61% of home sellers think of choosing the For Sale By Owner route. And it’s evident why! You get to save a whopping 3% on listing agent commissions with FSBO. That’s a potential saving of $23,790 on a typical $793,000 home in the Treasure State.
So, whether you’re in Missoula or Sidney, you can also go FSBO and increase your profits. But how? Selecting the right FSBO website is the key! Opt for the best For Sale By Owner website in Montana that offers personalized support, easy scheduling, and maximum exposure—all in one place!
Rankings: 7 Best For Sale By Owner Websites in Montana
FSBO Website | Fee | 100% Online | MLS Access | Online Showings & Offers | 5 Star Ratings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Houzeo.com | $399 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
2. FSBO.com | $399 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
3 Montana Flat Fee MLS | $299 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
4. Flat Fee Realty | $299 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
5. Facebook Marketplace | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
6. Zillow For Sale By Owner | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
7. Craigslist | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
What Are the Types of FSBO Websites?
There are two types of FSBO websites you can choose from to sell a house by owner in Montana:
- Paid FSBO Websites: These websites list your home on the MLS for a flat fee. The MLS syndicates your listings to Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, and other websites.
- Free FSBO Websites: When you list for free, your listings are visible on the website and not on the MLS. No MLS exposure means less buyers and a lower sale price.
7 Best For Sale By Owner Websites Reviews in Montana
Here’s our review of the top For Sale By Owner sites for Montana homeowners:
Reviews: 4 Best Paid FSBO Websites
1. Houzeo
Houzeo offers 4 FSBO MLS listing packages:
- Bronze – $399 + $350 at closing: This package offers a Houzeo listing only for 6 months with 24 photos.
- Silver – $409 + 0.5% at closing: This offers maximum photo upload and provides you with seller disclosures.
- Gold – $429 + 0.5% at closing: This is Houzeo’s signature MLS package and includes all the technology Houzeo is known for, such as Houzeo Showings, Houzeo Offers, and DigiTransact.
- Platinum – $499 + 1% at closing: It includes the assistance of a licensed broker to help you with negotiations, seller disclosures, and closing.
👉 Our Take: We recommend the GOLD plan. You’ll have access to Houzeo tech, making managing showings and offer negotiations easy!
These are the key features that make Houzeo one of the top FSBO websites to list with:
- Max Exposure: Houzeo’s MLS packages give you access to the MLS, Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other websites.
- 5-Star Customer Service: Houzeo has a fully staffed customer service desk available 6 days a week. Chats and emails are open 7 days a week.
- 100% Online: Houzeo is a high-tech platform with easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers. Its powerful house search app makes your home visible to interested buyers on the go.
- No Hidden Fees: In most states, you’ll pay just a small flat fee to list on MLS by owner. Remember, all fees are disclosed upfront, so there are no Houzeo hidden fees. You also bypass the listing agent commission.
- Free Home Value Estimator: Now, you can get a free home value estimate within 30 seconds. It helps you set a listing price.
Houzeo’s services are limited in Wyoming, South Dakota, and West Virginia. This means your listing may take more than 12 hours to get updated.
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google & Trustpilot.
» Houzeo Reviews: With over 10,090+ happy customers, Houzeo is the most trusted FSBO website.
Houzeo.com is one of the best For Sale By Owner sites in Montana. With Houzeo’s Flat Fee MLS listing service, you can save thousands on Realtor commissions. Moreover, advanced technology, listing exposure, and 5-star customer support helps you sell your house as FSBO like a pro.
2. FSBO.com
FSBO.com has 2 packages for FSBO home sellers.
- Basic Package – $99: This package includes listing your property on FSBO.com and Redfin for 6 months.
- MLS Package – $399: With this package, you can list your property on the MLS for 6 months and upload up to 20 photos.
👉 Our Take: We recommend the $399 MLS package, as it gives you maximum exposure through an MLS listing. Your listing is syndicated to popular real estate websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and hundreds of others.
Here are some key highlights of listing with FSBO.com
- Multiple Categories of Listings: You can feature your listing in a special section dedicated to foreclosure, pre-foreclosure, tax lien, or bankruptcy.
- Simple User Interface: Its basic interface lets you input relevant information to create your listing.
During our research, we identified several disadvantages of listing with FSBO.com. Here’s some of them:
- Limited Automation: You have to manage all the paperwork manually as there is no online automation available.
- Unpredictable Broker Quality: There is no way to tell which local broker will list your property. Online reviews for FSBO.com are mixed, which indicates good service in some places only.
- Extra Fees for Listing Photos: You have to pay $50 to $60 extra if you want to upload more than 20 photos to your listing.
- Expensive à la carte Services: Services like e-lockbox rental and showings service are priced at $150 and $75 respectively.
FSBO.com has no customer reviews on popular review sites like Google or Trustpilot.
» Forsalebyowner.com Reviews: Explore why the oldest FSBO site may not be the best choice in 2023.
FSBO.com is the oldest For Sale By Owner website. Third-party sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, and others syndicate the listings. The properties are only listed on FSBO.com and not on the MLS listing platform in the basic package.
Apart from listing houses For Sale By Owner, FSBO.com offers no major services. However, the à la carte items are expensive, and you’re charged extra for uploading more than 25 photos
3. Montana Flat Fee MLS
Montana Flat Fee MLS offers you two Flat Fee MLS packages.
- By Owner – $299: You can list your home on MLS for 6 months with 25 photos. You will also get a Realtor.com (Basic) listing. Additionally, the package includes state required forms and disclosures along with free status changes.
- By Owner – $359: This package includes everything from the $299 package. However, the included Realtor.com listing is Premium. This also has a “high impact photo listing” option.
👉 Our Take: We recommend the $299 package to expert home sellers. However, the beginners may feel the need of agent assistance for managing offers, negotiations and paperwork.
Here are some green flags about Montana Flat Fee MLS.
- State Disclosures: You are provided with all the state-required forms and seller disclosures along with the package.
- Free Status Changes: They offer free status changes once you find a buyer.
In our research, we came across some drawbacks of Montana Flat Fee MLS.
- Low on Tech: The website has basic technology with no dashboard.
- No à la carte Services: The services included in the packages are minimal. Additionally, there are no add-on services.
- No Credible Reviews: They have no credible reviews from any trusted sites.
Montana Flat Fee MLS has no credible reviews.
Montana Flat Fee MLS is affiliated with Brokerless Inc. Their platform lets the user submit their own listings. They have two packages with all the basic amenities for $299 and $359.
However, the $359 package only has two additions compared to the other package. They also have a basic website that is not easy to navigate and has no dashboard. While Houzeo has a convenient mobile app.
4. Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee MLS Realty offers three real estate listing packages to suit different needs and budgets:
- Silver Package – $99: This package includes a 3-month listing term and up to 15 photos. It allows you to make maximum 10 updates to your listing.
- Gold Package – $249: This package comes with a 6-month listing term and enables you to include up to 50 photos. You are allowed to make unlimited changes to your property listing.
- Platinum Package – $549: This package lists your property for an unlimited term and lets you upload up to 50 photo. You are allowed to make unlimited changes to your property listing.
Flat Fee Realty is an affordable option. However, they do charge additional fees for optional upgrades like additional photos and listing changes.
These are some pros of Flat Fee Realty in the areas it operates:
- Cost-Effective: Flat Fee Realty lets you list your property on the MLS for a flat fee. The listing also appears on other sites like Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com.
- Quick Listing: Their Gold and Platinum packages promise an MLS listing in 24 hours.
- Free Listing Changes: You make changes to the details in your listing without any paying additional fees.
- Easy Cancellation: You can cancel or remove your listing from the MLS anytime, without paying any additional fees. If you change your mind before your property gets listed, you will receive a full refund.
In our research, we have found certain drawbacks of Flat Fee MLS Realty.
- Not for First-Time Sellers: Flat Fee MLS Realty may not be ideal for you if you are a first-time seller. You’ll have to conduct tours and communicate with buyers on your own.
- Paid Add-ons: For services like professional real estate photography, you have to pay an additional $450 with the Silver package and $300 with the Gold package.
Flat Fee MLS Realty has 4.5 out of 5 stars from 90+ total reviews on Google.
» Flat Fee Realty Reviews: Read our in-depth review of Flat Fee Realty.
Flat Fee MLS Realty offers MLS listings for a flat fee. They allow you to make unlimited changes to your listing at no extra cost in their gold and platinum plan.
However, if you choose not to use their affiliated title company, Excel Title, you will have to pay an additional $375 at closing.
Reviews: 3 Best Free FSBO Websites in Montana
5. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace offers free FSBO real estate listing in its ‘Property for Sale’ section.
- FSBO Listing on Facebook – $0: You can list your property with some photos and basic details.
👉 Our Take: Facebook Marketplace is good for added exposure outside MLS or real estate websites. However, do not rely on it completely to get buyer leads. List on the MLS for credible buyer leads.
- Facebook has Millions of Users: Your property is advertised to millions of Facebook users. This certainly gives you exposure outside of MLS-syndicated websites.
- Facebook Marketplace is Not a Real Estate Website: Although it gives your listing some exposure, you don’t get assistance or FSBO tools. Its only purpose is marketing your property.
- Potential Privacy Attacks: Hackers can steal your personal data online. Make sure you have limited information open to the public while using Facebook Marketplace.
- No FSBO Support: Although Facebook Marketplace gives your listing some exposure, you don’t get assistance or FSBO tools. Its only purpose is marketing your property.
- You Can Get Scammed: Be vigilant of fraudulent offers. Scammers may attempt to make phony offers. If you get an offer that is too good to be true, high chances are it is a scam.
Facebook Marketplace has no customer reviews on popular review sites like Google or Trustpilot.
Facebook Marketplace is a popular classifieds site, where you can list your property. It is not a For Sale By Owner website. We recommend Facebook Marketplace to maximize your exposure if you have already listed on the MLS.
We recommend that you protect your personal data and profile, as Facebook Marketplace is filled with unsolicited buyers. Further, this platform’s reach in real estate is limited, which lowers your chances of selling your house.
6. Zillow For Sale By Owner
Zillow offers the following listing plans for home sellers:
- FSBO Listing on Zillow – $0: You can list your home for free on Zillow’s FSBO platform.
- Zillow Premier Agent – 3% commission: This is the traditional way to sell your home. You get access to a real estate agent who guides you through the entire sale process.
👉 Our Take: Zillow is a comprehensive real estate website that offers a variety of tools and resources for home sellers.
You should consider these points while choosing Zillow:
- No Fees: You can list your home on Zillow’s FSBO website free of charge.
- Free Cancellation: Zillow listings can be cancelled without any additional charges or hidden costs.
- Maximum Market Exposure: It is one of the most popular real estate websites, with millions of monthly visitors. This means that a large number of potential buyers will see your listing.
- Nationwide Coverage: Zillow FSBO services are accessible in all 50 states across America.
- User-Friendly Interface: Its website and mobile app are easy to use and navigate. Users can search for properties based on location, price, features, and other criteria.
- Offers Rental Services: Zillow is one of the best rental websites in America. It offers a built-in tenant screening tool, rent collection feature, owner portal, pricing suggestions, etc.
We identified several disadvantages of listing with Zillow:
- Slow Listings: Your listing can take up to 72 hours to update from the time you submit your property details.
- Inaccurate Zestimate: Zestimate, Zillow’s property valuation tool is not always accurate. This misleads buyers and sellers.
- Limited Support: Zillow’s customer support may not match the level of personalized guidance other FSBO companies offer.
Zillow has a rating of 1.4 out of 5 stars from 350+ reviews on Trustpilot.
» Zillow For Sale By Owner Reviews: Read our in-depth review on Zillow.
Zillow is one of the most popular FSBO websites. To list your home, you can simply sign up and create your free account. However, Zillow’s FSBO listings do not appear on the MLS and are hidden in the ‘Other Listings’ tab. This limits exposure when selling a house in Montana.
7. Craigslist
Since Craigslist is one of the biggest classified websites, it offers free listings:
- FSBO Listing on Craigslist – $0: You get an FSBO listing on Craigslist. Here you can upload your property’s description, location, and some photos.
👉 Our Take: With Craigslist you can post your house for sale for free. However, you don’t have MLS exposure.
These are some key pros to consider:
- User-Friendly Website: Craigslist’s website is easy to navigate. This helps you to easily create your listing and add property information.
- Free FSBO Listing: Most of the FSBO sellers who opt to advertise on Craigslist do it to save up on the agent’s commission.
- Good for Distressed Property: Craigslist is a great platform for distressed properties. This is mainly because many cash buyers, house flippers, and investors keep track of listings on Craigslist.
- Huge Traffic: According to Similarweb, Craigslist is the most visited classified website in the USA.
Here are a few cons to keep in mind:
- Lowball Offer: Customers have reported that buyers on Craigslist make lowball offers.
- Scammers and Pranksters: Craigslist is infamous for being a playground for scammers. Many people who list their homes on Craigslist get unsolicited calls from scammers posing as buyers.
- Short Lifespan of Ads: Craigslist ads are listed in reverse chronological order, the newest ones always have the most prominence.
Craigslist has a poor rating of 1.4 out of 5 stars from 300+ reviews on Trustpilot.
» How to Sell a House on Craigslist: Learn the step-by-step process of selling your home on Craigslist.
Craigslist is one of the biggest free For Sale By Owner companies. They can provide decent exposure to your FSBO listing. But they lack security features and can also attract scammers and fraudulent cash home buyers. So, you must be careful with sharing your property information and verify buyer identity.
How Much Can You Save With a FSBO Website in Montana?
If you plan to sell your home in Montana, using a FSBO website can save you thousands of dollars in Realtor commissions. Imagine you own a $793,000 home in the Treasure State. Traditionally, you’ll have to pay around $23,790 in commission.
But with a FSBO website like Houzeo, your house gets listed on the MLS for a flat fee of just $399 + $350 at closing. This helps you save a whopping $23,041.
Service Provider | Fee | Commission Due | Savings |
Traditional Agent | 3% | $23,790 | $0 |
Houzeo | $399 | $749* | $23,041 |
What to Look Out for in the Best FSBO Websites?
Consider these 4 factors when selecting the best FSBO home selling sites in the Treasure State:
- User Experience: The top For Sale By Owner websites should be easy to navigate. Look for features like mobile app, virtual tours and offers.
- MLS Listing: Opt for a platform that offers MLS listing. This can significantly increase your property’s exposure to buyers and agents.
- Pricing: Evaluate the packages of FSBO websites. Some offer free listings, while others charge a flat fee or a percentage of the sale price.
- Customer Support: Look for platforms that offer top notch customer service and provide guidance to the sellers.
Tips to List Your House as For Sale By Owner in Montana
Here are some home selling tips and strategies you must follow with For Sale By Owner websites in Montana.
How to List on Montana’s #1 FSBO Website?
Here’s how you can get your home in front of local buyers and agents with the help of For Sale By Owner listing sites in Montana:
- Find the Best FSBO Website With MLS Access: Choose a FSBO platform that offers MLS listing to maximize your property exposure.
- Create Your Account: Almost all best FSBO sites with MLS access will let you create an account. High-tech listing sites like Houzeo allow you to manage your MLS listing online!
- Choose a Listing Plan: The plan should meet needs and include all the services that would make your home selling journey smooth and effortless.
- Enter Property Details & Add Photos: Include property details like the number of beds, baths, etc. and add high quality photos. Consider hiring a real estate photographer in Montana.
- Sign the Agreement: Carefully review and sign the listing agreement and seller disclosure forms. If everything is in order, your home will be listed on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I list my home For Sale By Owner in Montana for free?
You can list your Montana home for free on websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Zillow For Sale By Owner. However, these platforms offer limited exposure compared to Houzeo's MLS listing service.
What is the best For Sale By Owner MLS listing service in Montana?
Houzeo.com is the best FSBO MLS listing service in Montana. It provides an unbeatable combination of max savings, 5-star customer support, and cutting-edge technology.
Do buyers look for Montana house for sale on FSBO websites?
Yes, buyers do look for Montana houses for sale on For Sale By Owner platforms. This gives sellers an opportunity to save on real estate agent commissions in Montana.
Is selling a house yourself in Montana worth it?
Yes, selling a house in Montana can be worth it if you opt for top FSBO websites like Houzeo. You get to save on hefty Realtor commissions. Also with Houzeo Mobile App, you can manage listings, schedule showings, review offers- all at your fingertips!