The cost of realtor fees is one of the first thoughts that hits you when you decide to sell your house. Six percent commission on a Utah home valued between $400,000 and $800K? That’s a real hit. And for some families, it’s the difference between walking away with life-changing equity or barely breaking even.
Hi, I’m Gary, a local Utah real estate investor. I’ve bought hundreds of properties across the Wasatch Front, and I’ve also helped countless homeowners avoid hefty realtor fees, even when they thought paying commissions was “just the way things are.” But the truth is much simpler:
You do NOT have to pay realtor fees to sell your house.
You have multiple options, and if you understand them clearly, you can save thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
And before we get into the steps, let me start with a short story that perfectly illustrates why learning how to avoid realtor fees can change your life.
My Client Rebecca
Rebecca, a homeowner in West Jordan, reached out to me after listing her home with a traditional agent for three months. She was frustrated. Her agent wasn’t bringing serious buyers, and when they finally did bring an offer the numbers didn’t make sense. The buyer wanted repairs…the agent wanted her to agree to concessions. The lender needed updates.
And after all the back-and-forth, Rebecca realized something:
“Gary, by the time I pay for repairs, concessions, and realtor fees, I’m losing more money than I’m making.”
Her agent told her she couldn’t do better.
I told her she could.
By selling directly and avoiding realtor commissions entirely, Rebecca walked away with an extra 30 grand and closed in eight days.
She told me afterward,
“That one decision bought me breathing room I haven’t had in years.”
This article is here so you can make the same kind of informed decisions.
So let’s break down the 7 proven steps to sell your house without realtor fees even if you’ve never sold a home before.
1. What Realtor Fees Really Are
Before we dive into avoiding realtor fees, you have to understand what you’re actually paying for.
The traditional commission structure works like this:
Seller’s agent: 3 percent
Buyer’s agent: 3 percent
Total: 6 percent commission
On a four hundred fifty thousand dollar Utah home, that’s twenty-seven thousand dollars just in realtor fees.
Many people ask me:
How can I avoid realtor fees when selling?
How can I avoid paying realtor fees at all?
Here’s the truth:
Realtor fees are not mandatory. They are simply payments for services.
If you replace the service, or skip the service, you skip the fee.
There are legal, safe, professional ways to do this and we’re going to cover all of them.
2. Sell Your House Directly to a Cash Buyer
This is the fastest, simplest, and cleanest way to avoid realtor fees entirely.
When you sell your home directly to a cash buyer like me there is…
- No realtor
- No commission
- No repairs
- No showings
- No appraisals
- No fees of any kind
You get a net offer, and what you see is what you keep.
This works especially well if you want to avoid:
- Paying for repairs
- Paying for cleaning
- Waiting months for buyers
- Negotiating
- Paying more mortgage payments during the listing process
Most homeowners choose this option because it decreases risk substantially and puts money in their pocket fast.
3. Sell the House Yourself (FSBO)
FSBO stands for For Sale By Owner, and it’s one of the most common strategies for people searching for:
- “How to avoid realtor fees when selling a house”
- “How to sell your house privately”
- “How can I avoid paying realtor fees?”
With FSBO, you handle:
- Pricing
- Marketing
- Showing
- Paperwork
- Negotiation
You can skip the listing agent entirely, but you may still need to pay a buyer’s agent commission, unless you find a buyer who isn’t using an agent.
The challenge is that FSBO works best when you’re comfortable with marketing, legal documents, negotiating, and managing the process.
Otherwise, it can get overwhelming.
4. Sell to a Buyer Without an Agent
If you want to avoid all realtor fees for both sides then your buyer must not use an agent either.
This is more common than you think.
Buyers without agents include:
- Family members
- Friends
- Neighbors
- Local investors
- Cash buyers like me
- Someone who finds your FSBO listing and decides to work directly
This method eliminates both agent commissions and gives you the maximum net, even if the offer amount is slightly lower than a traditional listing.
5. Use a Low-Commission or Flat-Fee MLS Service
If you still want to list your property on the MLS but avoid full commission, you can use a…
- Flat-fee MLS services
- Discount real estate brokers
- Low-commission brokerage models
This is how people search for:
- “How to avoid realtor fees when buying a house”
- “How to avoid paying realtor fees”
- “Avoid realtor fees when selling”
A flat-fee MLS service lets you:
- Get your home listed where buyers look
- Avoid the 3 percent seller’s agent fee
- Control your own showings and negotiations
You may still pay for the buyer’s agent unless the buyer is unrepresented.
6. Negotiate the Commission Directly
This is an underrated option that most homeowners forget.
You are legally allowed to:
- Ask for a reduced commission
- Offer incentives instead
- Ask for performance-based commission
- Avoid paying fees that don’t apply to your situation
If the market is strong (as it often is in many parts of Utah), agents may be willing to reduce fees.
But if you want to avoid commissions entirely, selling directly is still the cleanest option.
7. Sell Your House As-Is Without Repairs
One of the hidden costs of selling through a realtor is the repair phase.
Many agents will say:
“You need to fix this before we list.”
“You need to update the kitchen.”
“You should stage the home.”
All those recommendations cost money.
But when you sell as-is there are…
- No repairs
- No cleaning
- No inspections
- No upgrades
You save thousands and remove the need for a realtor entirely.
This is particularly helpful if you want to:
- Avoid realtor fees
- Sell your house fast
- Sell a property with issues
- Sell a rental that has been damaged
- Sell an inherited home that needs work
A Utah-Specific Section: What Utah Homeowners Need to Know to Avoid Realtor Fees
Utah is unique.
Having bought and sold properties across the Wasatch Front, I’ve seen firsthand what makes our market different:
- Demand for housing is high.
This gives sellers more power and reduces the need for a realtor. - Cash buyers are very active in Utah.
Investors like me regularly buy homes fast, as-is, and without commissions. - Utah homes often sell quickly even without an agent.
FSBO success rates are higher than in many other states. - Utah’s paperwork is straightforward.
You don’t need an attorney to close here—title companies handle the transaction. - Rural Utah homes are harder for agents to sell.
But cash buyers will still buy them fast with no fees. - Utah homeowners often have strong equity.
Avoiding realtor fees protects more of your equity—equity you worked hard for.
If you live anywhere in Salt Lake , Utah , Davis , Weber , Washington Counties or one of Utah’s rural areas, you have options to avoid commission and put more money in your pocket.
Warren Buffett once said:
“The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
Most homeowners list with a realtor out of habit not because it’s the best financial decision for them.
If you truly want to keep your equity, exploring alternatives is the smartest thing you can do.
Here’s what Emily from Ogden told me
“Gary helped me avoid fifteen thousand dollars in fees. The process was so simple that I couldn’t believe I didn’t do this sooner.”
Another from Dan in Sandy:
“I was stressed and behind on payments. Gary bought the home as-is with no commission. It saved my credit and my sanity.”
The Real Bottom Line
If you’re wondering:
- How do I avoid realtor fees when selling your house?
- Can I skip commissions entirely?
- Can I sell my home as-is without an agent?
- Is there a way to get a fast cash offer without paying anything?
The short answer is yes.
If you’d like to explore your options, I’d love to help.
You can reach out to me here anytime for a free, no-obligation cash offer on your Utah property.
No fees.
No pressure.
No repairs.
No surprises.
Just clarity.
And more money in your pocket.