Selling it yourself

A realistic map of a for-sale-by-owner closing in Tennessee. This is general education, not legal advice — your attorney and title company are the professionals in the room.

1. 1. Agree on terms in writing

   Price, closing timeline, what stays with the house, and who pays which costs. Keep it in your Deedio thread or email so there's a record.

2. 2. Get a purchase & sale agreement drafted

   In Tennessee this is typically a real estate attorney's job (often a few hundred dollars flat). Never sign a contract you haven't had reviewed.

3. 3. Open escrow with a title company

   They hold the deposit, run the title search, clear liens, and handle the money. The buyer usually picks, but either side can.

4. 4. Let the buyer do diligence

   Inspection and appraisal windows are normal even off-market. Agree on the windows up front in the contract.

5. 5. Close

   The title company or attorney runs the closing: deed, payoff of your mortgage, transfer taxes, and recording. You'll both sign, and funds disburse.

Want help with just the paperwork? The agent directory has flat-fee contract-and-close options — and Deedio never takes a cut either way.