For Sale By Owner
Selling On Your Own? We'll Handle The Title Work.
Selling your home yourself saves the listing commission — but it also means you're the one responsible for the paperwork, the title, and the closing. Select Title Company is the neutral third party that makes a for sale by owner sale safe, legal, and simple.
Printable Packets
FSBO Packets You Can Print and Fill In
Our fill-in packets walk you through the documents a for sale by owner sale needs, step by step. Download the one that fits your situation, fill it in, and bring it with you — or call us and we'll walk through it together.
Vacant Land FSBO Packet
The fill-in packet for selling vacant land by owner — covering the items land sales involve, like legal descriptions, surveys, easements, and access.
Download the packetFSBO Packet
The complete fill-in packet for a standard residential for sale by owner sale in Michigan.
Download the packetWhy It Matters
You're Handling the Sale Yourself — the Title Work Shouldn't Be One More Worry
Without a listing agent, the job of coordinating the paperwork falls to you — and the biggest piece of that paperwork is the title work. A purchase agreement is only the beginning: the buyer's money and your home's ownership both sit in escrow until the title is verified, the deed is prepared, and the closing is conducted.
That is exactly what a title company does. Select Title Company is the neutral third party in the middle of your sale — we research the title, resolve anything that would stand in the way of a clean transfer, prepare the documents, hold and disburse the funds, and record the deed with the county.
How We Help
Everything a For Sale by Owner Seller Needs from Us
One relationship covers everything between the accepted offer and the recorded deed.
Title Search & Commitment
We research the property's ownership history and issue a commitment showing exactly what must be resolved before your buyer owns the home.
Clearing Title Issues
Unpaid liens, old mortgages, judgments, tax bills — we identify them and coordinate the payoffs so they clear at closing.
Owner's Title Insurance Policy
Michigan sellers customarily provide the buyer's owner's policy. We issue it, and we quote it up front so there are no surprises.
Closing & Escrow of Funds
We hold the buyer's funds and the earnest money deposit in escrow and disburse them only when every condition of the sale is met.
Payoff Coordination
We order mortgage and lien payoffs, prepare the settlement statement, and make sure every dollar going out is accounted for.
Deed Preparation & Recording
We prepare the warranty deed, oversee the signing, and record the transfer with the county so ownership officially changes hands.
How a For Sale by Owner Closing Works
Here's the road from handshake to recorded deed when you sell without an agent.
Know Your Numbers
Use our Seller Net Sheet to estimate what you'll walk away with after payoffs, taxes, and closing costs — before you agree to a price.
Agree on Terms with Your Buyer
Put the price, closing date, and conditions in writing with a purchase agreement. We can review what your title work will cost at this stage.
We Open Title
Send us the signed agreement. We open title, run the search, and get the commitment moving — and we order payoffs on anything secured by the property.
We Clear and Prepare
We resolve liens and title defects, prepare the deed and settlement statement, and confirm every figure with you before closing day.
Close, Fund, Record
You sign, funds are verified and disbursed, and the deed is recorded. Then you hand over the keys.
Free Tools & Guides
Resources Built for Sellers Like You
Everything on this site is free to use — no obligation, no sign-up. These are the tools for sale by owner sellers reach for most.
Seller Net Sheet
Enter your price, commission (if any), payoffs, and taxes to see your estimated check at closing.
Open the net sheetTitle Quote
Instant title insurance premium quotes — the owner's policy, enhanced coverage, and a lender's policy if your buyer is financing.
Get a title quoteBuyer Estimate Sheet
Share this with your buyer so they can see their estimated cash to close — it builds confidence in an agent-free deal.
Open the buyer estimateThe Importance Of An Owner's Policy
What the owner's title insurance policy protects your buyer from, and why Michigan sellers customarily provide it.
Read the guideWire Fraud Protection
For sale by owner sales are prime targets for wire fraud. Learn the warning signs and how we protect your funds.
Protect your saleCertifID Identity Verification
We verify the identity of everyone at the table — buyers and sellers alike — before any money moves.
See how verification worksFrequently asked questions
Do I need a title company if I'm selling without an agent?
Yes — and you should. The title company is the neutral party that verifies ownership, clears any issues, holds the funds, prepares the deed, and records the transfer. Without a title company, a for sale by owner sale has no one independently confirming that the title is clean and the money moves safely.
Who pays for title insurance in Michigan?
In Michigan, the seller customarily pays for the owner's title insurance policy, though everything in a for sale by owner contract is negotiable between you and your buyer. We can quote both policies so you know exactly what your side of the table looks like.
Can you hold the earnest money deposit?
Yes. We hold the buyer's earnest money in escrow under the terms of your purchase agreement, and those funds are credited at closing. Keeping the deposit with a neutral third party protects both sides of the deal.
What if my buyer is getting a mortgage?
That's one of the most common for sale by owner scenarios we handle. The buyer's lender will require a lender's title policy, and we coordinate directly with the lender on timing, figures, and closing documents so you don't have to.
What do I need to bring to closing?
Bring a photo ID, we handle the rest — including the deed, the settlement statement, and the recording.
How long does a for sale by owner closing take?
Most for sale by owner closings take about 30 to 45 days from an accepted purchase agreement, depending on the buyer's financing. Cash sales can close faster. Once you have a signed agreement, call us and we'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific sale.
Ready to Sell on Your Own Terms?
Call, stop by one of our Michigan offices, or open title online. We'll walk you through the closing step by step — and you keep the confidence of knowing the title and the funds are in professional hands.