Get my EXCLUSIVE For Sale By Owner Guidebook

The truth is, you CAN sell your home on your own.  Get absolutely everything you need to know about achieving the best result with my all-encompassing guide.

Thinking about selling your home without an agent? You’re not alone. Every year, thousands of homeowners across California choose to go the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route to save money on commissions and take control of their real estate transaction. But selling a home is a lot more than putting up a sign and hoping for the best.

That’s why I created this comprehensive, easy-to-follow For Sale By Owner Guide – a step-by-step FSBO handbook that gives you the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to sell your home like a pro. Whether you’re just starting to explore FSBO or already have your listing ready to go, this guide is packed with insider tips and proven strategies to help you sell faster, safer, and for top dollar.

Why Download This For Sale By Owner Guide?

This free guide isn't some generic checklist. It’s a professionally written and field-tested handbook based on years of real estate experience working with sellers in Silicon Valley and throughout California. In it, you’ll learn:

  • How to price your home effectively without undercutting your equity

  • What disclosures and forms you legally need to provide to buyers

  • Pro tips for staging your home to attract serious offers

  • Step-by-step marketing strategies that actually work

  • How to handle showings, offers, negotiations, and contracts like a seasoned agent

  • What mistakes FSBO sellers make that can cost them time and money

What You’ll Find Inside the FSBO Handbook

1. The Six Essentials to Selling Your Home
Selling your home involves much more than meets the eye. This section walks you through the six critical steps every FSBO seller needs to know, including pricing, staging, disclosures, marketing, showings, and negotiation.

2. Pricing Your Property to Sell
Learn how to analyze comparable home sales, account for market trends, and price strategically to attract the right buyers. The wrong price can cost you weeks or thousands — this section shows you how to get it right.

3. Setting the Stage for Success
Staging is one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in the FSBO toolbox. Discover affordable ways to make your home stand out, boost perceived value, and make a great first impression.

4. Disclose, Disclose, Disclose
Don’t leave yourself open to liability. We explain what disclosures are required in California, how to complete them properly, and what to watch out for when dealing with buyers and agents.

5. Marketing Like a Master
From professional photography to online listing tips, social media, and printed materials — this section teaches you how to craft a winning marketing plan that gets your home seen by serious buyers.

6. Managing Showings and Offers
You’ll learn how to qualify buyers, schedule private tours safely, evaluate offers, and negotiate counter-offers like a pro — all without an agent in your corner.

7. Handling the Paperwork
Real estate transactions involve dozens of forms and legal obligations. We break it down in plain English, so you understand what you’re signing and what it means.

Who This FSBO Guide is For:

  • Homeowners who want to sell without paying listing agent commissions

  • DIY-minded sellers who are confident in managing the sale process

  • Sellers in California who want to avoid common FSBO pitfalls

  • Homeowners who are interviewing agents and want to understand their own options better

Benefits of Selling FSBO (And How to Avoid the Risks)

Selling your home on your own can be empowering and financially rewarding. But it can also be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. With this FSBO guide, you’ll avoid common traps like:

  • Underpricing or overpricing your home

  • Missing critical disclosure deadlines

  • Falling for unqualified buyers

  • Mismanaging inspections and repairs

  • Losing control in the negotiation process

You’ll learn how to stay in compliance with California real estate law, protect your interests, and keep the deal on track through closing.

Get Expert Guidance Without Paying a Commission

As a seasoned REALTOR® with decades of experience in Silicon Valley real estate, I understand why many sellers want to go it alone. My goal is to help you succeed, whether or not you choose to work with an agent. This guide is my way of sharing what I’ve learned from the trenches — so you don’t have to learn the hard way.

This isn’t legal advice, but it is practical, real-world guidance based on California real estate best practices. Whether you’re in San Jose, Santa Cruz, or Sacramento, this FSBO handbook will help you sell smarter.

Download Your Free For Sale By Owner Guide Now

Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. Make sure you’re prepared with the right tools, information, and mindset.

Click below to get instant access to the For Sale By Owner Guide and start your FSBO journey with confidence:

Download the Free FSBO Handbook Now

No spam, no pressure — just expert help when you need it.

Testimonials


Highly likely to recommend

“Working with Seb was an extremely positive experience from start to finish. At the beginning of our home search, Seb took time to meet with us to clarify exactly what we were looking for. During this meeting, he asked excellent questions that helped us both refine and expand our home search parameters. During the home search, Seb was great about finding potential houses for us to look at and consider. He would often do a previsit for us and create a short, narrated video of a particular home so that we could see it before investing valuable time in an actual appointment. Once we found the home we wanted to buy, Seb was extremely patient and responsive (even while he was on a holiday vacation with his family) as he walked us through the somewhat complicated process of buying a short-sale home. His expertise in the local housing market helped us put together a winning bid that beat out 10 other offers. Seb was also very creative in working out solutions to several potential roadblocks we faced during the closing process. Even after the sale, Seb has been great about sharing his contacts for reliable, affordable plumbers, gardeners, and handymen, just the kinds of people that new homeowners need. Ademas, Seb es bilingue, entonces es un buen agente de bienes raices para los que hablan espanol. In short, if you are looking for a knowledgeable, responsive, creative, and hard-working real estate agent, who is also just a really nice guy, we highly recommend Sebastian Frey.”

Highly likely to recommend

“I had my mindset on a particular house that was increasingly looking as though I couldn't get into it. The house seemed out of my reach. It was a foreclosure and up for auction. One day a friend suggested I contact Seb to get his input on the situation. Maybe there was something he could do, I called Seb that evening and after giving him the rundown on the situation he explained how to go about it. He clearly demonstrated his expertise for this type of deal so I asked him right then and there if he would start in on it. It was great! Less than five minutes later we had a backup auction bid submitted on the house. Wasn't more than a few hours later that the bid was accepted. Over the next few days, things went quick as Seb further worked the details to make the deal happen. We worked through the contract, the inspections, and all the other requirements. He also recommended an excellent finance company that, like Seb, demonstrated a high level of professionalism, attention to detail, and a "make it happen" attitude. This is my first home purchase and I kept thinking that something has got to give as things were running so smoothly. All along though, Seb demonstrated confidence in that soon I'd have the place, and not to worry. Sure enough, a few weeks later escrow closed! All through the process, Seb demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, knowledge, and experience. And, in saying that, I highly recommend him for any of your real estate needs.”

Highly likely to recommend

“Melissa and I are profoundly grateful for our good fortune in connecting with Seb. I came to Seb upon the recommendation of a longtime Boulder Creek resident, and Seb patiently guided and coached me for a few years as I learned about real estate and the local housing market in the Santa Cruz area. When I got engaged and more got serious about buying, Seb provided excellent guidance and personalized attention during our home search. When it came time to make a deal on the old Brookdale cottage and acreage of our dreams, Seb especially shined. His prompt communication, skill in investigating and troubleshooting potential roadblocks, and extensive knowledge/experience were instrumental in closing our unusually complex deal involving a 1031 exchange. Though ours was not the highest, not the second-highest, or the third-highest offer on this property, Seb helped us convince the previous owners that we were the right folks for the house and that we could be counted on to close. We are so so grateful to have worked with Seb and would turn to him again in a heartbeat.”

Copyright 2023 • Seb Frey, REALTOR® • Compass • Lic. 01369847