From Tenley Town to Navy Yard, FSBOs are trending up. More Washingtonians than ever have saved thousands in commission selling their homes For Sale By Owner. Millennials lead the way, with over 55% comfortable selling their homes themselves.
You can save over $40,000 on a median $740,000 home selling a house in Washington DC by owner. We’ve spent thousands of hours researching the best FSBO sites in the Capital of the World to help you sell your Washington DC home fast!
Key Takeaways:
- Save thousands in agent commissions by using one of Washington DC’s best For Sale By Owner websites to sell your home.
- The top FSBO websites in Washington DC are Houzeo, Go to FSBO, Cottage Street Realty, ForSaleByOwner.com, and Zillow.
- Houzeo is the best paid FSBO website in Washington DC because of its MLS exposure, smart tech, and 5-star customer support.
- Go to FSBO follows with maximum photo uploads and a 6-month listing period.
- ForSaleByOwner.com and Zillow are the best free FSBO websites. But we don’t recommend them because they lack MLS exposure.
- Remember, MLS is the most powerful tool to reach serious buyers and agents across Washington DC.
Rankings: 5 Best For Sale By Owner Websites in District of Columbia
| FSBO Website | Fee | 100% Online | MLS Access | Online showings & offers | 5 Star Customer service** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Houzeo.com | $249 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. Go to FSBO | $299-$1299 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| 3. Cottage Street Realty | $299 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| 4. ForSaleByOwner.com | $0 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| 5. Zillow | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
What Are the Types of FSBO Websites?
There are two types of FSBO websites you can choose from to sell a house by owner in Washington DC:
- Paid FSBO Websites: The paid websites let you list your home FSBO on District of Columbia MLS for a fixed fee. The MLS syndicates your listing to 100+ real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, Trulia. your listings to Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, and other websites.
- Free FSBO Websites: They provide a free listing on their own website but not on the MLS. The lack of MLS exposure limits the number of buyers and can reduce the selling price.
Reviews: Best Paid FSBO Websites
1. Houzeo: District of Columbia’s #1 FSBO Website
BEST FSBO WEBSITE
Listing Fee: $249Of all the FSBO websites, Houzeo has the most number of homes for sale. Houzeo offers 3 FSBO listing packages with MLS access:
- Silver Package – $249: Your property gets an MLS listing with 24 photos, and for 6 months. It is also visible on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc. With this package, you can make unlimited changes to your listing.
- Gold Package – $299: You can post the maximum number of photos, avail licensed broker assistance, get access to seller disclosures, and a premium yard sign.
- Platinum Package – $349: You get virtual full assistance from a licensed broker and a 12-month listing term.
Based on the plan you choose, there’s an additional 0.5% to 1.25% due at closing.
Here are the key features that make Houzeo one of the top FSBO websites:
- Max Exposure: Along with the MLS, your property gets visibility on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other websites.
- 5-Star Customer Service: Houzeo has a fully staffed customer service desk with 5-star rating for prompt assistance.
- No Hidden Fees: You bypass the listing agent commissions and pay a small flat fee to list your home on the MLS. Remember, all fees are disclosed upfront, so there are no Houzeo hidden fees.
- Free Home Value Estimator: With Houzeo, you can also get a free home value estimation within 30 seconds. It helps you set a listing price.
There are no red flags with Houzeo.
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google & Trustpilot.
» Houzeo Reviews: With 11,000+ reviews and a 4.7 star-rated mobile app, Houzeo is the most trusted website to sell FSBO.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo’s Gold plan for most home sellers. It offers the best combination of 5-star customer service, Houzeo’s unique technology, max exposure, and broker assistance. And with the Gold plan, you’ll save between 2% and 5% of your sale price in commission.
2. Go to FSBO
LOCAL EXPOSURE
Listing Fee: $299GoToFSBO.com offers 4 FSBO package that help you list on the MLS:
- Basic Package – $299: You can list your house for 6 months and add up to 10 photos. The package also includes a home-selling success kit.
- The Works Package – $550: Under this package, you can list your house for 6 months and upload the maximum number of photos allowed by the MLS. You can also access a lock box, CMA, and seller disclosure forms.
- The Whole Enchilada – $799: You can list your house on the MLS for 12 months and update your listing details as often as you like during that period.
- Full-Service Package – $1,299: Your MLS listing stays live for 12 months or until the deal is done. The package also includes professional support with pricing, paperwork, and negotiations to help you close with confidence.
These are some pros of GoToFSBO.com:
- Wide Market Exposure: You will get listed on major real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and more.
- All Necessary Disclosures Provided: You will be provided with all necessary contracts, forms, and disclosures that are essential to sell a house.
- Free Cancellation: GoToFSBO.com allows you to cancel your listing any time before signing the listing agreement without any additional charges.
In our research, we came across some drawbacks that you need to know:
- Less Features in Basic Package: Essential features like a comparative market analysis and disclosure forms are not included in the basic package.
GoToFSBO.com has a 4.8 rating out of 5-star from 60+ reviews on Google.
👉 Our Take: Go To FSBO provides a good number of services, such as unlimited listing changes and negotiation support. However, the basic package doesn't include essential features, and the company operates only in limited areas.
3. Cottage Street Realty
GREAT LOCAL EXPOSURE
Listing Fee: $299 - $999Cottage Street Realty is a licensed brokerage. They offer FSBO listing services with MLS access in DC, Maryland, and Virginia:
- Basic – $299: You can add up to 50 photos and list your house for 6 months. You will also be provided with important contracts and disclosures.
- Showcase – $399: You can add the maximum number of photos along with a 6-month listing period. You can also access combo key box and FSBO yard sign upon request.
- Premium – $799: You can list your house for 12 months. You can also access services like market analysis and contract review.
- Full Service – $999: Your property is listed until it’s sold. This package includes everything from the other packages, and additionally you get negotiation assistance, a professionally installed signpost, and docu-sign contracts.
Additional Services:
- Open House Advertisement – $15
- Combo Lockbox – $50
- Market Analysis – $59
- Showing Time – $65
Based on our research, the benefits of Cottage Street Realty are:
- Wide Market Exposure: Your home gets listed on the local MLS and displayed on major real estate websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, etc.
- Legal Document Availability: All packages include state-wise contracts, forms, addendums, and disclosures you need to sell your house.
- Buyer Lead Forwarding: Buyer leads are directly forwarded to you with no agent involvement. This makes negotiations easy.
Here are some limitations of Cottage Street Realty:
- Limited Coverage: Cottage State Realty offers real estate services only in the states of DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
- Extra Charges for Additional Services: Besides the premium packages, you have to pay extra for services like negotiation support, combo lockbox, showing time management, yard sign, etc.
- Limited Reviews: Despite being in the business for over 18 years, the company does not have enough credible reviews on online platforms.
Cottage Street Realty has 5 out of 5 star rating from 15+ reviews on Google.
👉 Our Take: Despite offering 4 flat fee packages, Cottage Street Realty charges extra for essential services like market analysis, yard signs, and lockboxes on their basic plans, making the true cost higher than advertised.
Reviews: Best Free FSBO Websites
You can check the reviews of the top free FSBO sites in District of Columbia here.
1. ForSaleByOwner.com
FREE FSBO LISTING
Listing Fee: $0ForSaleByOwner.com offers only 1 FSBO package:
- ‘Do It Yourself’ FSBO Package – $0: In this package, your home only gets listed on the ForSaleByOwner.com website. You don’t get an MLS listing. Your property is not visible on Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, etc. This limits your exposure and offers.
These are some pros to consider:
- Nationwide Coverage: ForSaleByOwner.com provides coverage throughout the United States.
- Control and Flexibility: You get a customizable listing and a personalized dashboard to manage your home sale.
- Direct Buyer Interaction: You can directly communicate with potential buyers through their messaging system.
We have found certain cons about ForSaleByOwner.com in our research:
- No Exposure: You can only list on the ForSaleByOwner.com website. It does not get syndicated to other real estate websites like Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com.
- Lack of Technology: It can be difficult to manage showings, negotiations, and the paperwork for selling a house without a Realtor manually.
- Lead for Rocket Homes: Your listing information is shared with Rocket Homes agents. They may frequently contact you to solicit MLS listings.
ForSaleByOwner.com has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Best Company.
» ForSaleByOwner.com Reviews: Read our in-depth review to learn if you should opt for ForSaleByOwner.com
👉 Our Take: ForSaleByOwner.com offers a free listing, but without MLS exposure, your property won’t reach local buyers or agents in your area. We recommend them if you're a marketing pro, but if not, you likely won’t get any offers.
2. Zillow
REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
Listing Fee: $0Zillow offers only 1 FSBO listing plan to home sellers:
- FSBO Listing on Zillow – $0: You can list your home for free on Zillow’s FSBO platform and on Trulia. However, your home won’t be on the MLS. This limits your home’s exposure.
You should consider these points while choosing Zillow:
- No Listing Fee: You can list your home on Zillow’s FSBO website for free with a video and unlimited photos.
- Free Cancellation: Zillow listings can be cancelled without any additional charges or hidden fees.
- Nationwide Coverage: Zillow’s For Sale By Owner services are accessible in all 50 states.
- User-Friendly Interface: Their website and mobile app are easy to use and navigate. Users can search for properties based on filters like location, price, features, and other criteria.
We identified several disadvantages of listing with Zillow:
- Slow Listings: Your listing can take up to 72 hours to update from the time you submit your property details.
- Inaccurate Zestimate: Zestimate, Zillow’s property valuation tool is not always accurate. This misleads buyers and sellers.
- Limited Support: Zillow’s customer support may not match the level of personalized guidance other FSBO websites offer.
Zillow has a rating of 1.6 out of 5 stars from 400+ reviews on Trustpilot.
» Zillow’s For Sale By Owner Reviews: Read our in-depth review on Zillow and see what other sellers have to say.
👉 Our Take: We don't recommend selling FSBO on Zillow. It's like throwing a party and forgetting to send the invites. Your listing is buried in the ‘Other Listings’ tab, like being stuck in the VIP line with no bottle service. You avoid commissions, but you miss the exposure.
🚩 Beware of FSBO Companies With Hidden Fees
Some FSBO companies come with hidden fees that they don’t mention in their pricing section. They provide free or affordable listings, but charge extra for yard signs, lockbox, etc. This increases your overall cost of selling a house in District of Columbia and reduces your savings.
For Sale By Owner Websites District of Columbia: How Much Can You Save?
Thousands! Maybe even almost $40,000 on a $740,000 home in the Capital of the World.
With best FSBO sites like Houzeo, you can list your home on the MLS for just $249—that’s less than a seafood dinner! You can save a whopping $40,451 and use it for a staycation at a D.C. hotel, a rooftop brunch, or a tour through Smithsonian museums.
| Service Provider | Fee in District of Columbia | Savings |
| Traditional Agent | 3% Listing Fee + 3% Buyer’s Agent Commission – $44,400 | $0 |
| Houzeo | Fixed Fee – $249 + $3,700 | $40,451 |
How to Choose the Best FSBO Website in District of Columbia?
To choose one from the top For Sale By Owner websites in District of Columbia, you need to consider these 4 factors.
- Do they list on MLS? You should opt for a platform that offers Flat Fee MLS service in District of Columbia for better exposure. It will lead to more buyers and a higher selling price while maximizing on savings.
- How is their user experience? Look for easy to navigate FSBO websites. They should have features like mobile app, virtual tours and offer-management.
- What are their prices? Evaluate the packages with the services they offer. Some provide free listing-only services. Whereas, others charge a flat fee or a percentage of the sale price for comprehensive assistance.
- Is their customer support good? Look for platforms that offer cutting edge customer service and provide guidance to the sellers. Choose a service with 5-star customer support like Houzeo.
👉 Ready to Sell FSBO? List your home here for max exposure!
How to Sell Your Home With District of Columbia’s #1 FSBO Website?
Here’s how to list your home on For Sale By Owner listing sites in District of Columbia:
- Find the Best FSBO Website With MLS Access: Choose a FSBO platform that offers MLS listing when selling a house by owner in District of Columbia. Your property will be visible on every real estate website from Tenley Town to Navy Yard.
- Create Your Account: Most FSBO sites with MLS access require an account, and Houzeo makes it easier. Manage your MLS listing, showings, and offers from your phone—whether you’re brunching in Adams Morgan, biking through Rock Creek Park, or stuck on the Beltway.
- Choose a Listing Plan: Select a package that fits your needs to make your home-selling smooth and effortless. But don’t break your bank—choose the plan that’ll get your home sold under the sunsets over the Potomac.
- Enter Property Details & Add Photos: Time to show off your property. Add details like the number of beds, baths, etc. Hire a real estate photographer in District of Columbia to flaunt that swanky pool in your Georgetown townhouse Good photos = Faster sale!
- Sign the Agreement: Review and sign the listing agreement. Complete seller disclosure forms carefully. If it’s not a minor fix, disclose it—District of Columbia’s got rules, and you want to stay on the right side of them.
6 Mistakes to Avoid With a District of Columbia FSBO Website
Here are some rookie mistakes home you must avoid when they list a home FSBO:
- Ignore the MLS: If you don’t list on the MLS, it is like throwing a pool party in Orlando during a hurricane. Use Houzeo if you’re wondering how to list your home on District of Columbia MLS and gain visibility on 100+ sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.
- Price Your Home Inaccurately: To sell your home quickly in the current District of Columbia housing market, you need an estimate of your property’s value. Without it, you may price your house inaccurately. An asking price that’s too high will scare buyers away. Too low, and you’re leaving money on the table. Use a home worth calculator to get the right price.
- Market Ineffectively: To add poor quality photos is like showing up to the National Mall in flip-flops and a blazer. Add professional photos, write a compelling description, and install a yard sign – then watch the offers roll in faster than joggers on the Mount Vernon Trail at sunrise.
- Overlook Seller Disclosures: Legal forms and District of Columbia seller disclosures are mandatory. Miss something, and you’ll be sued faster than someone slipping on a the marble steps of the Capitol on a humid day. Hire a District of Columbia real estate attorney to handle the legalities.
- Fail to Negotiate Smartly: If a buyer lowballs you like an off-season Georgetown Waterfront Airbnb rate, don’t roll over. Stay firm on your price, closing dates, and repairs. Buyers will test you—hold your ground like a commuter on the Red Line at 8 AM.
- Choose the Wrong FSBO Service: Choosing a FSBO service that provides limited exposure will mean more days on the market. Get your house on the MLS and watch thousands of buyers looking for District of Columbia homes for sale check out your listing on Houzeo.
» Houzeo Reviews: Find out what customers have to say about Houzeo – District of Columbia’s best home selling website.
