For sale by owner works, right up until it does not.
The sign is out, the listing is on the free sites, and the only calls are from investors. That pattern almost always means an exposure problem, not a price one.
Get a real numberExposure is the usual failure
Most buyers work with an agent, and most agents work from the MLS. A house that is not there is invisible to a large share of the buyer pool, no matter how good the photos are.
Flat fee MLS entry solves part of this for a modest cost and is worth considering before you conclude the house will not sell. It puts the listing where buyers' agents actually look.
The calls you are getting
FSBO signs generate investor calls because investors watch for them specifically. Many of those callers are wholesalers who intend to put your house under contract and assign it to someone else at a markup.
There is a simple way to find out. Ask whether they are buying it themselves or assigning the contract. The answer tells you whether you are talking to a buyer or a middleman. We buy in our own name.
Where we actually fit
Not as your only option. If the house is in good shape and you have time, get it on the MLS and see what happens. That will usually beat us and we will say so.
Where we fit is when the house needs work you cannot fund, or when you have a deadline. A written number costs nothing and gives you a floor while you keep marketing it.
Five questions. That is the whole thing.
We already know your situation from this page. Change it if it does not fit.
Question 1 of 5
What people ask about this
Should I just list it with an agent?
If the house shows well and you are not in a hurry, probably yes. Commission structures changed after the 2024 NAR settlement, so ask directly what you would pay and to whom.
How do I know if a caller is a real buyer?
Ask whether they are purchasing in their own name or assigning the contract. Ask where the funds come from. Real buyers answer both easily.
Can I get an offer from you and still keep trying?
Yes. There is no obligation and no expiration game. Use it as a floor.
Often it is more than one thing at once
Get a real number.
No cost, no obligation, and nobody shows up at your door unless you ask them to.