FAQ's

How long is the contract with you to sell my house?

First of all, you do not sign a contract with us. You are not obligated to a long term commitment. You simply determine what package works best for you and complete the transaction online or if you prefer, you can email us or call Toll Free 800.575.4911 to list your For Sale By Owner property on our HomesByOwner.com website.

How long will my home be on your site?

All of our flat fee packages allow for your property to be advertised on our website until 'Sold'. There is no time limit. You decide how how you want the ad to run.

How long do I have to wait until buyers can see my home advertised here?

After the property information and photos of your home are loaded on our website, your listing is posted for all to see. There is no waiting period.

In most cases we will have your listing posted on the HomesByOwer.com website the same day you contact us. This is assuming we can take photos with proper lighting. Otherwise, allow 24 hours for your property to be posted and advertised on the internet. 

How long have you been in business?

HomesByOwner.com was established in 1995. It is the oldest and largest For Sale By Owner website on the internet. The site receives 50+ million hits a month. The HomesByOwner.com website has a new property listed every 2 minutes. Everyday.

How much does it cost to advertise on your website?

We have various packages available, depending on the level of service you require. You can check these out by going to 'Sell A Home'.

HomesByOwner of Durham Region prides itself in offering the most features for the lowest price of internet based For Sale By Owner companies.

Are you a real estate agent or company?

No. We are not licensed in the Province of Ontario to practice real estate. We cannot do things like show your property or work with you and the buyer to negotiate an offer on your home. Simply put, we cannot provide the services a real estate agent can. Our company provides marketing packages to home sellers that wish to sell privately. 

Will my home be listed on the MLS system?

No, you must do this through a real estate agent. If you would like a referral to one, call us Toll Free at 800.575.4911 and we would be happy to help.

Who completes the description of my home?

When we come to your home to take photos and video, we will compose a professional presentation that will captivate buyers. We do this with your assistance, since no one knows your property better than you.

Who takes the photos and video of my home?

Our packages include us taking the photos and video for you. However, you can load your own if you wish. If you complete the listing process yourself, we receive an email confirming your order. We will contact you to deliver the signs and take photo and video, if necessary.

Why should I choose HomesByOwner?

HomesByOwner was established in 1995. It is the oldest and largest For Sale By Owner website on the internet. The site receives 50+ million hits a month. A new property listing is posted on our website every 2 minutes. Everyday.

Our marketing packages offer the most for the least amount of money. You are also provided with an Ex-Realtor 'Peace of Mind' Private Sale Guide. This contains a wealth of information that will make your private sale transaction go smoothly. Included is a 'Peace of Mind' Offer Preparation guide to give you the directions you need to complete your paperwork.

Our website contains only current listings. We keep on top of all properties posted here and will delete them or mark them sold as necessary. Some FSBO websites have properties listed that sold years ago. Ours does not. We don't play that game.

HomesByOwner of Durham Region is owned by a local affiliate. You can contact us Toll Free 800.575.4911 or by email. Some companies are located in another country. We are just down the street.

How do I make changes to my listing?

Go to the 'FSBO User Center' and enter your username and password. It is available 24/7 and is real time management. This means that any changes you make to your listing take effect immediately. You can change the price, add an Open House, change any details, change photos and so on. You are in complete control of the way your property is presented to buyers.

I am going on vacation. How do I take my house off the market?

In the 'FSBO User Center', click 'Change Status' and select your choice. You will also take your signs down. When you want to resume marketing your property, activate the listing.

How do I handle the real estate agents that contact me to list my home?

Real estate agents are going to come at you from every direction when you start marketing your home privately. They are salespeople that survive on commission only. They will do everything in their power to get you to list with them. Some will even attempt to scare you by claiming that if you do anything wrong, you are going to land in legal hot water. Everyday thousands of people sell their property themselves and don't have a problem.

The birth of the internet has changed the real estate business forever. It has taken the control of selling real estate out of the hands of realtors. A home owner can now market their property themselves and save thousands of dollars in real estate fees. Real estate agents know this and will make every attempt to get their 'For Sale' sign on your front lawn.

Each of our marketing packages includes a 'Peace of Mind' Private Sale Guide. Included is all the information you need to sell your own home problem-free.

The thought of attempting to complete the mountain of paperwork myself has me terrified. What can I do?

Based on our experience, this is the only aspect of selling private that creates some anxiety in sellers. And it is not a mountain of paperwork. The primary pieces of paperwork you will be dealing with are the Agreement of Purchase and Sale and the Waiver.

Each marketing package offered by HomesByOwner of Durham Region includes a 'Peace of Mind' Offer Preparation kit. When a buyer decides to purchase your property, you will have everything you need to start the paperwork process.

HomesByOwner of Durham Region has built a network of local real estate lawyers. When you list your property with us, you will receive the names and contact information for legal professionals in your area. You can select the one closest to you.

In any event, you will have the guidance of a legal professional. They will help you make your private sale run smoothly. At the time of initial contact with the lawyer, inquire what fees will apply. 

What if I have a question or need some help from you?

You are more than welcome to contact us by email or telephone - Toll Free 800.575.4911 - at anytime with any questions or concerns you might have. We supply unlimited support to sellers with our packages.

I don't like to disclose my credit card information over the internet. What can I do?

Our system is setup that once you select the package you want, you will checkout and pay by credit card through PayPal. PayPal is the number one choice of online businesses for payment over the internet. The system is safe and secure.

You can also pay by cash, cheque or money order. You can call us Toll Free 800.575.4911 or by email and we will make the necessary arrangements for you.

I purchased a package and want to upgrade to another. What do I do?

No problem. Call us Toll Free 800.575.4911 or email us. We will make the necessary arrangements. You will only pay the difference between what you have already paid and the price of the new package.

How do I get a For Sale sign for my front yard?

This is all explained under the package you select. We use a professional sign installation company. They will install a post like the ones you see holding real estate signs in your neighbourhood.

We strongly recommend the sign package. The For Sale yard sign will be personalized with your phone number and 'DIRECT' web address. Attached to your sign post will be a feature sheet holder. Those driving by don't have to look for a pen and write your info on a scrap piece of paper which they will lose. They can take a feature sheet that contains your property details, your 'direct' web address and your contact information.

We also supply you with directional signs personalized with your address. These are placed on busy streets to point traffic to your listing. 

Can I refer new customers to you?

Please do. We promise that they will receive the same high level of service you did.

If I am listed on your website, can I list with a real estate company?

You can if you wish. For more information, call us Toll Free 800.575.4911.

I am currently listed with a real estate company. Can I post my property on the HomesByOwner.com website?

No. We don't suggest it. When you signed the listing agreement with the real estate company, you gave them the sole and exclusive right to market your property. There are other obligations in the contract that you must abide by.

We are happy to explain this further. Call us at 800.575.4911 for more information.

I saw a home for sale on your website and I don't know what to do.

This is a private sale real estate website. You will be dealing directly with the seller. There are many benefits. No one knows the property and surrounding area better than the owner. You might also purchase the property for less than if it were listed with a real estate company. The seller may agree to share some of the money they would have paid as a real estate commission.

If a listing on our Durham Region For Sale By Owner website is of interest to you, you can contact the seller by phone or email. This information is in each listing displayed. You will make an appointment to view the property. If you want to proceed with an offer, you can discuss the details with the owner who has the paperwork required to complete this part of the sale. It is our suggestion unless you have an understanding of the real estate forms used in Ontario, you contact a legal professional. If you don't have a lawyer in mind, call us Toll Free 800.331.3771 and we will refer you to one in your area.

Are there any 'hidden' costs (or commissions) that need to be paid once a house is sold?

No. All you pay is the flat fee for the package you select. Call us at 800.575.4911 for details.

Is there a preferable time of year for house sales to be made?

Traditionally, real estate sales are stronger in the spring and fall. However this is not carved in stone. Sometimes these seasons are quiet and summer or winter are the busiest months in the real estate business.

Do you have any references from successful private sales on the HomesByOwner.com website?

Yes we do. However we prefer not to burden our customers with taking time each day to answer phone calls. You can read testimonials from private sales on our home page or examples of for sale by owner sales.