How to Sell Without a Realtor in Washington DC

The average listing agent fee in Washington DC is 2.95%. If you sell your house without a real estate agent — also known as selling for sale by owner (FSBO) — you can avoid this fee.[4]

But selling your house without a realtor doesn't guarantee savings. Homes sold without a realtor typically go for about 13% less than homes sold with a realtor's help. That's a difference of roughly $79,950 on a house that sells for the median sale price in Washington DC.[5]

You'll likely also have to pay – for a flat fee MLS listing service to ensure maximum exposure for your listing and cover other expenses normally covered by a commission fee to a listing agent.

You may pocket more profit by working with a low commission realtor who can sell your home for top dollar.

💰 Sell for more and save on fees while still getting the support of a full-service realtor. It's free to get matched with local agents who charge just a 1.5% listing fee.

🤔 Should I sell without a realtor?

Selling your house without a realtor could be a good way to save money if you meet the following criteria:

• You're an experienced home seller. You have the disposition and expertise to handle the complexity of the home-selling process.
• You're willing to dedicate a lot of time and effort. You'll need to do everything from setting the price and marketing your home to coordinating viewings and reviewing offers. It takes an average of days to complete a sale in Washington DC.
• You've got a buyer lined up. Only 6% of homes sell without a realtor, but 38% of those home sellers already know their buyers.[5]
• Your home is in a hot market. Your chances of selling for list price or above are better when buyers outnumber sellers and prices are rising.

Selling without a realtor isn’t worth the effort for most sellers, however, for the following reasons:

• It's financially risky. Homes sold without a realtor typically sell for about 13% less than those listed with agents. That far outweighs the 2.95% listing fee you save selling alone.[5] Also, if you want your home listed on the MLS, you'll have to pay between – to a flat fee MLS company in Washington DC.
• It's legally risky. About of said they made legal mistakes because they didn't use a real estate agent.[6]
• It's a lower-trust process for buyers. About 53% of buyers said they didn't trust sellers who didn't have an agent.[7]
• It's a detailed, time-consuming process. Most people don't have the real estate knowledge or negotiation skills to manage a home sale. It takes a long time to research the listing price of your home, market the home to buyers, review offers, and complete the detailed paperwork. Approximately 80% of sellers who sold without an agent said they had regrets about their sale.[7]

Your best alternative to selling without a realtor is using a low commission realtor. Your home will likely sell for more when you use a realtor, and you'll likely offset the commission you'll pay and more.

💸 Compare full-service, low commission agents in your area who charge a low 1.5% listing fee.

How much can I save selling without a realtor?

Washington DC sellers without a realtor typically save an average of $17,470 by not paying a listing agent realtor commission.[4] 

Sellers without a realtor in the state can save up to $32,274 on total realtor commission if they also don't pay a buyer's agent commission.[4] 

However, homes sold without a realtor typically go for about 13% less than homes sold with a realtor's help. That's a difference of roughly $79,950 on a house that sells for the median sale price in Washington DC, which may offset any savings you gain by not paying commission.[5]

These figures are based on the median home value of $592,189 in Washington DC, an average listing agent commission of 2.95%, and an average buyer’s agent commission of 2.50%.[4]

Savings calculator for selling without a realtor

Use this calculator to estimate how much you would make selling without a realtor compared to selling with a realtor.

How to sell a house without a realtor in Washington DC 

Washington DC sellers should follow the advice and actions laid out in these seven steps:

Step 1: Make any necessary repairs

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 Washington DC. Focus on upgrades that earn back the highest percentage of costs.  

Step 2: Set a price for your home

When you work with a real estate agent, they provide a comparative market analysis​​ (CMA) to determine the right asking price. A CMA estimates a home's value by comparing the recent sale prices of similar properties located nearby.

When you sell for sale by owner, you have to set a price on your own. You have a few options:

Ask a real estate agent to perform a CMA. Many 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 give you the peace of mind of knowing you’ve evaluated all the options.

Use a flat fee MLS company in Washington DC that offers a CMA report and pricing help from a licensed local agent as an add-on service.

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. In Washington DC, appraisals cost $227–$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 and think your house is worth about , 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?

Step 3: Create a listing for your home

​​Photographs and text that speak to local buyers are the two most important elements of your listing.

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 $150 per session in Washington DC.

When writing a listing, 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?

Step 4: List your home for sale

The best place to list your Washington DC 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.

MLS listings populate real estate websites like Realtor.com and Zillow, increasing your home's online presence. If you don't , you'll dramatically decrease your chances of finding a buyer. Overall, 51% of buyers found the homes they purchased online.[8]

However, you'll need to use a flat fee MLS company to get your home listed on your local MLS, as only real estate agents can list on the MLS.

Flat fee MLS companies in Washington DC, which are run by local agents and brokers, charge –, depending on the level of plan you purchase.

Many companies also offer extra services for a cost, like professional photography for your listing or pricing help.

Step 5: Show your home to potential buyers

A Clever survey found that of recent home sellers think getting their house ready to show is the most common challenge of selling on their own.[9]

Focus on four key strategies when you show your Washington DC house to potential buyers.

• Be organized. Develop a system for scheduling open houses and showings. ShowingTime and Calendly 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 perceive and remember your house. Use comforting scents to your advantage so they feel at home the moment they walk through the door."

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, and the timeline for the sale.

You can 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 Washington DC.

If a potential buyer won't negotiate and their offer doesn't meet your expectations, decline the offer. 

Offering seller concessions

You can sweeten the deal for potential buyers by offering seller concessions to help offset the costs of buying a home. Seller concessions might cost you a little more at closing, but they can lead to a higher final sale price and a quicker sale.

Consider offering these common seller concessions in Washington DC: 

• Buyer's agent compensation: Because of a settlement of a lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors, sellers aren't required to cover a buyer's agent commission. However, buyers may expect a concession of 2–3% to help them cover the cost of their real estate agent.
• 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 that go 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).

Step 7: Close your sale

The closing process begins once both parties have fulfilled their responsibilities outlined in the sales contract.

Typically, closing includes the following steps:

• You'll meet with a closing agent virtually or at a title or escrow company office.
• You'll sign the closing documents first, followed by the buyer.
• You'll pay your closing costs. Expect to pay about 2.54% of your home's final sale price in closing costs. For a $592,189 home — the median sales price in Washington DC — around $15,045.
• The closing agent or other party records the deed with the appropriate municipality.
• You receive your money from the home sale.

The closing process can take a couple of days or even a week.

Paperwork for selling a house by owner in Washington DC

Washington DC requires those selling without a realtor 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 Washington DC real estate sales.

• 2 forms of ID. In most cases, a valid passport, driver's license, or other form of .
• Purchase offer. The buyer’s offer for your home will include their proposed price and terms.
• Sales contract. The binding contract between the buyer and seller, including disclosures and contingencies. In some jurisdictions, it's known as the purchase agreement. Sellers without a realtor are typically responsible for drawing up the contract.
• Home inspection report. An inspector's evaluation of your property, usually supplied by the buyer.
• Appraisal report. An estimate of the fair market value of your house produced by a professional appraiser.
• Signed property 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.
• 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.
• Bill of sale. Essentially, it's a receipt that includes your information and the buyer's. It will also list the home's final sale price 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.
• Property tax records. The tax information for your home and property, including the effective rate and assessed value of the property.

Where to find paperwork for selling without a realtor in Washington DC

If you're using a real estate attorney, they'll generally supply the paperwork. Otherwise, try the following sources:

• See our for sale by owner real estate contract page for Washington DC for a contract template example and details on what you might need to attach to the contract.
• Check with the . State realtor associations sometimes offer blank contracts and forms for sellers.
• Use a service like , which combines the most popular state-specific real estate forms into a package that sellers can purchase by subscription for a monthly fee of $39–59. 
• Use a flat fee MLS company in Washington DC that offers plans with paperwork support or as an add-on for an additional fee.
• Visit the for tax records, property surveys, and deeds.

Pros and cons of selling a house by owner in Washington DC

Alternatives to selling without a realtor 

Consider these alternatives to selling your home by owner in Washington DC.

Low commission realtors in Washington DC

Low commission realtors, sometimes known as discount brokers, will help you sell your house for a much lower listing fee than a conventional agent.

Conventional Washington DC agents charge an average commission rate of 2.95%. Low commission agents charge as low as 1.5%.

Be aware that not all low commission realtors offer the same level of service. Some brokerages keep costs low by working with a lot of clients, which can mean less personalized support. Others, such as Clever Real Estate, combine lower fees with top-tier agents from major brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX.

Cash home buyers in Washington DC

Cash home buyers in Washington DC typically buy houses in poor condition or from sellers who need to sell their house fast.

Your best option to find a cash buyer is a marketplace like Clever Offers, a free service that sources competitive cash offers for your home.

Other cash buyer options include cash investors and iBuyers. iBuyers purchase homes for a slight discount but usually charge sellers a service fee of 5–13%.

You'll avoid realtor fees with each of these options, but typically, using a cash buyer nets you far less than you'd get using a realtor or selling for sale by owner. You'll get only of your home's fair market value from cash home buyers.[10]

Why you can trust us

Our team conducted in-depth research on selling without a realtor in Washington DC. Our research involved:

• Surveys of more than 1,000 home sellers, including for sale by owner sellers and those who considered selling without a realtor but eventually sold with an agent
• Surveys and interviews of Washington DC real estate agents for on-the-ground insights into the home-selling process
• Analyses of Washington DC flat fee MLS companies, as well as publicly available data on pricing, plan services, and customer reviews
• Original research from other trusted sources, such as the National Association of Realtors

As our primary sources update, we refresh the data in our series accordingly.

About Clever Real Estate

Clever strives to provide its readers with the most up-to-date, accurate, and useful information. We’ve earned buyers’ trust with a 5-out-of-5-star rating on Trustpilot and more than 3,400 customer reviews.

Our team of industry-leading researchers is committed to making home selling more transparent by educating sellers through guides like this one.

Learn more about why you can trust our articles.

Additional resources for Washington DC home sellers