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You listed your home, skipped the agent, saved the commission... but where are the offers?
If your FSBO home has been sitting on the market with zero or low activity, you're not alone. Many California sellers run into this wall especially when they list solo without a clear plan.
Let’s walk through the real reasons why your FSBO isn’t getting offers, and how to turn things around.
1. Your Price Is Too High (Even If You Think It’s Fair)
Buyers today are savvy. They have Redfin, Zillow, and market data at their fingertips. If your price doesn't match the market, they won’t even tour it.
Sellers often price emotionally:
- Based on what they paid
- What they "need" to make
- Or what a neighbor sold for 2 years ago
Instead, use recent sold comps. Look for:
- Similar square footage
- Similar condition
- Same zip code
- Sales in the last 90 days
Tip: If you’re not sure, get a pricing review from a flat fee service like ListLean. It’s fast and objective.
2. You’re Only Listed on One Site
This is one of the biggest FSBO mistakes. If you're only on Zillow or Facebook Marketplace, you're missing 90 percent of buyers.
Most serious buyers search:
- Redfin
- Realtor.com
- Their agent’s MLS portal
The only way to reach all those buyers? You need to be on the MLS.
You don’t need to hire a full service agent to do it. With ListLean, we post your home on the same MLS agents use for a flat fee. That gets your home syndicated to 500 plus sites automatically.
More eyeballs means more offers.
3. Your Photos Aren’t Selling the Home
First impressions matter. If your photos look dark, cluttered, or outdated, buyers will swipe right past your listing.
Quick photo tips:
- Use natural lighting during the day
- Shoot wide angles from corners of each room
- Clean and declutter before every shot
- Show every room buyers hate guessing
If you're not confident in your photos, hire a pro or use our FSBO prep checklist at ListLean.
4. You're Not Offering Buyer Agent Commission
Yes, you’re trying to avoid commission. That’s the point of FSBO, right?
But most buyers work with agents. If you don’t offer a commission (usually 2 to 2.5 percent), those agents will not show your home.
Offering a buyer agent commission doesn’t mean you’re giving up your savings. You’re just making your listing visible to more buyers and many FSBO sellers still come out ahead.
5. You’re Hard to Reach or Slow to Respond
When a buyer or agent calls, emails, or texts and gets no reply for 2 days they move on.
You might be busy. But if you want offers, you need to be available.
Tips:
- Check your spam folder daily
- Return calls within a few hours
- Be flexible with showings
- Set up a Google Voice number for calls and texts if you want privacy
The faster you respond, the more serious buyers see you as.
6. You Haven’t Updated Your Listing
Has your listing been sitting for weeks with no changes?
Stale listings feel abandoned. They drop in search rankings and get skipped by buyers who assume something’s wrong.
Try this:
- Update your description or photos
- Add a new headline
- Adjust your price (even a small drop triggers alerts)
Fresh listings feel exciting again. Some sellers get calls the same day after making small changes.
7. The Market Is Just... Slow
Sometimes it’s not your listing. It’s just the market.
Mortgage rates, local news, or even weather can affect buyer activity. If similar homes around you also aren’t moving, you’re not alone.
Keep showing the home, be patient, and stay ready. A buyer can come through at any time.
Final Thoughts
If your FSBO listing isn’t getting offers, don’t panic. But don’t wait and hope, either.
Start by checking your pricing, photos, and where your listing actually shows up online. Small tweaks can make a big difference fast.
ListLean was built to help FSBO sellers like you list smarter, look professional, and get seen on the sites that matter.
Check out our flat fee options and let us help you get back in front of buyers without giving up control.
You’re not stuck. You’re just one smart move away from your next offer.
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