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What’s the Best Flat Fee MLS Listing Service Near Me?

What's the Best Flat Fee MLS Listing Service Near Me?

Best Flat Fee MLS Listing Services | Should You Sell with a Flat Fee MLS? | FAQ

🗂️ What Is a Multiple Listing Service (MLS)? 🗂️

An MLS or multiple listing service is a comprehensive database of properties established by local realtors in a given area. All licensed realtors have access to it as a tool to help them get the word out about their sellers’ properties and find for-sale properties for their buyers.

MLS listings typically include photos of a property, contact information for the listing agent, a description, the price, and many other details about the property for sale. Popular real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com pull their listings directly from the MLS.

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If you’re selling your home, the best way to advertise to buyers is by getting your property listed on the multiple listing service (MLS). Only licensed real estate agents or brokers can list homes on the MLS — which is one of the many reasons home sellers typically work with an agent.

But if you’re planning to sell without a realtor, you’re not totally out of luck. You can work with a flat fee MLS company that will list your home on the MLS for a one-time fee.

In this article, you’ll learn how these services work, which ones are legitimate, and whether a flat fee MLS service might be right for you. Keep in mind that flat fee MLS companies only list your home. You’ll still have to handle legal paperwork, negotiations, and other complex administrative tasks on your own.

We highly recommend shopping around before deciding which route is best for you. If you’re exploring your options, talk to Clever Real Estate’s licensed concierge team — they help you decide whether an agent can give you a better chance of finding a qualified buyer. They can also match you with the best local realtors from top-rated brokerages like Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, and RE/MAX.

And if you’re hoping to save money by selling without a realtor, know that you don’t have to pay the traditional 3% listing fee. If you find a great listing agent through Clever, you can get full service for an affordable, pre-negotiated rate of just 1.5%. The average home seller saves $7,000 with Clever!

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What Is a Flat Fee MLS Service?

Flat fee MLS companies are listing services that charge a set fee for their services rather than the typical commission paid by sellers. They allow you to list your home on the local MLS without the help of a realtor.

While listing your home on the MLS can boost exposure by getting your house in front of more buyers, it isn’t a guarantee you’ll get results. Still, a flat fee MLS listing can be a good option if you’re looking to cut costs by selling your home on your own, also known as for sale by owner or FSBO.

Should You Sell Your Home with a Flat Fee MLS?

In general, using a flat fee MLS service isn’t the best option for most sellers. Selling for sale by owner (FSBO) means you’ll be acting as your own real estate agent — an undertaking that can be time-consuming and stressful. Plus, it could land you in legal trouble if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why we recommend that only experienced sellers attempt to sell without a real estate agent.

With a flat fee MLS listing, your home will get exposure on sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia. But these services can’t promise the same results you’d get from a realtor. Your house might not sell as quickly as you’d hoped or for the highest listing price.

The National Association of Realtors found that homes sold by owner sell for an average of 27% less than agented homes, and Zillow found that more than half of FSBO sellers end up deciding to hire a traditional real estate agent due to challenges along the way.

To be clear — you can sell your house without the MLS. But you’ll struggle to market your property properly. Without it, buyers and real estate agents might not see that your home is for sale. You’ll likely get fewer offers, see lower competition, and lose out on selling for top dollar.

If your primary motivation for selling FSBO is saving money, Clever can help. Clever is a free service that connects you with the best real estate agents from national brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. You’ll get great service and Clever’s pre-negotiated listing fees, which are just 1.5% of your home’s sale price (compared to the standard 3%).

A Clever partner agent will handle the responsibilities of selling, including photography, writing a listing description, listing on the MLS, scheduling showings, and negotiating when buyers submit offers. Get matched with top local agents today!

đź’° Save BIG with Clever! đź’°

The average Clever customer saves $7,000 on their home sale. Find a great agent and save more with Clever today! It’s totally free and there’s zero obligation.

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Pros and Cons of Flat Fee MLS Services

Pros đź‘Ť

Consđź‘Ž

You could pay lower fees to list your house.

You could earn 27% less compared to working with an agent.

You’ll increase the number of buyers that see your listing on sites like Zillow and Realtor.com.

You’ll likely still pay a buyer’s agent commission.

Buyer’s agents will be notified of your listing so they can share it with buyers.

You’ll have to write your listing, hire your own photographer, and do most everything else on your own.

You’ll have more control over your home sale.

You’ll have limited or no support on pricing and contracts.

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How Much Does a Flat Fee MLS Listing Cost?

Most companies charge $200–500 for a flat fee MLS listing — sometimes more, if you choose to extend the length of your MLS listing or add on additional services.

For example, Houzeo offers a $200 package that includes a three-month MLS listing with six photos (plus it throws in a custom yard sign).

On the other end of the spectrum, Michigan-based Flat Fee Pros charges $1,499 for its most comprehensive package — a 12-month MLS listing, up to 60 photos, digital tools to help you schedule showings, and help with legal documents and negotiations.

Make sure you fully understand the terms of your agreement with a flat fee MLS company. Ask questions, and don’t be caught off guard by hidden fees.

Getting your house on the MLS isn’t free. But the benefits could easily outweigh the cost. You’ll get your listing in front of more buyers, and more exposure can mean more (and better!) offers.

Expert Tip: Shop Around! 🛍️

It never hurts to compare prices and services of flat fee MLS companies, discount real estate brokers, and traditional agents. Gather quotes and weigh the value you’ll get for your money. It’s totally free and worth the time for something as big as selling your home.

đź‘‹ Get started with free advice from Clever Real Estate’s licensed concierge team today!

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What Is the Best Flat Fee MLS Listing Service?

Flat fee MLS listing services are a helpful option if you want to take a DIY approach to selling your home. They can help you save money, but don’t expect the level of service you’d get working with a traditional real estate agent. Here are the top three best flat fee MLS listing services to consider.

FSBO.com

FSBO.com started in 1997 and offers two main packages for the DIY seller. Be aware that the lowest-cost option doesn’t include an MLS listing.

To get on the MLS database, you’ll need at least the $399 flat fee package. But it doesn’t include the buyer’s agent commission, which averages around 3% of the home’s sale price. With the average sales price of houses sold in the U.S. coming in at $535,800, that could add up to over $15,000.

Beycome

If you’re committed to selling your house on your own, Beycome is a well-established option. It charges a flat fee that ranges from $99 to $499. The mid-priced package gives you more bang for your buck, including an MLS listing and professional photos.

Beycome has additional features that can help you sell, too. For example, you can extend your listing until the sale closes, and you can change the price, description, or pictures without paying a fee.

Fizber

Fizber’s flat fee MLS services range from $270 to $295. Its basic package allows you up to six photos and a six-month MLS listing that syndicates with Redfin, Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. It also includes a digital tool to help you manage open houses and showings.

But be careful — Fizber recently received some sketchy reviews on Better Business Bureau that give us pause. Customers have reported poor customer service and a high volume of marketing emails and phone calls from Fizber.

» MORE: The 13 BEST For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Sites

How to Choose a Flat Fee MLS Realty Service

Many companies provide a flat fee MLS realty service, and choosing one can be tricky. The best way to discover if it’s right for you is to ask questions.

Some important questions to consider are:

  • How much is the MLS listing fee?
  • Is there an additional fee if you need to add a picture or update the description, price, or status?
  • Will your listing be on the local MLS? (The MLS has over 500 regional databases, and you want your house listed in the area where your home is located.)
  • How long will the MLS listing last? Will you pay more to renew your MLS listing?
  • How many photos can you add?

Not all flat fee MLS listing services are equal. Many have hidden fees or restrictions in the fine print. Make sure you understand what you’re getting before signing a listing agreement.

How to Get an MLS Listing Without a Realtor

MLS listings are typically only available to licensed real estate companies and individuals, meaning you need a real estate agent to add your house to the database.

Flat fee MLS companies offer the only exception. Technically, the company acts as your real estate agent — but only on paper. You won’t get the support you’d get from a true seller’s agent. It’ll be up to you to handle the rest of the work.

» READ: How to List on the MLS (and Save!)

Does Flat Fee MLS Listing Work?

For experienced sellers who insist on selling their home without a realtor, a flat fee MLS listing is a very helpful tool. It’ll likely bring far more buyers to your listing than you’d have otherwise, meaning you could get more (and better) offers.

Selling your home on your own can save you money on agent commissions, can give you total control over your MLS listing, and may result in a quicker sale. But when you sell without a real estate agent, you’ll likely sell for a lower price and more time and stress — canceling out any money you saved on commission.

There’s a reason 92% of home sellers get help from an agent to sell their house: acting as your own agent is tough. It’ll take up a lot of your time, and you need to know the ins and outs of selling a house from a legal standpoint.

A better alternative to a flat fee MLS service is a discount real estate broker. You can cash in on significant savings but skip the headache of doing it all yourself.

If you want to save money on realtor fees without doing all the legwork on your own, try Clever Real Estate.

Clever matches you with top local agents from well-known brokerages, like Keller Williams and Century 21, and pre-negotiates a low 1.5% listing fee on your behalf. Try Clever for free today!

đź’° Incredible savings, none of the DIY

Selling a house by yourself is HARD. That’s why we’ve partnered with Clever Real Estate, a free service that matches you with trusted agents AND helps you save thousands. You’ll get full service for just 1.5% in listing fees, meaning you’d save $6,000 on a $400,000 home sale.

Learn how much you can save today!

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FAQ about Flat Fee MLS

How much does it cost to list on the MLS?

If you work with a realtor, you don’t have to pay an extra fee to list on your local MLS. That service is always included as a part of your listing agreement. If you sell without a realtor, you can pay $200–500 for a flat fee MLS listing — sometimes more if you choose to extend the length of your MLS listing or add on additional services. Learn about the top flat fee MLS listing companies.

How can I list on the MLS without a realtor?

Without a realtor, you can still list your home on the MLS through a flat fee MLS service. You’ll pay a flat fee (typically $200–500) to list your home for a set period of time. Learn more about flat fee MLS services.

Is the MLS more accurate than Zillow?

Yes, the MLS is more accurate than Zillow. While Zillow syndicates all its information directly from the MLS, Zillow doesn’t automatically update every time the MLS is updated. This means that the MLS has the most up-to-date information. The MLS also has more comprehensive information on listings.

What is the best website to sell your house?

The best website to sell your house is your local MLS. It gives your home the most exposure to buyers. When you list on the local MLS, your MLS listing is automatically featured on popular home listing websites, like Zillow and Trulia. Many real estate websites syndicate information from the MLS.

What are the pros and cons of a flat fee MLS listing?

The pros of a flat fee MLS listing include saving money on listing fees and having more control over the sale of your home. The cons of a flat fee MLS listing include taking on most of the sale process yourself and potentially getting a lower price for your home. Learn more about the pros and cons of a flat fee MLS listing.

What is the difference between flat fee MLS listing services and real estate agents?

Flat fee MLS listing companies offer limited services and are cheaper compared to real estate agents. Flat fee MLS listing services provide an MLS listing for a flat fee. Usually they also offer additional selling tools, such as paperwork and pricing strategies, at an extra cost. Real estate agents provide full service, handling all tasks associated with selling your home, for a percentage of the home’s final sale price.

Is a flat fee MLS legal?

Yes, using flat fee MLS services is legal. The MLS is legally accessible by licensed companies, and flat fee MLS listing companies fall in that category.

How does a flat fee MLS listing service keep prices low?

A flat fee MLS listing service keeps the listing fee cost low by providing only an MLS listing instead of the full service of a traditional listing agent. A flat fee service often won’t provide pricing assistance, a comparative market analysis, or other necessary aspects of the home selling process. It’s common for a flat fee company to provide add-on services, but these services cost extra.

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