FSBO: For Sale By Owner

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Common Questions

What are the steps to sell "For Sale By Owner"?

We know that selling "For Sale By Owner" seems complicated which is why we offer our downloadable e-book, The Complete Guide To Buying and Selling Your Own Home, absolutely FREE!

We have years of experience in helping home owners sell their own property. Discover the latest trends in marketing your home and how to carry out the selling process. Discover common pitfalls of selling on your own and how to avoid them. Discover the secrets to a strong classified ad. Discover the best places to advertise your property. Discover where to find serious home buyers.

Sound good? These buying and selling tips along with many other tools are at your disposal when you download our book.

Chapters include:

Advice on finding free and low-cost advertising
Setting the right price
How to negotiate with buyers so that everyone walks away happy
How to eliminate unqualified buyers
The correct way to show your home—yes, there is a correct way
Where to find lenders and lawyers
Mortgage and financing basics
And much more!

Click the here to download your FREE copy of The Complete Guide To Buying and Selling Your Own Home.

Why should I buy or sell using the "For Sale By Owner" method?

There are many reasons to sell or buy "For Sale By Owner"!

Go to http://www.forsalebyowner.com/whysell.html for reasons to sell your property by owner.

Go to http://www.forsalebyowner.com/whybuy.html for reasons to buy a property directly from the owner.

How do I find property that is listed for sale on ForSaleByOwner.com?

Click Buy at the top of any page or simply click here. On the Buy a Home page, pick one of the three options to search for property in our database. You may search by City and State, Zip Code, or Listing Number. You can also do an Advanced Search to enter more specific search criteria.

City and State Search: The first option allows you to search by city and state, and also allows you to do proximity searches so that you can search whole metro areas regardless of city or state lines. For example, if you stipulated New York City in New York State and then chose a radius of 50 miles, the database would show all homes in New York City and within 50 miles of New York City including properties in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. You can also stipulate the type of property with this search.

Zip Code Search: The second option allows you to search our database by zip code.

Listing Number Search: Finally, you can jump directly to a specific ad by typing a property's listing number into the third search field. This search option is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate a specific listing number that was referenced in a newspaper ad, on a yard sign or on a property information flyer.

After you have selected your search criteria and submitted your search you will be given a list of properties that match your search. On the Search Results page, you can organize the properties by City and State, Property Type, Square Footage, Price and more!

To sort the Search Results click the heading at the top of the column you would like to sort by. For Example: If you would like to sort by price, simply click Price at the top of the Price column. Clicking any column heading for a second time will change the sorted order to the opposite of what it currently is.

You can also use the Radius drop-down box to change the range of your search results. Select a larger radius to get a larger list of property for sale. Select a smaller radius to narrow your search results.

Click here to search for property for sale.

Click here to do an Advanced Search.

How do I save Favorites? Can I get notifications of new homes for sale?

Click Buy at the top of any page or click here to search for property.

To save a favorite: Open a listing you want to save as a favorite. Click Add Favorite at the top left corner of the page. You will be prompted to login or create a new user account. After you have logged-in (or created an account) click View Favorites to view or modify your favorites.

To get e-mail notifications: On the search results page click Be notified of newly-listed homes at the top right corner of the page. You will be prompted to login or create a new user account. After you have logged-in (or created an account) click Saved Searches to modify your saved searches and e-mail notifications. New listing notifications will be sent to your e-mail address once a week.

Is it necessary for me to hire an attorney in order to sell my own home?

In most real estate markets within the United States a Title Company can handle every aspect of a real estate transaction. However, many customers hire a Real Estate Attorney to protect their interests throughout the real estate transaction. A lawyer can act as an escrow agent for down payments, evaluate any complicated offers from potential buyers and handle closings.

When selecting an attorney, choose one who specializes in real estate transactions and don't be afraid to shop around for competitive rates.

To find a Title Company or Real Estate Attorney in your area visit ForSaleByOwner.com's Service Provider Directory.

Do you own multiple web sites?

Yes we do. ForSaleByOwner.com is the parent company of ByOwnerSales.com and SaleByOwner.com. When you sign up to sell your home on any of these sites, please use the site you signed up on to manage your account.

How can I contact ForSaleByOwner.com?

We’re here to help you. Contact Us!

How do I place an ad on ForSaleByOwner.com?

If you would like to place your listing by phone you can contact us at 888-FOR-SALE (367-7253) between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm Central Time, Monday - Friday.

Steps to Place an Ad Online

Click Sell at the top of any page or simply click here
Enter your zip code and click Submit
A list of packages available in your area will appear. Scroll down to select the package that best fits your needs and complete the listing form. Don't worry if you don't have all of the information you would like to list in your ad, you can edit your listing as many times as you would like at no additional charge.
When you have completed the listing form click Preview Ad to see a sample of your listing. The preview will include a filler photo. You will be able to upload photos of your property after you have activated your listing.
From the preview page you can click Activate this Ad to save your listing and create an account. Or, you can click Continue Editing to go back to the listing form and make changes. Don't click your browser's back button or you may loose the information you have entered so far.
After clicking Activate this Ad you will be given your account information. Write down your listing number and password or print this page - you will need this information to login to your account.
Click Activate to continue to the secure payment page.
On the secure payment page you will be asked to enter your credit card information and agree to the Terms and Conditions. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Click Secure Transaction to activate your ad
When your transaction is complete you will be given payment confirmation and a transaction number. Please print this page, it is your receipt. Your listing is now active and viewable by potential buyers! You can now login to manage your listing and upload photos.

Please Contact Support if you need help setting up your ad.

Related Question:

What are the steps to be listed on the MLS? How long does it take?

How much does it cost to advertise on your web site?

Packages and prices vary depending on the area your property is located. Click Sell at the top of any page or simply click here. Enter your zip code and click Submit. A list of packages available in your area will appear. If you have any questions about the packages offered please Contact Us.

Related Question:

How do I place an ad on ForSaleByOwner.com?

How often am I charged?

We have several package options available including a Monthly Plan that automatically rebills and several flat-fee options that will keep your listing up until it sells. To view the package options available in your area click Sell at the top of any page or simply click here, then enter your zip code and click Submit. A list of packages available in your area will appear.

The Monthly Plan automatically rebills $89.95 every 30 days until you cancel*. If you are not on the Monthly Plan you will not be automatically rebilled unless you purchase one of the upgrades below.

The Local Featured Home ($49.95) and the Homepage Featured Home ($99) automatically rebill every 14 days until cancelled*. If your package includes Local Featured Home and/or Homepage Featured Home these features will not automatically renew. The Local Featured Home and Homepage Featured Home features will only automatically renew if purchased as upgrades.

* Please note: If you have purchased a plan or feature that rebills it is your responsibility to cancel your account or feature at least one day before your next billing date to avoid rebilling.

Related Questions:

How do I cancel my listing?
How do I cancel my Featured Home listing?
Can I upgrade my Monthly Plan to Until Sold?

How many people will see my ad?

ForSaleByOwner.com is the largest "For Sale By Owner" type website in the world! You don’t have to take our word for it, click the following link to be taken to Alexa.com where you can see for yourself. Alexa.com, premier online traffic ranking site.

Every month millions of people visit ForSaleByOwner.com. When you list your property on ForSaleByOwner.com you can track the number of times your ad has been viewed.

On top of our enormous traffic we also offer several options to give your property even more exposure! We offer Featured listings, Flat-Fee MLS* and the ability to expose your property on some of the biggest names on the Internet including Yahoo.com, SaleByOwner.com, ByOwnerSales.com, Military.com, USAToday.com, Areaguides.net and many more.

*MLS is not available in all areas.

What is your success rate in selling properties?

Because we're not real estate agents and don't charge a commission we are legally prohibited from taking part in the actual sales transaction of any of the property advertised on our site, which makes it difficult for us to track how many of our properties sell and how quickly. However, we do try to poll our customers on a regular basis in order to gauge our success rate.

Depending upon the metro area and region our success rates range from about 40% to 85%. In most markets, we have the same success rate as full-service real estate agents.

Like all real estate marketing, the most important factor is the location of your property (both from a local and regional standpoint). It's the same issue that real estate agents face. Attractive properties (good homes in, good areas that are priced correctly) sell quickly and unattractive ones don't.

We can guarantee that we will work diligently to insure that as many potential buyers as possible see your ad. And to this end, we spend tens of thousands of dollars every month on advertising both online and offline across North America.

Do you only list homes for sale? Do you list any other property types?

Our site is for "For Sale By Owner" properties of all types! You can sell land, a vacation home or even commercial property. When you create your ad you can choose the property type from our list that best describes your property. Buyers can then find you property by searching for all listings in your area or by searching for a specific property type.

What does the Sign Package include?

When you choose a package that includes ForSaleByOwner.com’s sign package you will receive one 24" x 18" Yard Sign with heavy duty metal stand and a Weather-Proof Brochure Dispenser, so that you can provide potential buyers with property information flyers. You will also receive one 24" x 9" Directional Sign with stand, which can be placed at a major intersection or community entrance to direct potential buyers to your property. All of our signs are double sided and are made out a durable, waterproof corrugated plastic.

Related Question:

How can I purchase additional signs and "For Sale By Owner" products?

When will I get my signs?

Sign packages are shipped via FedEx Ground Service and should arrive within approximately five to eight business days (after purchase). Please allow for longer shipping times if your signs are being shipped to Hawaii, Alaska or Canada.

On the form for a new listing it asks for a Display Name, what does that mean?

Display Name is the name that will be posted on your ad under Contact Information. Most people list their name(s). Examples: Christy Johnson or Rob and Jennifer. If you would rather keep your name private you can simply list Homeowner.

If I select a package that does not include MLS or other features can I upgrade later or do I have to pay for a full package?

You can upgrade to MLS from any plan for $399*. You can also purchase any feature available on our site at the a la carte price. Available features include Virtual Slideshow, Local or Homepage Featured Home and Video Tour.

If you currently have a listing with ForSaleByOwner.com and you would like to purchase additional features go to the Features and Upgrades page of your Selling Center for more information and to purchase. Or contact Customer Support for assistance.

* MLS is not available in all areas

Can I pay for my ad by a method other than credit card? Can I pay in installments?

We encourage all of our customers to pay for their ads online via credit card because it is very safe and efficient. Our credit card payment page is secure, which can be verified by the lock symbol in the bottom right corner of your browser and the web address beginning with "https" (the "s" stands for secure). However, if you are more comfortable paying by check or money order you may do so*. We apologize, but we cannot accept payment in installments at this time.

To pay by check, click Sell at the top of the page (or click here) to create your ad or Contact Support to list by phone. Complete all of the steps necessary to create your ad except for paying by credit card. Once you have created your ad and confirmed that the information is correct you will be provided with a Listing ID and Password confirmation. This means that your ad has been stored in our database.

Write down your Listing ID and Password or print the page. You may then mail us your check with the Listing ID written in the memo line. Upon receipt of your check we will activate your ad. Please make check or money order payable to ForSaleByOwner.com, Corporation. Checks and money orders should be mailed to the address below.

ForSaleByOwner.com
Attn: Customer Support
230 West 200 South
Suite 3201
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

* Please note: The monthly $89.95 option is not available to customers who pay by check or money order.

I got disconnected before I could activate my ad! What now?

Don’t worry! If you received a Listing ID your ad has been saved. To activate, login and click Features and Upgrades to select a package and pay for your ad.

Don’t have your Listing ID? Contact Support for assistance. A Customer Support Representative will locate your ad, if it was saved, or assist you in creating a new one.

I received an error message when I attempted to activate my ad, what should I do?

There are several reasons that you may have received an error message. Please read below for information about the most common error messages and how to resolve the issue or you may Contact Support for assistance.

Page Expired or Page Not Found: These messages generally occur when your internet service was disconnected during the ad creation process or if you clicked your browser’s back button and your browser had not stored the page. You should check to make sure that your computer is connected to the internet before proceeding. If you received a Listing ID your ad has been saved. To activate, login and click Features and Upgrades to select a package and pay for your ad. If you do not have your Listing ID please Contact Support for assistance. A Customer Support Representative will locate your ad, if it was saved, or assist you in creating a new one.

Card Declined: This error message can occur for several reasons. You may have received this message because your credit card number, expiration date or billing address were entered incorrectly. This message also occurs when your credit card account does not have sufficient funds available or your bank suspects the charge as fraudulent. You should check with your bank to verify that your account is not on hold due to insufficient funds or suspicion of fraud. To try your card again or enter a new card, login and click Features and Upgrades to select a package and pay for your ad. If you do not have your Listing ID please Contact Support for assistance. A Customer Support Representative will locate your ad and assist you in activating it.

A listing with the same address already exists: This error message occurs when a listing exists in our database with the same address. This can occur if you have previously saved a listing in our database or if a previous owner of the property had a listing on ForSaleByOwner.com in the past. If you would like to activate the ad you previously created, you may login and click Features and Upgrades to select a package and pay for your ad. Please Contact Support for assistance if you would rather create a new listing or if you believe that the previous owner’s listing may still be in our database.

I created an ad already but didn't activate it. Can I still activate my ad?

Yes! Even if an ad is never activated it remains in our database for six months. To activate, login and click Features and Upgrades to select a package and pay for your ad.

Don’t have your Listing ID? Contact Support for assistance. A Customer Support Representative will locate your ad and assist you in activating it.

Do you offer discounts for listing in volume? I am builder or investor with many properties to sell.

Yes! We offer discounted listing options for builders and investors who want to sell their properties "For Sale By Owner". Click here for pricing and information.

What is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?

The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the primary data system that most real estate agents use to market and sell property. 75% of all properties sold are sold through the MLS.

How great would it be if somehow real estate agents in your area would be notified of your listing and in essence be able to show potential buyers the property?

That is the purpose behind the MLS. It is a local database that brokers browse to find listings for potential buyers. So when you put your home on the MLS through ForSaleByOwner.com, every real estate agent in your area will see it.

Traditionally, there were two real estate agents involved in every property transaction: the listing agent (the person who puts your property on the MLS) and the agent that actually sells the property. Typically the two agents would split the commission (generally around 6%).

With ForSaleByOwner.com’s flat-fee MLS listing service, you can expose your property to millions of buyers and real estate agents by listing it in the MLS with a picture of your home for six months. It's no different than walking down to your local real estate agent's office and promising to pay 6% of your property’s sale price to put your home on the MLS.

Also, in addition to ForSaleByOwner.com and the MLS your property will be listed on Realtor.com through their affiliation with the Multiple Listing Service. The combined number of potential buyers who visit this group of websites is estimated at over 10,000,000 per month!

After you upgrade, ForSaleByOwner.com refers your property out to a member of our network who handles your local area. The agent does not charge a commission and will not accept a commission for the service (we pay our network Real Estate Agent a flat fee to list your property). With the listing agent's commission out of the picture only the buyer's agent is left to pay. Obligating you to pay only 2-3% when the property sells!

And, of course, if a buyer contacts you through ForSaleByOwner.com you don't have to pay any commission whatsoever.

For more information please contact Customer Support.

How do "For Sale By Owners" benefit from MLS listing?

More Exposure! Many buyers use real estate agents, and these agents use the MLS as their main tool to find homes for their buyers. You benefit from listing your home on the MLS because you gain tremendous exposure to tens of thousand of agents and their potential buyers.

Keep control and Save Money! Enjoy the benefits and cost savings inherent in the "for sale by owner" method while at the same time giving your home the additional exposure of the MLS. The flat fee you pay to get your home on the local MLS is considerably less than the thousands you would pay in traditional commission.

What are the steps to be listed on the MLS? How long does it take?

Below is a quick overview of what to expect when you purchase an MLS Listing from ForSaleByOwner.com.

Step 1: Purchase a package that includes an MLS listing or upgrade your package to include MLS.
Step 2: A Broker Affiliate will contact you via e-mail within 2 business days of your purchase with instructions on how to complete the MLS paperwork.
Step 3: You must complete the paperwork and fax it back to the Broker Affiliate. When you complete this paperwork, you must indicate what you are willing to pay the buyer's agent - this must be between 2-3% of the sale price of your home.
Step 4: The Broker Affiliate will post one photo of your property on the MLS and Realtor.com. The Broker Affiliate will provide instructions on how to submit your photo to them. It is highly recommended that you post a photo for maximum results.
Step 5: Once your paperwork is completed and submitted to the Broker Affiliate, your property will be placed on your local MLS within 1 business day. You will receive e-mail notification from your Broker Affiliate that your home has been successfully listed in the MLS along with a copy of your listing to review.
Step 6: Your property will be uploaded to Realtor.com within 72 hours of being listed on the MLS. Note: Realtor.com is not the MLS, but a stand alone website for Realtors to expose their MLS listings to the public.

Please note: This process may vary slightly based upon the geographic location of your property due to variances in the rules of MLS boards around the country, which are beyond the control of ForSaleByOwner.com. There are additional fees in some areas. Realtor.com is not available in Virginia Beach, VA.

Please contact Customer Support for rules and regulations in your area.

Can I make changes to my MLS listing?

You may make 2 changes to your MLS listing during your listing period, free of charge! Additional revisions can be made for a fee of $25 per change. Changes to the price or status (sold or under contract) of your MLS listing are always free.

All edits must be submitted to your Broker Affiliate in writing. Your Broker Affiliate will make the requested changes within 24 hours. It may take up to 10 days for changes to your MLS listing to be reflected on Realtor.com.

How much of a commission do I have to offer?

You decide the amount you are willing to pay between 2-3% of the sale price of your home.

How long will my listing remain on the MLS?

Your listing will remain on the MLS and Realtor.com for 6 months or until your property sells, which ever occurs first.

How many forms do I have to fill out?

In most areas, you will need to complete a standard "Listing Agreement" and in some cases an Addendum stating that you have paid the listing agent a flat fee.

Please contact Customer Support for rules and regulations in your area.

Are there any extra fees to list on the MLS in my area?

There are additional fees in some areas due to variances in the rules of MLS boards around the country, which are beyond the control of ForSaleByOwner.com.

Please contact Customer Support for rules and regulations in your area.

Can I be placed on the MLS for longer than 6 months?

Yes! The fee to list your property in the MLS for an additional 6 months is $300.

Contact Customer Support to keep your property listed in the MLS.

Will anyone want to show my home if I'm only paying 2 - 3% commission?

Yes. Our Broker Affiliate has already agreed to list the property for a flat fee so the listing commission is no longer a factor. The buyer's agent will get the full 2-3% if they bring a buyer, which is equal to a full commission.

Who will show my property?

You will be in charge of all property showings. If a potential buyer is interested in your property their agent will contact you directly to set-up a showing of your property.

Will I be posted on any other MLS affiliated websites?

There are many MLS affiliated websites across the country that post MLS listings. Your property may be listed on one or more additional MLS affiliated websites giving you extra exposure! Keep in mind, neither ForSaleByOwner.com nor the Broker Affiliate are affiliated with these private websites and cannot control whether or not your listing is posted on any particular website.

Will my contact information be shown on the MLS and Realtor.com?

You will be the "Showing Contact" on the MLS, meaning that buyer’s agents will contact you directly if they would like to show your property to a potential buyer.

Realtor.com does not allow seller information to be displayed on their site because they cater to real estate professionals and have strict guidelines regarding property listings. Additionally, they make money by selling advertising and marketing packages to real estate agents. Real estate agents purchase these services based on the promise that they'll receive buyer leads directly.

If a potential buyer is interested in your property they can contact any real estate agent and provide the MLS number listed on your Realtor.com ad. The buyer’s agent will then contact you directly to set-up a showing of your property.

Why would a real estate agent want to list my home if they're not going to receive a commission when it sells?

Our Broker Affiliates work for a flat fee. They do this for several reasons including volume and more exposure for their name. Furthermore, if the Broker Affiliate brings you a buyer, they receive the 2-3% you've agreed to pay the buyer’s agent.

How many photos can I post on the MLS?

You can post one photo on the MLS and Realtor.com (the same photo will be posted on both). You will need to send your photo to your assigned Broker Affiliate. They will provide you instructions on how to do this. Additional photos may be available for purchase through your MLS broker at the price of $10 - $20 each.

If I select a package that does not include MLS can I upgrade later or do I have to pay for a full package?

You can upgrade to MLS from any plan for $399*.

If you currently have a listing with ForSaleByOwner.com and you would like to purchase an MLS listing go to the Features and Upgrades page of your Selling Center for more information and to purchase. Or contact Customer Support for assistance.

*MLS is not available in all areas

How can I purchase additional signs and "For Sale By Owner" products?

You can purchase signs and other "For Sale By Owner" products from our Online Shop. To locate our Online Shop from the homepage click Buy Yard Signs on the left side of the page, under Specialty Sites.

Can I purchase your products in a retail store?

Yes! Our signs are sold in Lowe’s home improvement retail stores across the country.

Can I purchase real estate forms on your site?

You can purchase Socrates real estate forms on ForSaleByOwner.com. To locate Socrates real estate forms from the homepage click Real Estate Forms on the left side of the page, under Tools.

Can you help me find a title company, attorney or other real estate related service providers?

ForSaleByOwner.com has a comprehensive database of professional service providers, which includes title companies, attorneys, home inspectors and, more!

Click here to visit our Service Provider Directory. To locate our Service Provider Directory from the homepage click Search Providers on the left side of the page, under Local Providers.

How can I advertise my business on ForSaleByOwner.com?

Service Provider Directory: To list your business in our Service Provider Directory click here for more information or click Service Providers on the left side of the homepage, under Partner With Us.

Strategic Partnership: ForSaleByOwner.com has many opportunities for strategic partnerships with home and real estate related service companies. Click here to partner with us.

Banner advertising opportunities are available! To advertise with us click here.

If I give you my email address, will you send Spam or sell it?

No. As a business policy, we never sell your email address or send you Spam.

Click here to view our Privacy Policy.

Will my e-mail address remain private after I list my property?

Yes. After placing an ad on ForSaleByOwner.com, your e-mail address is hidden behind the link "Click Here to Contact Seller". This security feature keeps your e-mail address from being added to bulk mailing lists and allows potential buyers to e-mail you through a form without having your personal e-mail address. When the message is forwarded to you, you have the option of replying to the message to reveal your e-mail address, putting you in charge of communication with the potential buyer.

I received a fraudulent or Spam e-mail through my listing. What do I do?

At ForSaleByOwner.com, we take Spam very seriously. If you have received a Spam message through your ForSaleByowner.com account we ask that you forward the message to abuse@forsalebyowner.com or select the message and click the Spam button in the My Email section of your Selling Center.

How can I protect myself from fraudulent offers and scams?

Click here to learn how to protect yourself.

How do I edit my ad? How often can I edit my ad?

You can edit your ad whenever you would like and as often as you would like. To edit your ad follow the steps below.

Editing your ad:

Login to your Selling Center
Click Edit Listing
Make changes to your listing
After you have made your changes, click Preview Ad to see a sample of your listing or click Save Changes to save your listing. Do not click your browser’s back button or you may lose your changes.
After you click Save Changes, you will receive on-screen confirmation that your changes have been saved.

Please Contact Support if you need assistance editing your ad.

Help! I am having trouble logging in.

If you have lost your password, enter your e-mail address in the box below and click Reset My Password. We will reset your password and send it to your e-mail address.

If you do not remember which e-mail address you used when you set-up your ad please contact Customer Support for assistance.

The Map-It feature on my listing shows my property in the wrong place, can I change it?

If your home is not showing up correctly when you click Map-It you can change the mapping site that it links to. We give you a choice of 3 different mapping sites to choose from: Yahoo, Google or MapQuest.

To change the Map-It feature on your listing follow these steps:

Login to your Selling Center
Select the drop down menu under Map
Choose a mapping site
Click View My Listing
Click Map-It. The new map will come up with your property location indicated.

In rare circumstances all three maps may have your property mapped incorrectly or may not have it mapped at all. Unfortunately, we are not able to change these maps since we do not own or control the sites that created them. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Can I deactivate my ad and then activate again later?

Yes, you may. We keep your information in our database for up to 12 months. If you wish to deactivate your ad, you will need to contact Customer Support.

When you are ready to reactivate your listing, simply login to your Selling Center and click Activate. If you are unable to login and activate your listing please contact Customer Support. If your listing has been deactivated for more than 6 months, please allow 7 days to retrieve your information and reactivate your listing. We’re sorry, listings that are left inactive for more than 12 months are purged from our system and cannot be reactivated.

How do I cancel my listing?

To cancel your ad click here to login, then click Cancel Listing. You will be prompted to answer a short survey before canceling your listing. After you have completed the short survey click Cancel My Ad. You will receive on-screen cancellation confirmation. Your ad will be deactivated immediately. If you did not receive on-screen cancellation confirmation, your ad has not been cancelled.

How do I cancel my Featured Home listing?

To cancel the Local Featured Home or Homepage Featured Home click here to login, then click Cancel below the notification for the feature that you have. You will be prompted to click Confirm Cancellation. You will then receive on-screen cancellation confirmation. If you did not receive on-screen cancellation confirmation, the feature has not been cancelled.

Can I upgrade my Monthly Plan to Until Sold?

Yes! You can upgrade to an Until Sold plan from the Monthly plan.

If you would like to upgrade your listing, go to the Features and Upgrades page of your Selling Center for more information and to purchase. Or contact Customer Support for assistance.

Why does my listing have an expiration date? I paid for an Until Sold listing.

At ForSaleByOwner.com we make every effort to ensure that our database of properties is as up to date as possible. Our buyers expect our home listings to be accurate and fresh. For this reason, all listings have an expiration date which can be extended simply by logging in to your Selling Center and clicking Extend Listing.

If your listing reaches the expiration date, we will send out a courtesy e-mail to ask if your property is still for sale. If we don't get an e-mail back from you then your listing will be deactivated until you request to have it reactivated.

To reactivate your listing, simply login to your Selling Center and click Activate. If you are unable to login and activate your listing please contact Customer Support. If your listing has been deactivated for more than 6 months, please allow 7 days to retrieve your information and reactivate your listing. We're sorry, listings that are left inactive for more than 12 months are purged from our system and cannot be reactivated.

What upgrades do you offer to give my ad more exposure? How do I upgrade?

You can also purchase any feature available on our site at the a la carte price. Available features include MLS*, Virtual Slideshow, Local or Homepage Featured Home, and Video Tour.

If you currently have a listing with ForSaleByOwner.com and you would like to purchase additional features go to the Features and Upgrades page of your Selling Center for more information and to purchase. Or contact Customer Support for assistance.

*MLS is not available in all areas

What is the difference between the Homepage Featured Home and the Local Featured Home?

The Homepage Featured Home is located on the homepage of ForSaleByOwner.com, with many properties from across the country. The Local Featured Home is located at the top of the search results page and includes properties that are similar to the search criteria entered. In either case, each featured property is rotated in the Featured Home spot with the other featured properties. The Featured Home changes every time the page is revisited or refreshed.

How do I reply to an e-mail from a potential buyer?

You can reply to an e-mail through your personal e-mail account, by using the reply function in your e-mail program or by typing the e-mail address of the sender directly into the recipient line of a new mail message. We do not currently have a feature to reply to mail from your Selling Center. Remember, your e-mail address remains hidden from inquiring potential buyers until you respond through your personal mail account.

How do I find out how many people have viewed my ad?

To find out how many people have viewed your ad, login to your Selling Center and scroll down to the Quick Stats section of the Listing Overview. In this section you can see how many times your listing has been viewed.

How do I find my listing on your affiliate websites? How do I find it on Yahoo.com?

Most of our affiliate websites have a separate real estate section where our listings are posted. Some of these websites have more than one type of search, so make sure you are searching for "For Sale By Owner" or "resale" properties, not agent listed properties.

Some reasons that your listing may not be posted on one or all affiliate websites:

Does the package you purchased include our affiliate websites? If not, you will need to login and upgrade your listing.
Did you just create your ad? Please expect it to take 24 hours after activating your ad for your property to appear on our affiliate sites.
Does your listing address match USPS's mailing address? Please check your property address to the mailing address on the United States Postal Service's website. If your street address, city, state, or zip code are not correct Yahoo.com will not accept your listing.
Is your listing posted as a Vacation Property or New Construction? Yahoo.com will not accept these property types. If you would like your listing posted on Yahoo.com, you should select an alternate property type for your listing.

Still can't find your listing? Contact Customer Support for assistance.

Please note: Depending on the location of your property and other factors, one or more of our affiliate websites may reject your listing. In these cases, we will do our best to get your property posted. Unfortunately, in rare circumstances, we may not able to post your listing on one or more of our affiliate sites since we do not control the listing criteria for these websites. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

How do I update my ad on your affiliate websites?

Changes made to your listing will be automatically reflected on our affiliate websites. Please allow up to 24 hours for your changes to be reflected on our affiliate sites.

When and how do I post photos of my property?

All listings come with the ability to post 6 color photographs. You will have the option to upload photos after you have paid for your ad. We recommend that you post photos – listings with photos get up to 80% more traffic than those without!

Photo Requirements: Photos should be 1 MB (megabyte) or less in size and they must be in one of the following file formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .bmp, or .gif. Horizontally (wide or landscape) oriented or cropped, square photos will give the best results. Vertically (tall or portrait) oriented photos may be uploaded but are not recommended.

Photo Upload Instructions

New Customers: If you are setting up a new listing you will be given a link to login and upload photos on the receipt page, after you have paid. If you missed this link, no problem! Simply follow the instructions below.

If you have an existing listing, login to your Selling Center and click Upload Photos. The instructions to upload photos are posted within your Selling Center and are also posted below.
On the upload page, click the first Browse button – this will be your Main Photo. A small window will appear that will allow you to "browse" through the files on your computer and locate the image file you'd like to upload. If you don't know where you have saved your photos then it may be hard for you to find them. We recommend saving them in My Photos or on your Desktop before you begin the upload process.
When you find the photo that you would like to post, double click on it. This will cause the browsing window to disappear. There should now be text in the box right next to the Browse button, this text is the file path for the image you selected.
Click Process Request at the bottom of the upload screen to upload your photo. The upload can take several minutes, especially if you are on a dial-up connection. When the upload is complete, the page will refresh and a link to your photo will appear in the place where the first Browse button was. It will say Main Photo. Put your mouse over the link to see a preview of your photo.
Repeat steps 2-4 for each photo you would like to upload. If you would like to, you can upload more than one photo at a time. If you receive an error message during the upload process please check the Photo Requirements above and make sure that your photos are in one of the allowed file formats and are not too big.

How do I post photos to my Virtual Slideshow?

If the package you purchased included the Virtual Slideshow feature you can follow the steps below to upload photos to your Virtual Slideshow. If your package did not include the Virtual Slideshow feature you can purchase it on the Features and Upgrades page of your Selling Center.

Photo Requirements: Photos should be 1 MB (megabyte) or less in size and they must be in one of the following file formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .bmp, or .gif. Horizontally (wide or landscape) oriented or cropped, square photos will give the best results. Vertically (tall or portrait) oriented photos may be uploaded but are not recommended.

Slideshow Upload Instructions

New Customers: If you are setting up a new listing you will be given a link to login and upload photos on the receipt page, after you have paid. If you missed this link, no problem! Simply follow the instructions below.

If you have an existing listing, login to your Selling Center and click Edit Slideshow. The instructions to upload photos are posted within your Selling Center and are also posted below.
On the upload page, click the first Browse button. A small window will appear that will allow you to "browse" through the files on your computer and locate the image file you'd like to upload. If you don't know where you have saved your photos then it may be hard for you to find them. We recommend saving them in My Photos or on your Desktop before you begin the upload process.
When you find the photo that you would like to post, double click on it. This will cause the browsing window to disappear. There should now be text in the box right next to the Browse button, this text is the file path for the image you selected.
Click Update Slideshow at the bottom of the upload screen to upload your photo. The upload can take several minutes, especially if you are on a dial-up connection. When the upload is complete, the page will refresh and a link to your photo will appear in the place where the first "Image Not Found" filler image was.
Repeat steps 2-4 for each photo you would like to upload. If you would like to, you can upload more than one photo at a time. If you receive an error message during the upload process please check the Photo Requirements above and make sure that your photos are in one of the allowed file formats and are not too big.

Related Questions:

How do I delete or change the order of my photos?

Can you help me upload my photos?

Yes! If you need assistance uploading your photos please contact Customer Support. A representative from our Customer Support Team will gladly help you through the process.

If you would like us to upload your photos for you, you can send them to us via e-mail or regular mail. Photos will be posted in the order that they are received – usually within 1 business day.

Mail: You can send us your standard, Polaroid or digital photos (on a CD) to post on your ad. We apologize, but we cannot upload copyrighted materials such as magazine clippings or travel brochures. Before sending us your photos, please write your listing number on the back of each photo in pencil. If you would like your photos posted in a particular order please number them as well. You can mail you photos to the address below.

ForSaleByOwner.com
Attn: Photo Department
230 West 200 South, Suite 3201
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Please include a self addressed stamped envelope if you would like your photos to be returned. Photos that are sent without a return envelope and postage will be discarded.

E-mail: You can send us your photos via e-mail to photos@forsalebyowner.com. Please do not send photos larger than 5 MB (megabytes) in size, as we may not receive your message. You will receive a confirmation message when we have received your e-mail. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, please check to make sure that you are sending your photos to the correct address and that they have left your e-mail outbox. Many e-mail providers have a maximum file size for attachments so you may need to send your photos one at a time.

Please contact Customer Support if you need assistance.

How do I delete or change the order of my photos?

Listing Photos: To change the order of your listing photos, you need to delete all 6 photos and then re-upload them in the order you want them to appear. To delete a photo, login to your Selling Center and click Upload Photos. Then check the box next to the photo you want to delete. Click Process Request to permanently delete the photo you selected.

Virtual Slideshow Photos: To change the order of your Virtual Slideshow photos you can either upload your photos in the order you would like over the ones you currently have posted or you can delete your photos and re-upload them. To delete a photo, login to your Selling Center and click Edit Slideshow. Then check the box below to the photo you want to delete. Click Update Slideshow to permanently delete the photo you selected.

Related Questions:

How do I post photos to my Virtual Slideshow?
When and how do I post photos of my property?

What is the best photo to use for my Main Photo?

Your Main Photo is the most important of all of your photos and may even be the most important part of your listing! This photo will be the very first photo on your listing and your flyer and will be used for any Featured Listings you have purchased.

Make sure to use a photo that makes potential buyers want to see more. When selecting a photo to use as your main photo, it is best to use a picture of the front of the home or property. Pick a photo that shows off the landscaping and other "curb-side" selling points. Most people will be drawn in by an "inviting" photo; one that is taken during the daytime and looks like a nice, clean place. If you are selling Vacation Property or Land, you may want to choose a photo that shows off the property's main feature, such as an ocean or lake view from the property. The goal is to entice potential buyers to read more about your property and click through your additional photos.

I replaced a photo on my ad with a new photo but I can still see the old one, why?

Most internet browsers store previously viewed web pages on your computer in order to allow faster browsing when you view the same page at a later time. For this reason, your photos may not seem to have changed on the Upload Photos page or on your property advertisement (your browser is pulling the old image from your browser's "cache" file).

If you have just uploaded new photos to your ad and they don't appear when you view the ad or view the pictures on the Upload Photos page click the Refresh button in the toolbar of your browser.

If refreshing the page does not correct the problem, hold the Ctrl key and press F5 on your keyboard, which will force your browser to download a new version of the page. You will now see the new photos. If the page did not refresh then the process was not completed.

How do I use the Video Player?

If a listing has a video click the "Video" link below the photo of the property. The video player will then appear. Click anywhere on the video screen to start the video.

Why wont the video play?

Make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download the latest version

How do I purchase video for my listing?

You can purchase the video feature from the Features and Upgrades section of your Seller's Admin.

How do I upload video?

Start at the Manage Video page in your Seller's Admin. Click the "Browse" button next to the upload field and you'll be prompted to select your video. When your upload is complete, you will see "success," which indicates that the process is complete.

* Please note that video files, because of their size, may require several minutes to upload.

After uploading your video, please allow up to 12 hours for your video to be converted to FLV (Flash Video) format. Your video will not appear on your listing until it has been fully converted.

What type of video file can I upload?

We accept the following video types: AVI, FLV, MPEG, QuickTime (.MOV), and Windows Media (WMV).

How large can the video file be?

The max size of a video is 100 MB. We recommend using a five minute video with dimensions 400 x 300 and a frame rate of 30 fps (frames per second).

Please note: Uploading a file that is larger that 100 MB may cause the video feature to function poorly, causing your video to be un-viewable by potential buyers.

Can I send you my video to upload? Is there an extra fee?

Yes, if you have purchased the video feature, you can mail us your video. We will digitize it and post it to your ad free of charge! All you need to do is send us your video*. We accept Digital8, MiniDV, DV, HDV, VHS, VHS-C, Beta, CD, SVHS-C, 8mm or Hi8.

Please send you video to the address below. Do not send your video to the Customer Support or Photo address.

ForSaleByOwner.com
4800 Baseline Rd, E-104
Boulder, Colorado 80303
*Please note that videos cannot be returned. One video will be converted and uploaded to your listing free of charge. An additional video may be submitted for a $25 fee. Please contact Customer Support for payment instructions before submitting an additional video.

Will you cut or edit my video for me?

We can help add key points but cannot cut or edit the actual video file.

How do I create key points?

Instructions to add key points to your video are located on the Manage Video page in your Seller's Admin.

Can I reactivate my video after it expires?

You will be able to repurchase the video feature from your Features and Upgrades section.

How do I delete my video?

If you would like to remove your video to upload a new one follow the steps below.

Warning! Deleting your video is a permanent action and cannot be reversed.

1. Go to the Manage Video page in your Seller's Admin.
2. Click the Delete Video button.

How can I purchase a Valuation (AVM) or Property Report?

You can purchase a Valuation Report or Property Report by following the links on the home page to Pricing Reports or Appraisals. If you are logged in to your Selling Center follow the links to Pricing Reports or go to www.forsalebyowner.com/appraisal.

I bought a package with a free Pricing Report how do I get it?

Login to your Selling Center and click View Pricing Report(s). From there you will be prompted to confirm your address to receive your free Pricing Report.

How up to date is the data in your reports?

The data used in our reports is based on public record information accessed from the county tax assessor and the county recorder and are updated as soon as the public records are updated. Public records are continually updated as new information is available. Some counties may take longer than others to report the data.

How often are your property reports updated? Should I buy a report every month?

Theoretically, a Valuation Report could be updated as frequently as weekly (since it is fed by new comparables introduced to the system at regular intervals) if a person wanted to track the moderate changes in value. However, real estate is more of a long-term investment and we feel that reviews every 3-4 months a likely adequate.

What is a Property Report?

This report will provide meaningful property information on the subject property as well as the nearby sales. Median and average sales prices for the area are provided to help in gauging the sales price behavior in the marketplace. The 15 nearby sales will also provide sales information indicating property transfers that have been recorded at the county courthouse.

What is a Valuation Report or "AVM"?

A Valuation Report is also known as an AVM. AVM stands for Automated Valuation Model and is a process to establish a market value of a property through "scientific" measures, versus a human's inclination. To determine a property's current value, an AVM uses computer decision logic based on sales trends, title records, neighbored analysis, market metrics, tax assessment databases and more. These reports assume a subject property is in average condition for the neighborhood with no substantial improvements or deficiencies when compared to any other typical home in the neighborhood. Once the searching and sorting for data is complete, the analysis is conducted and the AVM affixes a value estimate to the property.

It is important to note that an AVM is just once piece of the puzzle when pricing your home. You need to take into consideration the condition of your home, including any major or minor upgrades and renovations.

What is a Valuation Report used for?

A Valuation Report is used for several things:

Selling your house. A Value estimate is one piece of the puzzle to use in pricing your home for sale.
Calculating home equity. A Value estimate can help you see roughly what the appreciation of your property has added to your bottom line.
Timing a home-equity loan. To find out if you have enough equity to make it worthwhile asking for a loan.
Buying a house. Negotiating power, knowing how much a property is worth before you put in a bid. A Value estimate also give you an idea of local property values by letting you see what other homes in the area have sold for.

Is a Valuation Report the same as an appraisal?

No. A Valuation Report is not intended to be used as a replacement for an actual appraisal. It is a tool to help price your home. Valuation Reports are entirely objective in that they gather data, sort through it for comparability and then crunch those numbers to generate a value estimate. The key difference is that there is no human intervention. An appraisal requires that trained professional in that area gathers and sorts through data, makes a visual inspection of the property (which a valuation report doesn't), makes adjustments for differences between the comparable properties (comps) and the subject property and considers all of this information in their final evaluation for price.

What type of data is used to compile a Valuation Report?

A Valuation Report draws upon available sales data in a local market, and uses it as a comparison to the property being valued. That is, how do the characteristics, sale price, sale date and other attributes of the property being valued compare to the properties that have sold recently, and over time? Measuring value changes over time allows the Valuation Report to assess the trend of activity that has occurred. Analyzing current sales against the property being valued allows the Valuation Report to account for market activity. The Valuation Report then utilizes these attributes to render a current value estimate.

How is the value computed on a Valuation Report?

The value estimate uses scientific methods that employ statistics and mathematics and apply large amounts of data to the Valuation Report for analysis. Properties are compared to one another, and to the subject property for similarities and differences. Based on the data comparison, the model utilizes some properties and discards others in its assessment. For example, if the subject property is 2,500 square feet and one of the sales has 6,000 square feet, that sale may be discarded because of its dissimilarities.

What if I don't want to use this price? Can I make up my own price?

We recommend getting either a Valuation Report (AVM ) or CMA to use as a tool to help you price your home. There are many factors that go into determining the value of your property, including condition of your house, property values and the local housing market and trends. The price of your home should be based on both valuation and an objective assessment of current market conditions.

A few things to think about:

Are there a lot of houses on the market in the area?
Are houses selling slowly or quickly?
Is the economy doing well?
Are interest rates low or going up?

You need to research and find out what other houses have sold for in your area and what your competition has their houses listed for in your area. Armed with this knowledge you can then come up with a realistic price for your house.

What is "Market Value" or "Fair Market Value"?

Market Value is the price a home will command from a rational purchaser under normal conditions; the value of a home in today's market. It is basic supply and demand economics. As home inventory on the market (supply) increases, home prices will fall if the demand is constant or declining.

It is also important to note what Market Value is not. It is not the amount you paid for your home, how much you owe on your home, the great price your neighbor received for their home, or the assessed value, or even the appraised value. It can change over night when the interest rates change or when five more homes in your area come on the market at higher or lower prices.

What is a "Comparable Property" or a "Comp"?

A comparable property or "comp" is a term used for a property that meets the following requirements:

Similar in type and size to the subject property
Sold in the past year
Within a prescribed radius from the subject

Why does the comp have a different number of bedrooms/bathrooms/square footage?

The short answer is, not all homes are created equal. When looking for comps, the Valuation Report, the real estate agent, the appraiser all have to use the current sales data that is available to them. If an exact floor plan to the subject property has recently sold, that is generally considered a good comp. If that same property (exactly the same) sold three years ago, it's considered too old to be a good comp. Appraisers, CMA's and Valuations go through a logical process of making adjustments for difference is between properties. If a four bedroom, two bath home, with 2000 square feet is being compared to a five bedroom three bath home, the various valuation approaches will make an adjustment in value in an effort to make that sale "comparable" to the subject property. In that manner, they can judge value based on the similarities and differences of each property.

Why don't you have a Valuation Report for my property?

All of the property information reports that are available are based on public record information accessed from the county tax assessor and the county recorder. Although our report coverage is very high, there are areas that do not release the data in a timely manner or that county's information is not being collected. We are periodically adding additional areas so the coverage does change from time to time.

There is no Valuation Report for my property, how do I price my property?

There are many factors that go into determining the value of your property, including condition of your house, property values and the local housing market and trends. The price of your home should be based on both valuation and an objective assessment of current market conditions. For example, are there a lot of houses on the market in the area? Are houses selling slowly or quickly? Is the economy well? Are interest rates low or going up?

My Valuation or Property Report is wrong about my property? Why?

The Valuation Reports are based on public record information accessed from the county tax assessor and the county recorder. If you added bedrooms or bathrooms and have not had your property assessed since that time then data on your Valuation Report will not match the actual characteristics of your property.

Can I have the data on my Valuation or Property Report corrected? How?

All of the property information reports that are available are based on public record information accessed from the county tax assessor and the county recorder. In order to have the data on your Valuation or Property Report corrected you would need to go to your county assessor office to make an appeal.

How can I make my report reflect my upgrades/renovations?

These reports assume a subject property is in average condition for the neighborhood with no substantial improvements or deficiencies when compared to any other typical home in the neighborhood. Therefore, the Valuation report is not going to take into consideration those upgrades or renovations. The Valuation Report is one piece of the puzzle when pricing your home. The Valuation Report will provide a high and low range for your property. It is left to the buyers and sellers to make value adjustments based on how much the upgrades and renovations adds to them in terms of overall value.

I put in thousands of dollars worth of upgrades/renovations, shouldn't that make my home's value go up by at least the same amount?

Just how much any particular individual improvement might add to your home's market value, can often vary widely from market to market, dictated by the wants and needs of each neighborhood. Check out Lowe's Cost vs. Value Report at www.lowesmoving.com/images/pdf/115.pdf.

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