# Sell My Home: Your Options, Steps, and What to Expect By Opendoor Editorial Team | 2026-04-29 Ready to sell my home — now what? Whether you want top dollar, a fast close, or zero hassle, the path you choose matters more than anything else. This guide cuts straight to what you need: your three real options, a quick comparison, and a clear picture of what happens next. **Ready to sell? **Get a cash offer from Opendoor in 24 hours — no repairs, no showings, close on your timeline. [See what your home is worth →](https://www.opendoor.com/) ## Your Options for Selling Your Home There are three main ways to sell. Each one trades time, effort, and money differently. ### 1. Sell With a Real Estate Agent (Traditional) You hire an agent who handles pricing, marketing, showings, negotiations, and closing. This is the most common path and typically gets the highest sale price in a healthy market — but it takes the most time and requires you to prep, stage, and show the home. **Best for: **Sellers who want maximum market exposure and have 2–3 months to work with. ### 2. Sell By Owner (FSBO) You handle everything yourself: listing, marketing, negotiating, and paperwork. You avoid paying a listing agent’s commission, but you take on all the work — and statistically, FSBO homes tend to sell for less. Learn more about [how to sell your house by owner](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/how-to-sell-a-house-by-owner). **Best for: **Sellers with real estate experience, time to spare, and a buyer already in mind. ### 3. Get a Cash Offer (iBuyer / Cash Buyer) Companies like Opendoor make a direct cash offer for your home. No listings, no showings, no repairs. You pick your closing date. The trade-off is a slightly lower offer than the open market peak — but for many sellers, the certainty and convenience are worth it. Find out more about how to [sell for cash](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/sell-house-as-is-for-cash). **Best for: **Sellers who want speed, certainty, and no prep work. **Get your Opendoor offer today. **No obligation. No repairs. Close in as few as 14 days. [Request a cash offer →](https://www.opendoor.com/) ## Quick Comparison: Which Selling Method Is Right for You? | Method | Timeline | Typical Fees | Best For | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Real estate agent | 60–90 days | 5–6% agent commission + 1–3% closing costs | Maximizing sale price | | For sale by owner (FSBO) | 60–90+ days | 2–3% (buyer’s agent only) | Experienced sellers, known buyers | | Cash offer / iBuyer | 14–45 days | Service fee (varies); no repairs or staging costs | Speed, certainty, convenience | Not sure if now is even the right time? Check out our take on whether [is it a good time to sell](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/is-it-a-good-time-to-sell-a-house) before you commit. ## The Selling Process Overview No matter which path you choose, selling a home follows roughly the same sequence. Here’s what to expect: 1. **Price it right. **Research comparable sales (comps) in your area. Overpricing is the #1 reason homes sit unsold. An agent or an Opendoor offer takes the guesswork out. 2. **Prepare and list. **Declutter, clean, handle any must-fix repairs. Take quality photos. Go live on the MLS (or accept your cash offer and skip this step entirely). 3. **Show the home. **Schedule tours, host open houses, keep the place show-ready. With a cash offer, you skip all of this. 4. **Negotiate offers. **Review price, contingencies, and closing timeline. Your agent or the iBuyer platform handles this for you. 5. **Close. **Sign documents, transfer the title, and collect your proceeds. With a traditional sale this takes 30–45 days after an offer is accepted; with a cash buyer it can happen in a week. ## How Long Does Selling Take? - **Traditional sale (with agent or FSBO): **60–90 days on average from list to close — longer in slower markets. - **Cash offer / iBuyer: **As few as 14 days from offer acceptance to close. You pick the date. Market conditions, your price, and your home’s condition all affect timing. Get the full breakdown in our article on [how long selling takes](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/how-long-to-sell-a-house). ## What Does It Cost to Sell a Home? Selling isn’t free. Here’s a quick breakdown of typical costs: - **Real estate agent commission: **5–6% of the sale price (split between buyer’s and seller’s agents) - **Closing costs: **1–3% of the sale price (transfer taxes, title fees, attorney fees) - **Repairs and prep: **Varies widely — minor cosmetic updates to full pre-sale renovations - **Staging and photography: **$500–$3,000 depending on your market - **Cash offer / iBuyer: **Service fee in place of commission; typically no repair or staging costs Selling your property through Opendoor bundles the service fee and eliminates repair surprises — you know your net proceeds upfront. **Know your number before you list. **Opendoor’s offer gives you a clear, no-obligation cash price — so you can compare it to the traditional route with confidence. [Get your offer →](https://www.opendoor.com/) ## Frequently Asked Questions **Do you need a realtor to sell your home?** No — but it depends on your situation. Agents earn their commission by handling pricing, marketing, and negotiations. If you’re confident doing all that yourself, [do you need a realtor](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/do-i-need-a-realtor-to-sell-my-house) breaks down exactly when it’s worth going it alone. **Can I sell my property as-is?** Yes. Cash buyers and iBuyers like Opendoor typically buy homes in any condition. If you go the traditional route, selling as-is usually means a lower offer price since buyers price in the repair work. **What’s the fastest way to sell my home?** A cash offer is the fastest path — Opendoor can close in as few as 14 days. Traditional sales take 60–90 days even in hot markets. **I want to sell my home but I’m not sure the timing is right. What should I do?** Start by getting a no-obligation offer so you know what you’d net. Then read our guide on [is it a good time to sell](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/is-it-a-good-time-to-sell-a-house) to weigh market conditions. You’re never locked in until you accept. **What happens to my mortgage when I sell?** Your remaining mortgage balance is paid off at closing from the sale proceeds. You keep the difference (your equity) after paying off the loan, agent fees, and closing costs. **Why do people sell to Opendoor?** The most common reasons are: avoiding the uncertainty of a traditional sale falling through, skipping staging and showings, needing a specific closing date (relocation, buying a new home simultaneously), and wanting to know exact net proceeds upfront. For sellers already under deadline pressure — or who’ve already found their next home — the certainty of an Opendoor offer often outweighs the potential upside of a higher open-market offer that may or may not materialize. **Ready to move forward? **Opendoor makes it simple: request a free cash offer, review your options, and sell on your schedule — no repairs, no showings, no surprises. [Get your cash offer in 24 hours →](https://www.opendoor.com/) --- *Originally published at [https://www.opendoor.com/articles/sell-my-home](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/sell-my-home)*