How to Sell a House By Owner in Montana: Your 9-step Guide

Some intrepid homeowners in the Treasure State are eager to take control of their home sale and learn how to sell a house by owner in Montana. The DIY route can sound appealing if you’re looking to avoid paying agent commissions.

However, selling FSBO isn’t without challenges, from pricing your property correctly to navigating complex paperwork and finding serious buyers. In addition, homes sold by a Realtor typically sell for more money — enough to cover commissions and leave sellers with greater overall profits at closing.

For these reasons, selling by owner is not a popular choice. In fact, only 6% of homeowners sell FSBO. Of those sellers, nearly 40% already have an existing connection with their buyer, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR)

If the challenge of brokering your own deal appeals to you, this guide will walk you through how to sell a house by owner in Montana in nine steps. We’ll also share the pros and cons, pitfalls to avoid, and why working with a seasoned agent could still be a profitable option.

Unsure About Selling FSBO in Montana?

If you don’t have the time or expertise to list your home FSBO, partner with a trusted, top agent in your Montana community. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to find you the best agent for your unique situation.

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Editor’s note: No matter how you choose to sell your home, if you would like to consult with a top agent first, HomeLight can connect you to highly-rated professionals in your Montana market. Sales data shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for 10% or more than average agents.

Why sell a house by owner in Montana?

For Montanans choosing to sell FSBO, the motivation is usually to save on agent commissions. Historically, Realtor fees would cost the seller about 6%, which would include both the listing and buyer’s agent commissions — a roughly 3%/3% split. But with recent changes in commission rules, FSBO sellers now typically save only about 3%. This is because buyers are now responsible for paying their own agent fees.

To save the 3% listing agent fee, you’ll need to be ready to dedicate significant time and effort to every aspect of the sale, from pricing and marketing the property to negotiating and navigating the contracts.

Even so, selling by owner sale can offer a rewarding, exciting challenge and provide a sense of accomplishment. But before you jump in head first, it’s wise to carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits of selling a house by owner

• You could save up to 3% on listing agent fees.
• You can maintain full control over the entire sale process.
• You’re able to communicate directly with buyers.

Drawbacks of selling a house by owner

• FSBO properties typically sell for less compared to agent sales (see data below).
• It can take longer to sell a FSBO home without a network of buyers.
• You’ll need time to manage all communications and negotiations.
• Pricing your house correctly can be challenging and even risky.
• The cost of marketing falls entirely on you.
• You can face costly legal liabilities from improper disclosures.
• Showing your property to unvetted buyers can pose a safety risk.