5 Nontraditional Ways of Selling Your Home: Which Offers the Most Money?

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According to the newest data from Clever Real Estate, only 10% of recent home sellers used a newly popularized selling method, like using an iBuyer, a cash buyer company, or a flat fee MLS listing. Only 14% of respondents considered one of the newer options the best overall, and 60% chose one of these as the worst way of selling a home.

Even though many new ways are available to sell your home, there are mixed opinions about these strategies. 

Here are the five newer house selling methods explained in detail, along with insights into which strategy will likely get you the highest offer.

Selling To a Cash Buyer Company

“These companies typically purchase properties as-is, making them a great choice for sellers who need to move quickly or avoid repairs,” said Samuel Kile, a real estate investor and founding partner at Loyal Home Buyers. “However, the convenience often comes at a cost because offers are usually below market value, as cash buyers prioritize speed and certainty over maximizing price.”

It’s worth pointing out that 49% of respondents in the Clever survey stated that they would never consider this option for selling a home, and only 11% would choose this for their next home sale. While you can quickly sell your home with this newer method, you may not get the best price possible, which could cost you thousands. 

Selling To an iBuyer

iBuyers are tech-driven companies that offer nearly instant quotes based on market data and are known for purchasing homes quickly, so you don’t have to go through an extensive process. “While the offers may come closer to market value than those from traditional cash buyers, fees charged by iBuyers may offset the financial advantage,” Kile warned.

With 14% of respondents sharing that they would choose this option for the next time they sell their home, this isn’t the ideal choice if you want the highest price. If you’re not in a hurry to sell your home, you’ll want to explore other options. 

For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

The goal of this home-selling strategy is to save money on the commission by doing everything on your own. As the name implies, the person selling the home does so without hiring a real estate agent to help them. However, the study from Clever had 66% of respondents admit that this is the hardest way of selling a home. The Clever Real Estate website also found that homes sold with an agent made around $50,000 more. This means you won’t likely get the highest offer by trying to do everything on your own.

“FSBO doesn’t require the seller to pay any commissions but most are not factoring in the time it takes and the cost of that time,” said Ralph DiBugnara, a real estate expert and founder of Home Qualified. “If a property takes longer to sell with an inexperienced seller, more mortgage, tax and insurance payments can become an extended cost.”

You also have to consider that showing a home and marketing it will take time away from your job.

“FSBO can yield high offers if the seller is experienced in marketing, negotiation, and understanding the local market. However, the lack of professional guidance can lead to pricing errors, limited exposure, or legal pitfalls, which might ultimately reduce profitability,” Kile explained.

FSBO is best suited for sellers with significant experience or strong market knowledge. If you don’t have experience in real estate, you could get pretty overwhelmed with this option.

Hiring a Discount Broker 

Kile noted that discount brokers charge lower commission rates, often between 1% and 3%, while still providing many services traditional agents offer. This method balances cost savings with professional support, making it an attractive option for those looking to get as much out of the transaction as possible.

However, it’s essential to point out that some discount brokers may not offer the same level of marketing or service as full-service agents, which could affect the final sale price. You could also find that your discount broker struggles to negotiate with a professional realtor on the buyer’s side. 

Flat Fee MLS Listing

A flat fee MLS listing allows a property to be listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) without requiring full-service agent representation, which is very similar to the FSBO option. This selling method provides you with wide exposure to potential buyers while keeping your expenses low. 

“While it’s an effective way to save on commission, the seller must handle all other aspects of the sale, such as showings, negotiations, and legal paperwork,” Kile noted.

If you’re not experienced or comfortable with the home selling process, you may find this option to be exhausting.

Which Offers the Most Money?

“Truthfully, most of the time, the traditional route of hiring a real estate agent is going to help you secure the highest offers, and you may still end up earning more money even compared to alternatives like FSBOs,” said Seamus Nally, CEO of TurboTenant.

If you want to save money by not hiring a traditional realtor, the next best option is a discount broker offering partial services for a lower commission. The experts agreed that if you want to maximize the amount you get from selling your home, you’ll want to choose the discount broker strategy from the newer selling methods available.

“In my experience, the methods of selling that will result in the lowest purchase price for sellers are selling to cash buyers and iBuyers,” said Robert Washington, a broker at Savvy Buyers Realty. “Sellers without previous experience should probably consider listing with a professional.”

The overwhelming conclusion is that listing with a professional listing agent will likely result in the highest purchase price, even though the fees are typically substantial. If you want to save money, you can seek a discount broker who will market the property effectively, get you exposure on the MLS, and negotiate on your behalf.

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