Sell Your Own Home in Australia: The Clear, Confident Way
Selling your own home is a major financial move, yet the steps are straightforward. Use this guide to set a smart price, create a standout listing, handle enquiries, and move to contracts without stress.
Contents
- Set your marketing budget
- Choose the best method of sale
- Prepare contracts and legal paperwork
- Set the asking price
- Prepare property photos
- Create your property listing online
- Prepare your home for inspections
- Run open homes and buyer inspections
- Communicate with prospective buyers
- Negotiate and complete your private sale
- Smart FAQs
- Next steps
1Set a marketing budget to sell your own home
When you sell your own home, costs are usually far lower than paying an agent commission. Your spend goes toward exposure on major property sites, optional professional photography, signboards, and brochures.
Pick what fits your goals on the Packages page, then preview the flow in How it works.
2How to sell your own home: choose the best method
Private sale
No fixed end date and freedom to adjust the asking price as feedback arrives. Many private sellers choose this path.
Auction
Good in high-demand areas. If you go this way, book a licensed auctioneer to conduct the auction on the day.
3Prepare contracts and legal paperwork
Rules differ across Australia. Some states require documents before marketing, others allow preparation during the campaign. A conveyancer or solicitor will keep everything accurate and compliant.
Start with our paperwork checklist and legal requirements guide.
4Set the asking price
Practical approach
- Review recent comparable sales in your suburb
- Map the current competition and note features, asking prices, days on market
- Launch with a price that invites enquiry and reassess after week one
More help for owners
Read 40 tips for selling your own home and a balanced look at FSBO pros and cons.
5Prepare property photos
Shoot with a modern smartphone or DSLR, or choose a package that includes a professional photographer. Natural light, tidy rooms, and a clear order make a big difference.
- Lead with the front elevation, kitchen, living, main bedroom, and outdoor area
- Add a floor plan if available and a short video if it helps tell the story
6Create your property listing online
After you select a package, write a clear description, set your asking price, and upload photos. You can edit the ad at any time in your dashboard.
Get ideas from live For Sale By Owner properties, then tailor your copy to your home’s strengths. Ready to begin? Create your account.
7Prepare your home for inspections
Quick prep list
- Declutter, air the home, and remove strong odours
- Store personal items and valuables
- Print brochures from your dashboard if your package includes them
Presentation tips
Fresh towels, open blinds, and soft background music help buyers focus on the space. Small touches can lift perceived value.
8Run open homes and buyer inspections
Weekends often deliver the best attendance. Collect contact details for security and follow-up, and set clear start and finish times.
For a complete walkthrough, see how to run an open home and handle offers.
9Communicate with prospective buyers
Fast replies win
Respond quickly, offer two viewing options, and confirm by text. Buyers appreciate speaking with the owner because you know the home best.
Simple message you can use
“Thanks for your enquiry. We are available Saturday 10 am or Tuesday 5.30 pm for a viewing. Which suits you?”
10Negotiate and complete your private sale
Capture offers in writing, compare on price and terms, then move to contracts with your conveyancer or solicitor.
Use the free Letter of Offer or direct buyers to Make an Offer. Many contracts include conditions such as finance or building and pest. Once unconditional, settlement is scheduled.
Need more detail? Read how to handle offers and counteroffers.
Smart FAQs for people who want to sell their own home
Is selling your own home legal in Australia
Yes. Owners can sell privately in every state and territory. Most sellers engage a conveyancer or solicitor to prepare contracts and manage settlement.
Do I need documents before I advertise my home
Some jurisdictions require certain documents or disclosures before marketing. Use the paperwork checklist and confirm the rules with your conveyancer or solicitor.
How many photos should I upload
Twelve to twenty clear images suits most listings. Lead with the front elevation, kitchen, living, main bedroom, and outdoor area. Avoid near-duplicates.
How do I compare two offers fairly
Line up price, finance approval, building and pest, inclusions, and settlement date. If terms differ, ask both parties for best and final by a clear time and choose on overall certainty.
Can I see real examples from owners
Yes. Browse For Sale By Owner properties for layout and wording ideas.
Next steps
Choose a package Create your account
Want proof it works? See customer reviews and success stories.
We saved Thousands!!! - Very happy, will definitely use again
I was really happy with the service provided by Sale By Home Owner, Always very prompt to any enquiries & delivered everything as promised. I would recommend you try selling yourself as they made it very easy! We saved around $10,500 and will definitely use them again! Thanks very much!
Under Contract in 36 Hours. Quick but Needed Extra Docs
Posted my land for sale and was under contract is 36 hours. The process to set up was easy but the contract part was left up to me as you can’t download a copy of a current residential sale document on line. It is required to be purchased and posted – which didn’t work for our quick sale. I ended up paying my conveyancer to supply. I feel it should be a process all the way to completion and not 80% there
Sold in 8 Days & Saved $20K, First-Time Seller Success
I was able to sell my house for an agreed price within 8 days of listing through Sale By Homeowner. They offered helpful advice to a first time seller and the tools necessary to achieve our goal. By not paying a Real estate agent close to $20000 to do little in a very hot market, it gave me more flexibility when negotiating a sale price. I don’t think I will ever need an agent again. Thanks guys.
Great Team with Regular Updates & Referrals
great mob to deal with very regular updates and referals
Second Sale Success! Easy Process & Big Savings
This is my second sale through Sale By Home Owner, and another success story! Received an offer on the second day after the listing was published. In the end able sold my apartment for a few thousands more than was originally asking. The whole process was easy. The team was very helpful and attentive. Scott replied to my emails and texts veryÊpromptly. Thank you for that, Scott! If you want to save thousands of dollars, please stop using realestate agents. Use Sale By Home Owner instead, you won’t regret!
Full Control, No Agents, Big Savings, highly recommended
Great experience selling my property through Sale By Home Owner. I had full control over inspections, negotiations, and choosing the buyer without any agents involved. It takes patience, but the savings on agent fees are worth it. Highly recommended!
Two-Time Seller, Fast Sales & Great Support
This is my second time using Sale By Home Owner and both times it has been easy and straight forward. They were very helpful and quick to respond to any questions that I had. Both times my property sold fast and with a great result. Highly recommend using them.
Lots of Enquiries, Smooth Sale & Big Savings on Fees
I advertised in late May and had many queries, emails and telephone calls, a client rang that had just sold their home and put an offer on mine just by an inspection of the home, loved it and now they are the new owners of Serrata Springs which I will sadly miss but new beginnings. I saved money as the agent wanted to charge me $2,000 plus for advertising and then take a commission on top of that so I would recommend to anyone wanting to sell, go through homeowner.com.
Cost-Effective & Responsive Service
Such a cost effective way to sell a home! Always so responsive!
Great Way to Sell Your Home Online
Great for selling own home online using real estate sites
