FSBOs (for sale by owner) are NFE (not for everyone)
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Experts differ on the value of holding an open house. It seldom leads directly to a sale, but you can consider an open house as just another marketing tool, along with advertising and word of mouth.

Once a buyer comes into the picture, it's time to bargain not only on price, but on conditions: when the buyer will close and take possession, how much to deposit, what repairs will be made, which fixtures stay and which go, and so on. Each situation is unique. Entire books have been written on the subject of real-estate negotiation. One of them is Robert Irwin's "Tips and Traps When Negotiating Real Estate."

This is also the time to have your attorney available to check out anything that passes between you and the buyer in writing or any other agreement you may come to. And before anything moves on to the signing stage that attorney can also make sure you are not going to be liable for anything unexpected after the sale.

Get to closing without a hitch When it's time to sign all the papers and transfer the property, the last thing you need is problems. That's why you have to take care to choose the right title company. The title company will make sure that the mortgage company, appraiser, insurance company and government agencies get the proper paperwork on time. It can provide you with sale prices of comparable properties in your neighborhood.

A title officer usually is a real-estate attorney who is trained to spot problems before they topple a deal, Burbidge says. He or she can answer your questions and walk you through the tricky parts of a real-estate sale.

Chances are that when you bought your house, you signed the papers at a title company's office. Burbidge recommends that you start looking for a title company right there. Ask if they have experience dealing with FSBOs and if they'll have time to help you.

It's also a good idea to have an attorney to consult you along the way. Your attorney can give you referrals to title agencies, too.

If you sell with caution and care, you can save enough on commissions to pay your attorney -- and have thousands of dollars left over. New subcompact anyone?