OpenList USA Guides

Sell, Buy, or Rent by Owner — Without Getting Burned

Clear, practical guides for real people doing real deals. No jargon. No agent fluff. Updated regularly.

Sellers

Everything a first-time FSBO seller needs: pricing, photos, listing, showings, offers, and closing — without paying a 6% agent commission.

9 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

A simple comps-based pricing method FSBO sellers can use to land within 2% of true market value — no $500 appraisal required.

6 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

Exactly what to clean, stage, print, and prepare before your first FSBO open house — the checklist professional agents use.

5 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

Why FSBO sellers take pre-approved buyers 3x more seriously, what a pre-approval letter actually proves, and how to get one in 48 hours.

5 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

A 6-step tenant-screening process independent landlords can use to avoid bad tenants, missed rent, and expensive evictions.

6 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

Every state requires sellers to disclose known defects. Here is what FSBO sellers in LA, MS, AL, GA, TX, and FL legally have to share.

7 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

A plain-English explanation of earnest money, typical amounts, escrow rules, and the 3 situations where you forfeit it.

4 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

A line-by-line breakdown of every closing cost on a typical FSBO transaction — and how to negotiate who pays each one.

6 min read · Updated 2026-04-18

Post your property on OpenList USA in under 5 minutes. No commission. No middleman. You keep control.