Can I Sell My House Without a Realtor?

“Can you sell a house without a Realtor?” Yes, you can. People in Ottawa and across Ontario do it every day.

The real question isn’t can you do it, it’s whether selling privately is going to give you the best result in terms of price, timing and risk.

This article will walk through the pros and cons of selling a house without a Realtor, what really happens when you go the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route as well as how to choose a Realtor if you decide you’d rather have professional help.

Can You Sell a House Without a Realtor?

In Ontario, you’re legally allowed to sell your home without using a licensed real estate professional. You can:

Advertise the property yourself
Show the home to potential buyers
Negotiate your own offer

You will still need to work with an Ontario real estate lawyer to handle the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, title search, closing documents and registration. That’s required regardless of whether you have a Realtor or not.

Some sellers choose to:

Go fully private (no MLS®, no agents involved), or
Use a flat-fee service to post the home on MLS® but handle all the calls, showings and negotiations themselves.

Both are possible. But there’s a big difference between “possible” and “optimal”.

What Really Happens When You Sell on Your Own

The moment your home hits the market, you take on everything a full real estate team would normally handle:

Staging and preparation – Decluttering, minor repairs, upgrades and making sure your home photographs and shows well.
Pricing strategy – Analyzing comparable sales, current inventory and Ottawa/neighbourhood specific market trends to set the right list price.
Professional photography and videography – Today’s buyers expect strong visuals. Poor photos can cost you showings and money.
Marketing distribution – Online listings, social media, open houses, feature sheets, signs and getting the property in front of qualified buyers.
Managing showings – Answering calls, screening buyers, arranging appointments and coordinating access around your life.
Vetting buyers – Making sure buyers are pre-approved or financially capable and understanding the strength of their conditions.
Negotiations – Evaluating offers, dealing with counter-offers and navigating multiple-offer situations if they occur.
Paperwork and deadlines – Agreements, waivers, amendments, inspection responses and making sure nothing is missed.

For a lot of sellers, this quickly turns into a second full time job.

Searching for more advice about selling your home in Ottawa? Explore these related blogs.

Pros and Cons of Selling a House Without a Realtor

Pros

Potential commission savings – The biggest perceived benefit is saving on the listing side of the commission. In most cases, you might still offer a commission to a buyer’s agent but you may save part of the overall cost.
Full control – You decide how your home is marketed, when showings happen and how negotiations unfold.
May work in simple situations – If you’re selling to a family member, neighbour or an already-interested buyer, a private sale can be straightforward with strong legal support.

Cons

Reduced visibility and buyer pool – Most serious buyers search through MLS® and work with their own Realtor. If your home isn’t properly exposed, you may get fewer showings and weaker offers.
Pricing risk – Overpricing can cause your listing to sit and go stale. Underpricing can mean leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table, often far more than the commission you were trying to save.
Negotiation disadvantage – Buyers often see private sales as an opportunity to negotiate harder because they know you aren’t paying a listing broker. In most cases, they expect a discount and push aggressively.
Higher stress and time commitment – Managing calls, emails, showings and paperwork on your own is demanding, especially if you’re working, caring for family or trying to coordinate a purchase at the same time.
Legal and contractual risk – Agreement terms, conditions and timelines matter. A poorly written clause or missed deadline can lead to disputes, extra costs, or even a failed sale.

Why a Realtor Changes the Equation

When you work with a strong local Realtor, you aren’t just paying for someone to put your home on MLS®. You’re paying for strategy, experience and credibility.

Pricing backed by data – A Realtor has access to detailed Ottawa and surrounding area sales data and can help you set a price that attracts buyers while protecting your equity.
Professional marketing – Photography, video, social media, online advertising, feature sheets and network exposure all work together to drive traffic to your listing.
Stronger negotiation power – An experienced Realtor negotiates every day. They bring objectivity, market knowledge and skill to the table, often improving your net result.
Risk management – From conditions and clauses to inspection issues and closing logistics, a Realtor helps you avoid missteps that can cost time and money.

In many cases, the extra exposure and negotiation strength a good Realtor provides more than offsets the commission and reduces your stress dramatically.

How to Choose a Realtor in Ottawa

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided you’d rather have professional help, the next question is “How to Choose a Realtor?”

Here are key things to look for:

Local expertise – It’s extremely important to choose someone who regularly sells in your neighbourhood or similar areas in Ottawa and understands the micro market you’re in.
Proven marketing plan – Ask exactly how they’ll market your home: photography, video, social media, open houses, database marketing and online exposure.
Clear pricing strategy – They should be able to walk you through comparable sales, explain how they arrive at a recommended list price and discuss strategy if the market shifts.
Strong negotiation track record – Ask about their experience in multiple offer situations, conditional deals and how they protect their sellers’ interests.
Communication style and availability – You should feel comfortable with how they communicate and how often you’ll receive updates.
Transparent commission and contract terms – Make sure you understand the services included, the fee structure and the length of the listing agreement.

What’s Right for You?

You can sell your house without a Realtor in Ottawa. The potential savings are real but so are the responsibilities and risks.

If you’re comfortable handling marketing, showings, negotiations and legal details (and you have a simple situation) selling privately might work.

If you’d rather focus on your move and your life and you want to maximize your sale price while minimizing risk, partnering with an experienced Ottawa Realtor is usually the wiser path.

Either way, the most important thing is making an informed decision that protects your equity, your timelines and your peace of mind.

Have questions about selling your home in Ottawa? Reach out to our team anytime, we’re here to help! Call 613.909.8100 or reach us by email at info@PilonGroup.com.