LoftusLaw, LLC

10/19/2026

Thinking about selling your house without a Realtor? Here's one question worth answering before you find a buyer: Do you need a lawyer?

Illinois generally doesn't require an FSBO seller to hire an attorney.

But that doesn't mean there is no legal work to do.

Once you have a buyer, you still have to deal with a purchase contract, disclosures, inspection issues, title, tax prorations, closing documents and all of the other things that happen between “we have a deal” and actually handing over the keys.

Another thing FSBO sellers sometimes overlook:

If your buyer has an attorney, that attorney represents the buyer.

For that reason, I generally think the better time for an FSBO seller to talk with a real estate attorney is before signing a contract, rather than after something in the contract becomes a problem.

I wrote a longer explanation here on my website, and I've also put together a Free Chicagoland FSBO Seller Starter Kit for homeowners considering selling without a traditional listing agent.

The kit includes seller disclosures, a pre-contract checklist, a plain-English timeline, transfer-tax information, a net-proceeds worksheet and more.

Get the free kit here:

https://loftus-law.com/fsbo/

10/12/2026

Thinking about selling your home without a Realtor?

FSBO sellers in Illinois still have disclosure obligations, and some of them should be handled before the buyer signs the contract.

Three of the big ones to know about are:
• Illinois property condition disclosure
• Radon disclosure and information
• Lead-based paint disclosure for many homes built before 1978

Selling “as is” does not automatically eliminate those requirements.

I put together a Free Chicago FSBO Seller Starter Kit with commonly used disclosure forms, a pre-contract checklist, and other resources for homeowners selling without an agent.

Download it here:
https://loftus-law.com/fsbo/

06/12/2025

Selling your home in Illinois? 🏠

Beware of patching basement leaks and thinking you're in the clear. In *Poundstone v. Cook*, cosmetic fixes turned into a $100K lawsuit — because the seller failed to disclose recurring water issues.

📌 When in doubt: disclose it!

Want to close your sale *clean*—without risking post‑closing litigation? Understand exactly what the Residential Disclosure Report requires.

For Illinois sellers, legal compliance isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Ready to protect your deal from costly surprises? Talk to a real estate attorney before the next inspection or offer. 🔒

Selling a home in Illinois? If you patched a leak and thought you could skip disclosure, THINK AGAIN. 💡 In *Poundstone v. Cook*, the seller’s cosmetic fixes...