a particularly viable option for Hawaii sellers who live in a hot real estate market or have a buyer lined up. While only 7% of homes sell without a realtor, 57% of those home sellers already know their buyer.[3]
» MORE: Should you sell FSBO?
Why you should trust us
We surveyed and interviewed Hawaii real estate agents, surveyed FSBO sellers, studied Hawaii real estate law, and researched alternatives. Learn more about why you can trust our advice.
How to sell a house by owner in Hawaii
Key takeaways for Hawaii FSBO sellers
- You aren't legally required to hire an attorney to sell FSBO in Hawaii. Many FSBO sellers hire an attorney, though, to help with the most complicated parts of the process. Attorneys cost $152-$343 per hour in Hawaii.
- You must disclose any issues with your house. You're required to fill out a seller's disclosure form for Hawaii.
- You can use a For Sale by Owner sign in your yard to promote your sale.
Step 1: Make your home presentable to buyers
Put these five tasks on your to-do list, in this order:
🔨 When it comes to repairs, find the line between necessary and unnecessary projects for your house.
"If your kitchen is a disaster, spending more money on a remodel to get it in solid condition will pay off in the end," says Clever Real Estate co-founder and real estate investor Ben Mizes, who has experience listing homes without a real estate agent. "But spending money on high-end features to take it from good to extravagant will be a waste."
Consider how valuable specific repairs are to buyers in your part of Hawaii. Focus on upgrades that earn back the highest percentage of costs.
Home repairs with the highest resale value in the Pacific region
| Home repair | Average cost | Average resale value | Percent of costs recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door replacement | $4,554 | $11,417 | 251% |
| Entry door replacement (steel) | $2,402 | $6,001 | 250% |
| Manufactured stone veneer | $11,760 | $23,934 | 204% |
| Grand entrance (fiberglass) | $11,732 | $16,026 | 137% |
| Minor kitchen remodel (midrange) | $28,140 | $37,794 | 134% |
Home repairs that address deal-breaker issues
You should also address issues buyers consider deal breakers. Below are the top-three concerns for buyers in Hawaii, along with advice on how to fix them.
| Deal breakers for Hawaii home buyers | Advice for Hawaii FSBO sellers |
|---|---|
| Unsafe neighborhood | What makes a neighborhood unsafe or "bad" is subjective. If you suspect your neighborhood may scare off potential buyers, improving the home's curb appeal can help. Keep up your yard, for instance. Create a privacy screen with plants or a fence. In the end, you may find it easier to sell a house in a bad neighborhood by hiring a real estate agent. |
| Foundation issues | You'll likely have more success selling a house with foundation issues by repairing the foundation before selling. You should also disclose any foundation issues to avoid legal trouble. |
| Leaky roof | Replace your roof before selling if you know it leaks. A new roof can improve your home's value, paying for itself by increasing your home's curb appeal and turning a problematic disclosure ("leaky roof") into a selling point ("new roof"). |
Step 2: Set a price for your home
Do your own comparative market analysis (CMA). A CMA report estimates a home's value by comparing the recent sale prices of similar properties located nearby.
You can ask a real estate agent to perform a CMA. Many Hawaii agents will do this for free in the hopes of gaining your business.
We don't recommend asking for a CMA if you're planning to mislead an agent into thinking you need their services. If you're open to using an agent, though, asking for a CMA will allow you to weigh the costs and benefits of hiring an agent, and to give you the peace of mind to know you’ve evaluated all the options.
Get a free professional pricing consultation!
Interview top local agents, get free advice, no obligation to sign.
Other FSBO pricing help options
Get a broker price opinion (BPO). A BPO is a home valuation report provided by a licensed real estate professional who will determine your home's estimated value based mainly on its condition and the recent sales prices of similar homes in the area. BPOs cost $150–250.
Get a pre-listing appraisal, which can provide an accurate starting point for pricing your home, too. In Hawaii, appraisals cost $250–$364.
Search Zillow or a similar real estate website for active local listings priced within a range of what you think your house is worth. Then compare your home’s features to the competition.
For example, if you live in Urban Honolulu and think your house is worth about $860,977, search Zillow for active listings about $50,000 more and less than that. Analyze details about the houses and how they compare to yours. Ask yourself:
- Does the house have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms?
- Has the house been renovated more recently than yours?
- How do the neighborhoods and nearby amenities compare?
- Is the school district better or worse?
Answering these questions honestly will help you see if your price is in the right ballpark.
| 🔑 You should know: People who sell their home without a realtor are prone to underpricing. A 2023 study found that FSBO homes can sell for about 23% less than those listed with licensed real estate agents — meaning these sellers lost out on money even after saving on agent fees.[6] |
Pricing data for Hawaii and its major markets
These statewide and local pricing metrics can help you hone the listing price for your Hawaii home.
| Median Hawaii home value[7] | Median listing price in Hawaii[8] | Listing price per sqft[9] | % of homes where seller reduced the price [10] |
| $850,343 | $799,500 | $717 | 16% |
| Hawaii city | Median home value[11] |
|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $860,977 |
| Hilo | $567,339 |
| Kahului | $1,060,871 |
| Kapaa | $980,203 |
| Data not available | Data not available |
Step 3: Create a listing for your home
The listing for your home should feature:
- Photos of your Hawaii home's best visual qualities
- Text that speaks to local buyers
If your listing focuses on these things you're more likely to attract motivated buyers who are qualified to buy your home.
📷 How to showcase your Hawaii home's best visual qualities
Take professional-level photographs of your staged home to showcase its best features. Consider hiring a professional real estate photographer, which costs an average of $194 per session in Hawaii.
Often, a listing agent will organize staging and professional photography as part of their services.
✍️ How to write a listing that connects with Hawaii buyers
Focus on information buyers can only get from the homeowner or a neighborhood local. Consider addressing these questions in your listing:
- What notable views do you have from your house?
- Is the neighborhood friendly?
- Is the street safe for kids?
- Do you live in an area with great schools? How about restaurants?
Buyer’s agent commission adds a major incentive for agents who can help maximize your audience of potential buyers. In Hawaii, the average fee is 2.47%. For a home that sells at $250,000, that translates to a fee of $6,175.
It’s an investment — but it could make the difference between a quick sale and watching your home sit on the market for months at a time.💰 Should I offer a buyer's agent commission?
Step 4: List your home for sale
The best place to list your Hawaii home is on your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a private database created and maintained by real estate brokers to facilitate home buying and selling.
However, only real estate agents can list homes for sale on the MLS. You'll need to work with a local agent or use a Hawaii flat fee MLS company that charges a one-time payment to list your home on the MLS.
MLS listings populate onto real estate websites like Realtor.com and Zillow, increasing your home's online presence. That's important because 51% of buyers found the homes they purchased via the internet.[12]
Options for listing in Hawaii beyond the MLS
As a FSBO seller in Hawaii, you have several other free or low-cost options.
- For sale by owner websites in Hawaii: Several well-established and recognized for sale by owner sites cater to people selling and buying FSBO homes.
- Trulia and Zillow. Both real estate sites allow FSBO sellers to post listings free of charge in the FSBO section of their sites.
- Social media: Post your listing to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Nextdoor. Sharing is free, and you can reach a lot of people where they’re already spending time.
Step 5: Show your home to potential buyers
Focus on four key strategies when you show your Hawaii house to potential buyers.
- Be organized. Develop a system for scheduling open houses and showings, and saving buyers' and agents’ contact information. Calendly, Mixmax, and Trafft are among the best-rated scheduling apps.
- Be flexible. Show your house at buyers’ convenience, not at your convenience.
- Be clean. Keep your home spotless. You don't want to scramble around with a vacuum after a buyer calls for a last-minute showing.
- Be homey. Add little touches that speak to most people, which can help make a great first impression. "Bake cookies or light scented candles before a showing," says Mizes. "Smell plays a huge part in how buyers will perceive and remember your house. Use comforting scents to your advantage so they feel at home the moment they walk through the door."
🧠 You should know: 32% of recent home sellers say getting their house ready to show is the most common challenge of selling on their own.[13]
Step 6: Negotiate with potential buyers
First, ask to see a mortgage pre-approval letter. Accepting an offer from an unqualified buyer may cause your sale to fall through.
You and the buyer's agent (or the buyer, if they don't have a real estate agent) will then negotiate the final sale price. You'll also negotiate other issues, including:
- Contract contingencies
- Closing costs
- The timeline for the sale
You'll improve your negotiating position by educating yourself about these topics, your local real estate market, and what's important to buyers in your part of Hawaii.
If a potential buyer won't negotiate, and their offer doesn't meet your expectations, decline the offer.
Offering seller concessions
You can also offer seller concessions, contributions home sellers give to their buyers to help offset the costs of buying a Hawaii home.
Seller concessions might cost you a little more at closing, but they also sweeten the deal for buyers and could lead to a higher final sale price and a quicker sale.
Consider offering these common seller concessions in Hawaii:
- Repair credits: Credit the buyer a set amount of money to cover the cost of home repairs. Once the deal closes, the buyer can oversee the project and you don't have to worry about repairs going over budget.
- Home warranty: Give buyers peace of mind if your home has major appliances or systems on their last leg. A warranty will cover possible issues and is typically less expensive than paying for the repairs (or accepting a lower offer from a wary buyer).
- Attorney fees: Hawaii doesn't require a real estate attorney to take part in a home sale. However, some buyers want an attorney to review the contracts — especially if they don't have a realtor. By offering to pay the attorney’s fee, you can sweeten the deal for your buyer because a professional will be looking out for their interests. A real estate attorney in Hawaii costs $152-$343 per hour.
🧠 You should know: 22% of recent home sellers who used an agent say they made more concessions than they felt comfortable with.[14]
Step 7: Close your sale
You must use a title company or an escrow agent to facilitate closing in Hawaii, even if you're selling without a realtor.
Although Hawaii doesn't require sellers to hire a real estate attorney, you may want to hire one to draw up your sales contract and make sure you comply with local laws. Real estate attorneys usually work for an upfront flat fee or an hourly rate. In Hawaii, a real estate attorney costs $152–$343 per hour.
Find Hawaii lawyers near you by searching the Hawaii State Bar Association or FindLaw.
Closing costs in Hawaii
Expect to pay about 2.57% of your home's final sale price in closing costs. For a $850,343 home — the median sales price in Hawaii — that comes to around $21,826.
Paperwork for selling a house by owner in Hawaii
Hawaii requires those selling FSBO to fill out and file many documents and forms. Several of these documents are legally binding agreements.
The paperwork below is generally required for all Hawaii real estate sales.
- 2 forms of ID. In most cases, a valid passport, driver's license, or other form of Hawaii-issued ID.
- Copy of purchase and sale agreement. Plus any addendums.
- Closing statement. A detailed list of all the costs associated with the sale and who pays them. Your escrow agent or title company usually prepares this statement.
- Signed deed. You'll need the deed that proves you're the rightful owner to legally transfer your property. On your closing date, you'll sign the deed over to the buyer.
- Bill of sale. Essentially a receipt that includes your information and the buyer's. It will also list the final sales price of the home and what was included in the sale.
- Affidavit of title. A notarized document that states you own the home, that there are no liens on the property, that you aren't simultaneously selling the home to someone else, and other information.
Hawaii disclosure forms
» MORE: Disclosure Requirements for Selling Hawaii Real Estate
Possible additional documents
- Loan payoff information. If you have a mortgage on your home, you'll need documentation of how much you still owe and any payoff fees. If you've already paid your mortgage in full, you'll need documented proof.
- HOA forms and guidelines. If your home is part of an HOA, you'll need to give the buyer documentation on the HOA's covenants, codes, and restrictions; financial history; required fees; approval process; and more.
- Survey results or survey affidavits. A survey (or an affidavit verifying a previous survey) confirms the property lines.
- Home inspection results. If you had a pre-sale inspection, you'll want the results to compare to the buyer's inspection. If having a buyer inspection was part of the sale agreement, you should receive a copy of the results before closing.
- Home warranty information. The home warranty service agreement will explain what's covered and for how long, and the costs associated with the policy.
- Proof of repairs or renovations. Documentation proving any major repairs or changes to the house help verify its value. These receipts tell the buyer who to contact if they discover issues with the repairs in the future.
- Copies of relevant wills, trusts, or power of attorney letters. If you're selling an inherited property, you'll need copies of all the legal documents that passed ownership to you.
- Relevant affidavits. You may need additional affidavits like a name affidavit (which lists all of your or the buyer's previous names) or an affidavit proving you aren't a foreign citizen and therefore exempt from certain property sales taxes.
- Closing disclosure. If your buyer is taking out a mortgage and you agreed to certain seller's concessions, you may need a copy of their closing disclosure to verify the lender approved your concessions.
- Correction statement and agreement. If someone loses forms or discovers errors in the future, a correction statement and agreement requires you, the buyer, or their lender to replace or fix those documents, if need be.
🚨 36% of recent FSBO home sellers say they made legal mistakes because they didn't have a real estate agent. In a typical real estate transaction, your agent would guide you through all the paperwork. To avoid an expensive mistake, consider working with a top-ranked low-commission realtor instead.[15]
Where to find paperwork for selling FSBO in Hawaii
If you're using a real estate attorney, they'll generally supply the paperwork.
State realtor associations sometimes offer blank contracts and forms for you to use. Check with the Hawai'i Association of Realtors.
You can also find free downloadable forms through LawDepot or eForms.
Some services, such as US Legal, combine the most popular state-specific real estate forms into a package that FSBO sellers can purchase by subscription for a monthly fee of $39–59.
For tax records, property surveys, and deeds, check the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Pros and cons of selling a house by owner in Hawaii
Pros
- You can potentially save an average of 2.57%, or $21,854,[16] because you won't have to pay a listing agent's real estate commission.
- You'll control the selling process. If you have the disposition and experience to handle details, you'll appreciate this level of involvement.
- You're likely to have success selling FSBO in Hawaii if you live in a hot local real estate market or have a buyer lined up. While only 7% of homes sell without a realtor, 57% of those home sellers already know their buyer.[17]
Cons
- While you no longer have to pay a buyer's agent commission, which averages 2.47% of the sale price in Hawaii, you'll still likely pay a 2-3% seller concession to help buyers cover the cost of hiring a real estate agent.
- Your house will likely sell for less than if you had an agent handle your sale. FSBO homes typically sell for about 23% less than those listed with agents.[18]
- You'll face legal risks. In a Clever survey, 36% of recent FSBO home sellers said they made legal mistakes because they didn't use a real estate agent.[19]
- You'll control the selling process, which generally isn't good for inexperienced sellers. FSBO paperwork can be difficult and overwhelming.
How much can I save selling without a realtor?
Hawaii FSBO sellers typically save an average of $21,854 by not paying a listing agent realtor commission.[20]
FSBO sellers in the state can save up to $42,857 on total realtor commission if they also don't pay the buyer's agent commission.[21]
These realtor commission savings figures are based on a $850,343 home — the median home value in Hawaii — and an average listing agent commission of 2.57%[22] and an average buyer’s agent commission of 2.47%.[23]
FSBO savings calculator
Insert your estimated home sale price and the average listing agent and buyer's agent commission into the calculator below to determine your potential savings.
FSBO alternatives
Consider these alternatives to selling your home by owner in Hawaii.
Discount real estate services in Hawaii
Discount real estate companies will help you sell your Hawaii house for less than a traditional realtor. In most cases, you should still consider offering a 2–3% seller concession, but you'll save money on listing fees.
Flat fee MLS companies in Hawaii
A flat fee MLS service in Hawaii will post your listing on the local MLS, usually for a low, upfront fee. In Hawaii, this will cost you $250–3,000.
iBuyers in Hawaii
iBuyers purchase homes for cash at a slight discount, then resell them on the open market. By selling to an iBuyer, you'll avoid realtor fees. Most iBuyers charge sellers a service fee of 5–13%, however. They'll also deduct the cost of any required repairs after an on-site visit.
Cash home buyers in Hawaii
Cash home buyers in Hawaii typically buy houses in poor condition or from sellers who need to sell their house fast. Often, you won't get the fair market value from cash home buyers that many sellers get using an experienced real estate agent.
Get a free professional pricing consultation!
Interview top local agents, get free advice, no obligation to sign.
