How do I sell my Huntington Beach home by owner?

January 5, 2025 | 714-336-0394 | Scot@CampbellRealtors.com | Broker of Record – Coldwell Banker-Campbell Realtors

“For Sale by Owner” Tips for Huntington Beach Home Sellers

You don’t need to be a professional real estate agent to use many of the same tools and strategies to sell your home.

With the right resources, selling your home For Sale By Owner (FSBO) in Huntington Beach can be straightforward and cost-effective. Here’s how to get started.

Selling FSBO: The Pros and Cons

Before diving in, it’s essential to weigh the benefits and challenges of selling your home without a Realtor:

Pros:

Save on Commission: By skipping the agent, you save 2% to 5% of the sale price on average, potentially keeping more profits for yourself.
Full Control: From pricing to marketing, to arranging the showings, evaluating buyer qualifications, handling the offer paperwork, disclosures, and following up on the lender and escrow, you manage every aspect of the sale process.

Cons:

Possibly No Savings: A good Realtor will reach more prospective home buyers than you will as a For Sale by Owner. If the Realtor would have generated a “bidding war” and multiple offers for you, it is possible that your home would have sold for 5% to 10% more by hiring an agent.
Time-Intensive: Handling all aspects of the sale requires significant effort and attention to detail.
Risk of Undervaluing: Without professional market knowledge, you might sell your home for less than it’s worth.
Possible After Closing Lawsuit: It is essential that you properly disclose your knowledge of the condition of the house using the industry accepted forms. If you make an error of omission, you can be sued after close of escrow. A good Realtor will make sure you are in compliance with disclosure paperwork and procedures.

Step 1: Know Your Home’s Value

Accurately pricing your Huntington Beach home is crucial. Avoid relying solely on automated estimates from Zillow or Redfin, as they may not account for unique local factors. Instead:

Hire an Appraiser: Get a professional evaluation to understand your home’s true value.
Research Comparable Sales: Look at recent sales in neighborhoods like Seacliff, Goldenwest, or Huntington Harbour.

Step 2: Prepare Your Home for Market

First impressions matter. Take these steps to make your home stand out:

Deep Clean and Declutter: Ensure your home sparkles inside and out. Remove personal items to create a neutral space.
Stage Your Home: Highlight your property’s best features, design, and finishes. Distract buyers from noticing floorplan inadequacies by using the correct furnishings and artwork.
Professional Photography: High-quality photos are essential for online listings. Consider hiring a professional photographer to take still, drone, and video images. Create a 3D virtual tour so that out of area buyers can experience the home without traveling.

Step 3: Create a Winning Listing

Craft a compelling property description to attract buyers:

Highlight Features: Mention key upgrades like stainless steel appliances, air conditioning, pool/spa, flooring, smart home features, energy-efficient windows, or a remodeled kitchen.
Focus on Lifestyle: Emphasize the benefits of living in Huntington Beach, such as proximity to the beach, pier, shopping, parks, and top-rated schools.
Keep It Concise: Listings around 50 words perform best, so aim to capture your home’s essence in a few paragraphs.

Step 4: Build an Online Presence

Maximize your home’s visibility with digital marketing:

Social Media: Share your listing on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor. Use high-quality images and virtual tours to engage buyers.
Create a Property Website: Use platforms like Wix or Squarespace to build a dedicated site for your home. Include photos, descriptions, and contact information.
Paid Ads: Consider Facebook or Google Ads to target local buyers.

Step 5: Host an Open House

An open house is an excellent way to attract multiple buyers at once:

Signs: Put up at least 10 Open House directional signs to get prospective buyers to your home. Sign stores have these signs but call ahead for availability.
Set the Scene: Offer light refreshments and ensure the home feels welcoming.
Provide Brochures: Include high-quality photos, property details, and your contact information.
Follow Up: Gather attendee information and follow up promptly.
Neighbors Vs. Buyers: Many people attending the Open House will be neighbors, but be courteous because at least a few of them will be looking at the home for a friend or family member.

Step 6: Market the best you can even though you do not have access to the Realtor MLS:

Email Marketing: Use platforms like MailChimp to send updates to potential buyers and your network.
Referral Marketing: Ask friends, family, and colleagues to spread the word about your property.
Post on Social Media: Facebook, instagram, X, Linked-in are all place you can post information about your home sale.
Craig’s List: You can post your home for sale on Craig’s List.
For Sale Sign: Home Depot has For Sale by Owner signs, stake one in your front lawn.

Understand that there are many real estate agents who follow a business plan of contacting FSBOs to secure home listings. They will contact you to see if you will list with them, but they are not necessarily the best listing agent in your area.

If you do not get an acceptable offer within a few weeks, you should list the home with a Realtor. Partnering with an experienced individual real estate agent in Huntington Beach can improve your results. A knowledgeable agent brings expertise in the local market, sharp negotiation skills, and access to a much larger network of potential buyers. They’ll guide you through every stage, from market timing, preparing the home, determining the perfect listing price, marketing your home effectively, and managing the escrow to insure the on-time closing. If the Realtor generates multiple offers, the higher “bidding war” sale price may be much more than the commission you save by not hiring a good agent.

Important tip: Do not assume listing with a big “team” or “group” will result in you working with the most knowledgeable and experienced agent. While the “teams” tout their success in closing many homes and being #1 (in the state, country, or universe), the fact is they have many realtors who give “credit” to just one “team leader”. When listing your home, you may speak to that team leader initially, but your file will most likely be passed to a junior associate for the remainder of the transaction. The junior associate will have nowhere near the education, experience, and skill to be found in a top individual Realtor working in your market. A top individual agent will have assistants that help with photography, marketing, and transaction paperwork, but the important transaction tasks will be handled by the Realtor you hired!

Final Thoughts

Selling your home FSBO in Huntington Beach can be a rewarding experience that saves you money and gives you greater control over the process. By understanding the market, pricing strategically, and investing in quality marketing, you can set yourself up for success.

Once in escrow, you must by State of California statute, provide all the same disclosure information for your home as a For Sale by Owner as you would if the home was listed by a broker.

Essential information: If you do not disclose the defects you are aware of during escrow, the buyer can simply make a list of these undisclosed defects after close of escrow, obtain estimates for repair, and then file a lawsuit against you for the total cost of the repairs. You have a duty to disclose under real estate law statutes (regardless of being a For Sale by Owner), so you will lose in court if you do not disclose in writing during escrow.

Stay professional, stand firm, and you’ll be well on your way to closing a deal that reflects the true value of your home.

Yes, selling your Huntington Beach home FSBO can save you some commission money—especially with strong demand for coastal properties. But, all the commission savings and much more can be “lost” if you do not disclosure the material defects in writing. Disclose, disclose, disclose.

If the DIY approach doesn’t work out, hiring an agent remains a viable backup plan, armed with the knowledge and confidence you’ve gained from your FSBO experience.