Investor’s Guide to List on the MLS for Free

Houzeo Reviews: Should You List With This Flat Fee MLS Company?

Houzeo is a tech-centric For Sale By Owner (FSBO) company that helps sellers list their homes. It offers affordable Flat Fee MLS listing packages that help sellers save 3% listing commission.

Houzeo has become a popular option among home sellers in the past 3-4 years. The company has garnered a 4.9-star rating and over 4,000 positive customer reviews in a short span of time.

Many believe Houzeo is on the path to becoming the next big thing in the real estate industry. Is this true? Does the company justify the 4.9-star rating? Read our take on Houzeo reviews to get all the answers.

Is Houzeo Legit?

Yes, Houzeo is a legitimate company headquartered in the Big Apple. The company was founded in 2017 and has helped over 10,000 sellers save thousands in listing commissions. Houzeo offers its Flat Fee MLS services in 47 states and DC.

-> Is Houzeo Legit: Read to know more.

Should You List With Houzeo?

We recommend Houzeo for all home sellers. The company offers 4 MLS listing packages; you can choose from the four based on your expertise in an FSBO sale. Though the company relies heavily on tech, Boomers and Gen Xers find their technology user-friendly.

Houzeo’s listing packages range from $349 to $399, with 0.5% to 1% closing fees in some states.

Unlike other Flat-Fee MLS companies that offer only an MLS listing, Houzeo offers much more to home sellers:

Access to their advanced tech tools
An option to choose additional MLS’
Houzeo mobile app
Federal and state disclosures
Custom yard sign

Some customer testimonials suggest home sellers have saved over $20,000 with Houzeo. Most users have praised the company’s customer service and their advanced seller dashboard.

Houzeo also has a directory of real estate professionals. This directory consists of photographers, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, etc., whom you might need during the transaction.

How Does Houzeo Compare With Other FFM Services?

FFM Company	Houzeo	Beycome	Flat Fee MLS Realty	Fizber
Listing Price	$349+	$99 – $599	$89 – $549	$270 – $295
Avg. Rating (Out of 5)	4.9	4.5	4.2	3.5
Coverage	47 states + DC	8 states	4 states	Nationwide

How Does Houzeo Work?

Houzeo works on the Flat Fee MLS listing model, wherein home sellers can list their houses without hiring an agent.

Here’s a step-by-step process of how Houzeo lists your property on the MLS:

Make an Account: You need to provide your name and email address to create a Houzeo account. Users can also register using their social media login details.
Enter Property Details: Provide details like number of bedrooms, baths, square footage area, etc., and your primary contact information.
Set the Asking Price: Perform a comparative market analysis to come up with an asking price. You also have the option to add a competitive buyer agent commission to incentivize buyer agents.
Select an MLS Listing Plan: Choose and pay for one of the four listing plans based on your requirements.
Add Photos and Property Description: Based on your listing package and the MLS, you are asked to upload photos of your property. Apart from photos, you need to add a description of your property. Houzeo provides detailed instructions about the do’s and don’ts of adding photos and descriptions.
Complete the Paperwork and Review the Draft Listing: Paperwork includes seller disclosures, listing agreement, MLS data input form, etc. Post this, a draft listing is assigned to you. Based on how quickly you review the draft listing, your property is listed on the MLS.

Houzeo Reviews: Complete Analysis

Here’s how Houzeo performs on the individual parameters:

Coverage – 4.7/5

Houzeo offers Flat Fee MLS listing in 47 states and DC. This also includes Alaska and Hawaii, which are covered by very few MLS listing services. The company doesn’t cover Wyoming, South Dakota, and West Virginia.

Cost – 4.8/5

The company offers 4 MLS listing packages starting from $349. In some states, sellers have to pay a percentage of the sale amount at closing. Houzeo discloses all the costs upfront on the pricing page and charges no hidden fees.

In comparison to other listing services, Houzeo’s listing packages are a bit expensive. But, the excellent customer reviews suggest the company’s services are worth the price.

Exposure – 5/5

Houzeo gets your home listed on the MLS in less than 24 hours. Your property listing also gets syndicated to popular real estate websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Trulia, etc. Sellers also get a listing on Houzeo’s For Sale By Owner page.

Technology – 5/5

Houzeo has a very powerful tech stack that will help you sell your home FSBO.

Houzeo Showings: It allows you to set slots for buyers and buyer agents to book showings. You can accept, reject, and reschedule showing requests. The buyer or the buyer agent can also give you feedback on your home.
Houzeo Offers: It summarizes the most important metrics of an offer. With Houzeo Offers, you can review, compare, and negotiate offers. You can also ask for the highest and the best offer from the buyers, in case of multiple offers.
Houzeo Mobile App: Houzeo is one of the few Flat-Fee MLS companies that offer MLS listing via a mobile app. You get notified after every step in the transaction. Sellers can also manage showings through the Houzeo mobile app.
IntelliList Listing Management: This is Houzeo’s listing management system which simplifies the MLS listing process. It helps you in pricing, filling out the property description, setting buyer agent commission, etc.

Customer Reviews – 4.9/5

Houzeo has a 4.9-star rating on Google and Trustpilot. More than 5,000 users have given positive reviews on the company’s website.

Houzeo’s customer support team is known for their prompt replies. Here’s one of the many Houzeo reviews of a user who received a follow-up quickly.

Some sellers have sold multiple properties with Houzeo due to excellent customer service and fast MLS listing.

Houzeo’s representatives patiently guide home sellers through the registration and the selling process.

In some instances, Houzeo’s prompt customer service could not satisfy the users completely. In one example, despite the responsiveness of the team, it took more than 9 days to syndicate the seller’s property listing on Realtor.com and Trulia.

Houzeo Pros

Here are the reasons why one should choose Houzeo:

You can complete your listing 100% online: From registration to listing upgrades, everything is virtual.
Your home gets maximum exposure: Your listing gets featured on other real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor, and over 100 real estate websites.
You can manage your listing on the go: With the Houzeo mobile app, you can list your property through your phone. You can also accept, reject, or reschedule showing requests through the Houzeo mobile application.
You can cancel your listing easily: Houzeo has a flexible cancellation policy. You need not pay any cancellation fee. But, for the homes listed on the GA-MLS sellers have to pay a $25 listing termination fee.

Houzeo Cons

Houzeo isn’t a good option if:

You want to list a rental property: Houzeo lists properties that are meant for sale. The company doesn’t offer anything for renters.
You want to list properties in SD, WY, and WV: Houzeo has no coverage in these states.

Bottom Line

Houzeo tackles all the challenges involved in an FSBO sale. For seller queries, Houzeo has a strong customer service team. For listing documents, Houzeo’s IntelliList Listing Management system auto-populates most of the data. For negotiations, you can use Houzeo Offers.

During our research, we did not come across major Houzeo complaints. Also, the company discloses all costs upfront, with no hidden fees. This reflects the company’s transparent and user-friendly policies.

Selling With a Real Estate Agent vs Selling FSBO

Planning to sell your home without a real estate agent? Interested in saving 6-7% of your home’s sale price that would typically go to your real estate agent and the buyer’s agent as their commission? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you’re probably considering how to save on commissions by either selling completely on your own or for less commission.

Although the most traditional way to sell a home is to sell for full commission with a licensed realtor, FSBO might be a good option depending on your situation.

FSBO vs Realtor-Assisted Sale

Before you start selling a house without a realtor, you should know that the process is far from easy. To start off, you will need to dedicate time and resources to work on getting the home ready to sell and deciding how to price the home accurately.

Next, you will need to figure out how you will manage showing the property and fielding calls from Agents and prospective buyers about the house. This is the work that an ordinary Realtor deals with daily for listings – the work that includes everything from prepping, marketing and showing your house through negotiating its final price and closing.

Nevertheless, if you don’t have the time and resources to do all this and wish to sell a house fast, you should look for a house-buying company. They will buy your house in as-is condition and offer you a genuine price.

If you do decide to go this route, here are 3 things to consider:

1) Selling FSBO Will Save You 2-4% in Commission

Opting for an FSBO sale can save a significant amount of money that would otherwise go towards realtor commissions. Typically, realtor commissions range from 4 to 6%, split between the buyer’s and seller’s agents. By bypassing this traditional route, sellers can potentially save thousands of dollars, which is often the primary motivator behind FSBO sales.

2) Selling FSBO is Not Easy

However, the path of FSBO is not always smooth. It requires a good understanding of the real estate market, pricing strategy, and legal paperwork. Unlike realtor-assisted sales, where the agent handles viewings, negotiations, and paperwork, in FSBO, these responsibilities fall squarely on the seller’s shoulders. This can be overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with real estate transactions. Moreover, realtors have networks and marketing channels that individual sellers do not, which can lead to a quicker sale.

3) Selling FSBO Gives You More Control of the Process

On the brighter side, FSBO provides sellers with more control over the selling process. From setting the price to arranging viewings at convenient times, and directly negotiating with buyers, sellers have the final say. This greater control can be liberating and financially rewarding if navigated correctly.

Conclusion

Ultimately, selling a home without a real estate agent can result in more money in your pocket, as you won’t have to pay a commission to a listing agent. However, it’s crucial to do your research, understand the market value of your home, and be prepared for the sale process. If you’re unsure about handling a home sale on your own, consider a 1% listing option at SimpleShowing. With the 1% listing fee, you’ll get the help of a licensed realtor and save $7,500 on average in commission.

Flat Fee MLS Georgia

If you’re ready to sell your home, you probably already know that selling a house is not as easy as just putting a sign out in your yard. There are a number of steps involved including repairing your current house, deciding on an asking price and getting the home ready for showings.

One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is deciding on who you’ll get to help you list and sell your home. About 76% of homeowners opt to list their property with a real estate brokerage which typically charges a 6% total commission for their services.

Fortunately, another option has become more popular in the last ten years — listing for a flat fee. In this article, we will explore flat fee listings and the many advantages of using this type of service to sell your home in a far-more-affordable manner.

What Is Flat Fee MLS?

A flat-fee listing is exactly what it sounds like.

Instead of paying your real-estate agent a percentage of the sales price for your home, you agree upfront on a set fee for their help. In return, the agent agrees to list your home on the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) marketplace. Along with a flat-fee MLS listing, some agents may also provide other valuable services like open houses, professional photography, managed showings and more.

Importantly, no matter what your home sells for, the amount you pay your real-estate agent remains the same with a flat fee mls listing. For example, a Flat Fee provider may charge $700, $1,500, $5,000, etc. no matter the listing price of the property.

3 Advantages of Selling Your Home with a Flat Fee Brokerage in Georgia

There are three other good reasons to consider choosing a flat-fee real-estate agent if you’re thinking about selling your house.

1.) You Keep More of the Profits from Your Home’s Sale

Although turning a profit may not be the primary reason you’re selling your home, no one wants to take a loss on such a sizable investment.

Whether it’s time to expand or you’re looking to downsize, you’ll have far greater options if your house sells for a healthy profit. The less you pay in commissions, the more you can anticipate making on the sale and allocate towards the budget for a new home.

That’s why so many sellers have begun ditching traditional real-estate agents.

According to Bankrate, these old-fashioned agents typically charge their clients, “about 5 percent to 6 percent of the sales price.” Zillow says their commissions can be as high as 7 percent. Either way, even though this 6% commission fee is generally split between the buyer’s and seller’s agents, it still is deducted directly from the amount you walk away with.

So, for example, if your home sells for $300,000 and you agreed to pay your agent and the buyer’s agent a total of 6% percent of the sales price for a traditional listing, then you’re out $18,000!

You’ll know from the very beginning what you’ll owe your listing agent, it’s much easier to decide what to price your house at and what you can afford in a new home.

It is important to keep in mind that most flat listing fees do not include the buyer’s agent commission. Therefore, your flat fee will save you a ton of money on the sell side but most likely will not affect the buyer’s agent commission.

2.) An Experienced Agent Still Handles the Sale of Your Home

In the past, home sellers who weren’t satisfied with paying agents thousands to sell their home only had one alternative: handle the entire sale on their own with a “For Sale By Owner” approach.

Of course, this is easier said than done.

Selling a home requires everything from connections with agents in the area who represent buyers to an understanding of local real-estate laws and contracts. Juggling these responsibilities with those of everyday life usually means the venture doesn’t get very far.

While some flat fee listing services only put your home on the MLS, many others actually offer the help an experienced agent who provides the same services of a traditionally-priced listing. As a result, with a flat-fee listing, there’s simply no need to take the labor-intensive, for sale by owner approach.

Even though you’re saving money with a flat fee listing compared to the traditional route, you don’t have to forgo the essential services of an experienced real-estate agent, much less try to perform them on your own.

3.) Peace of Mind While the Sale Proceeds

No real-estate agent can ever guarantee the sale of a home, much less a final sales price, but when you choose a flat-fee listing, you will avoid some of the anxiety that often comes along with this process.

Again, you already know what your real-estate agent will charge for the sale, regardless of how much you get for your home, so there’s no need to constantly second-guess your asking price. This is no small benefit, considering that one of the biggest worries among home sellers is “selling their home within the desired price range.”

One Disadvantage of Flat Fee

The only real disadvantage is that most Flat Fee brokerages charge their fees up front, rather than at closing. So, for example, if the fee is $2,000, you’d need to pay that before you list, instead of at closing.

Sell Your Home for a 1% Listing Fee in Georgia and Pay at Closing

At SimpleShowing, we offer a substitute to the 6% commission model and while our listing fee is not flat, it’s still very low compared to the broader market. We charge a 1% listing fee at the time of closing, plus we provide all the advantages of working with an experienced, local real-estate agent from our team.

So, when you choose our service, you’ll still benefit from:

Listing on the MLS, Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and more that will give it just as much exposure as if you had agreed to a 6 percent commission.
A free, home valuation report, so – combined with knowing your agent’s fee – you’re comfortable with what to expect from the sale according to the activity in your current market
The marketing services required to bring sufficient buyer interest to your home, including professional photos and digital ads.
Expert help with negotiations, necessary paperwork and contracts
No upfront fees and you only pay the 1% flat listing fee once the sale of your home is complete.

If you’d like to learn more about how easy it can be to sell your home in Georgia without paying excessive fees, contact us today.

For Sale By Owner: How Does it Work?

When you’re selling a home, you have two options: hire a real estate agent to handle the sales process for a commission or list the home as for sale by owner (FSBO).

About 18% of home sellers choose the FSBO option, and half of those successfully complete a sale without the assistance of an agent. FSBO sellers manage their property sale, bypassing a seller’s agent and potentially saving thousands of dollars in commission fees. In this article, we’ll explore how FSBO works and how it can benefit you.

How Does For Sale By Owner Work?

The challenges of selling a home as FSBO may seem overwhelming. However, you can successfully sell your home with this approach with research and preparation.

Prepare the house. Perform essential repairs. Landscape neatly. Apply a fresh coat of paint in neutral colors. Clean your home and remove clutter and personal accents.
Set an asking price: Another crucial aspect of FSBO is setting the right asking price. Determine the appropriate selling price for your area. This is often the most difficult aspect of FSBO. We recommend obtaining an online home valuation here and also leverage data from apps like Zillow.
Create your listing. Take quality photos and prepare a detailed description of your home. Hiring a professional is a must. No iPhone photos!
List the home. You can choose from various FSBO sites that have unique pricing and service offerings. Most FSBO services provide access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database managed by the National Association of Realtors, or other platforms that cater specifically to FSBO properties. While a flat fee is required to list on the MLS, this cost is usually just a few hundred dollars.
Market the home. Yard signs, Facebook marketplace and online listings will help drive traffic from potential buyers. Although you can’t use the same sites as an agent, you still have some options. Make sure to attract buyers with a mortgage preapproval letter, showing they’re serious about purchasing your home.
Show the home: Once you list, you’ll get calls from buyer agents that want to show your home to their buyer clients. When owner selling, it’s common to work with buyers agents. In most real estate transactions, the seller pays the buyer’s agent commission, which is typically a percentage of the sales price. However, in an FSBO sale, the seller can offer a reduced commission or negotiate the purchase price to offset the buyer’s agent fee.
Engage a title company or closing attorney: To ensure a smooth transaction, it’s essential to have a real estate attorney and a title company involved in the process. They will help with drafting a purchase agreement, managing the earnest money deposit, and guiding the closing process. While this might cost some money upfront, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

The FSBO route is most successful when you’re in a neighborhood with other listings where buyers are likely to see your signage. Homes on busy streets do well with the FSBO approach as well.

Why Try For Sale By Owner?

Saving money is the most common reason that sellers choose to list their homes as FSBO. Other common reasons, which each ranked among the top three reasons 33% of the time, were that the seller:

Wanted to save time.
Already knew a potential buyer.
Was confident he or she could succeed without an agent or broker.
Wanted control throughout the transaction.

While a knowledgeable seller might succeed in reaping some of these benefits, others are more difficult to attain. Before you commit to selling your home as FSBO, you should understand the benefits, disadvantages, and process. Approximately half of sellers who attempt to use the FSBO method eventually call upon an agent or broker for help.

Advantages of For Sale By Owner

When done correctly, the FSBO process can offer some notable advantages over using a real estate agent and paying full commission. Some of the benefits of selling your home yourself are as follows:

The opportunity to make more money. A listing agent typically takes a commission of 3%. When you’re selling something as large as a home, this percentage can amount to thousands of dollars that you’re able to keep in your pocket by acting as your own agent or hiring a flat fee broker.
Control over the home listing. When you take over the sales process, you maintain complete control over your marketing strategy and listing price. You don’t have to negotiate the best way to handle the home. Plus, you can choose from various different for sale by owner websites to promote your property, each of which offer different services and prices.
Control over your showing schedule. When working with an agent, you’ll have to accommodate the schedule of both the agent and the buyer for showings and open houses. This arrangement may result in inconvenient appointment times where you have to vacate the home for a showing.

Potential Challenges of For Sale By Owner

Listing a home as FSBO is challenging. Real estate agents work full time, often putting in overtime hours on weekends and evenings to help clients stage, list, market, and sell their homes. When you choose to sell your home without an agent, you have to take over all the tasks of the agent, putting in as many hours as the agent would and more.

Each step of the FSBO process will have a learning curve for the novice seller, which means that you’ll spend a longer amount of time to complete essential tasks than an agent would need.

If you don’t want to pay the 3% commission but still want agent support, you may consider a low commission broker like SimpleShowing.

Some of the challenges of listing your home as FSBO include:

Setting the right price: You must understand the market in your area to determine the best selling price for your home. If you price the house too high, it may stay on the market for months. If you’ve already purchased a new home, these months are critical. You’re paying a mortgage you no longer need while the home languishes on the market.
Staging the house properly: Many home repairs and improvements can dramatically increase the value and selling potential for your home. However, you may not know what they are. You’ll have to do in-depth research to make sure you’re investing in the right projects.
Marketing effectively: Real estate agents have access to marketing tools and websites that individual sellers do not. You’ll have to put more time and effort into marketing a FSBO home than a real estate agent would need to invest in using an established network.
Handling showings: Although you’ll have control over showing times, you’ll also have to handle the process of letting potential buyers into the house on your own.
Dealing with legalities: Selling a home is a complex process governed by local laws. You need to make sure you’re in compliance with state disclosure laws and home selling requirements regarding your property. These laws dictate things like property disclosures, due diligence and what you tell buyers.
Negotiating the sale: Once you have an interested buyer, you’ll need to determine whether the individual is properly qualified for a home loan. Knowing how to negotiate effectively is frequently cited as a reason why FSBO listings often fail.
Understanding closing costs: Finally, be prepared to pay closing costs, which include fees for the real estate attorney, title company, the buyer agent commission and any taxes or other expenses. By carefully managing the FSBO process, homeowners can sell their homes without a traditional agent and enjoy significant savings.

Sell for a 1% Listing Fee

If you’re a dedicated home seller who’s ready to put in the time and research, this approach can be a money-saving option that helps you get thousands of dollars more from your final sale, as long as you approach the process with care. You can also check out SimpleShowing’s 1% Listing Fee that will give you the agent support you need while still saving you thousands.

9 Best For Sale By Owner Websites: FSBO Options

When you’re selling a home, you have two options: hire a real estate agent to handle the sales process for a commission or list the home as for sale by owner (FSBO) and avoid paying a listing commission.

According to research compiled from property deed data, about 18% of home sellers choose to sell on their own, without a Realtor each year. A typical FSBO sellers saves about $14,600 in agent fees, based on the average real estate commission rates in the US. While the FSBO route has its benefits, it is highly recommended to understand what you’re getting into before you put your home up for sale on your own.

For Sale By Owner vs Discount Broker

Naturally, saving money is the most common reason that sellers choose to list their homes as a FSBO. But for sale by owner isn’t the only way to avoid Realtor commissions.

Before you commit to selling FSBO, you might consider a discount broker. Discount brokerage allow you save thousands in listing agent commissions and often offer low commission rates of 1% or less.

Best For Sale By Owner Websites

Using FSBO websites allows you to connect with local agents who may have interested buyers. By advertising your property on the best FSBO websites, you increase your chances of reaching a wider audience of potential buyers. You can also offer a commission to local agents who bring you a qualified buyer, which can motivate them to show your home to their clients.

While selling FSBO could be a good strategy for experienced sellers, it’s essential to remember that you’ll be responsible for managing the entire process. This includes coordinating showings, negotiating offers, and handling the paperwork associated with the sale. If you’re not comfortable handling these aspects of the real estate transaction, you may want to consider working with a local agent or a flat fee MLS company that can provide support at a reduced cost.

Beycome

Beycome is available in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

It offers a cost-effective $99 Basic Package that includes listing on your local MLS. Its $399 Enhanced Package is competitively priced and includes an MLS listing plus professional photography, marketing materials, and a lock box for showings.

Fizber

Also not new to the for sale by owner business, Fizber has been around for 15 years and is known as the tech-oriented FSBO platform that offers handy additional features, such as advanced marketing, 3D virtual tours, online brochures, and other marketing materials that can help you sell your property like a true professional.

While Fizber’s free listing option is too limited for most, they do offer three paid listing options that range in price from $95 to $395 per listing. By upgrading your listing to a paid package, you can take advantage of Fizber’s marketing collateral, yard signs, and sales documentation, as well as have the option to enlist a transaction coordinator to assist you with the closing paperwork. Fizber also provides help tracking showings.

Homelister

Homelister is available in nearly 20 states and offers three different pricing options, including a Basic, Premium and Platinum package.

With pricing starting at $599, the Basic Package includes listing on your local MLS.

Houzeo

Featuring easily customizable listings, automated reminders, and step-by-step video guides walking you through every step of the listing and sales process, Houzeo makes it easy to complete the pre-listing process online.

While Houzeo does not offer free listings, the ability to control buyer’s agent commissions, and it’s nice user interface make it one of the more popular for sale by owner sites today.

FSBO.com

FSBO.com has been in operation since 1997. They have built a known web domain that has staying power with one of the largest volumes of online traffic.

FSBO.com offers two service tiers, accommodating the varying needs and budgets of different buyers and sellers wishing to use their platform.

Their basic listing option includes a year long customizable listing, complete with unlimited photo and video uploads. This package also enables the auto population of your listing to Redfin, for added listing exposure.

Zillow

Zillow is easily the largest FSBO service provider and also has the most mobile app and website traffic. In fact, none of the other providers offer a mobile app.

That said, Zillow FSBO offers zero listing support. Sellers looking to list their home for sale on Zillow can expect to get a Zillow listing and a “Zestimate,” which is Zillow’s home valuation tool. If you’re looking for extras, such as contract guidance or negotiation support, Zillow’s platform likely isn’t your best option.

Homecoin

Homecoin is available in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

It offers one of the lowest rates, only $95. All additional services are sold á la carte. Homecoin does not offer tiered service plans or premium options such as broker support.

Homecoin is ideal for experienced FSBO sellers who know exactly what services they need and for those that are seeking a bare-bones offering. If you want a lock box or yard sign, Homecoin does not offer these type of add-ons.

Flat Fee Realty

Flat Fee Realty offers home sellers a basic MLS listing for as low as $139. The company is our recommended option in the northeastern US. The company is a licensed broker in Connecticut but partners with other FSBO companies in other states.

USRealty

USRealty claims to have assisted over 25,000 owners in selling their home to date. They offer four listing service options, starting with a free service and increasing in price to $249.

All packages include 6 months of listing exposure on the MLS, as well as auto population of your listing to Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, which is necessary because of USRealty relatively low site traffic.

Their higher tier package can make life exceptionally easy for the owner who would like assistance with every step of the listing and sale process. It includes a yard sign and even a broker review of any offers received.

Advantages of For Sale By Owner

When done correctly, the FSBO process can offer some notable advantages over using a real estate agent and paying full commission. Some of the benefits of selling your home yourself are as follows:

The opportunity to make more money. Listing agents typically charge a commission of 3%. When you’re selling something as large as a home, this percentage can amount to thousands of dollars that you’re able to keep in your pocket by acting as your own agent.
Control over the home listing. When you take over the sales process, you maintain complete control over your marketing strategy and listing price. You don’t have to negotiate the best way to handle the home.
Control over your showing schedule. When working with an agent, you’ll have to accommodate the schedule of both the agent and the buyer for showings and open houses. This arrangement may result in inconvenient appointment times where you have to vacate the home for a showing.

Tips for Listing Your House as For Sale By Owner

The challenges of selling a home as FSBO may seem overwhelming. However, you can successfully sell your home this way with research and preparation. Follow the steps below to sell your home independently.

Prepare the house. Perform essential repairs. Landscape neatly. Apply a fresh coat of paint in neutral colors. Clean your home and remove clutter and personal accents.
Research the market. Determine the appropriate selling price for your area. Consider hiring an agent for a market evaluation.
Create your listing. Take quality photos and prepare a detailed description of your home.
Market the home. Yard signs, print ads, and online listings will help drive traffic from potential buyers.

Are you considering selling your home without the help of a traditional real estate agent? If you’re a dedicated home seller who’s ready to put in the time and research, this approach can be a money-saving option that helps you get thousands of dollars more from your final sale, as long as you approach the process with care.

FSBO listings differ from those on the MLS, which is typically accessible only to real estate agents. When you sell FSBO, you’ll need to create and manage your listing on various real estate websites, including free FSBO websites that provide free real estate listings. You can also opt for paid FSBO websites that offer more features and marketing tools to attract interested buyers.

One potential drawback of selling FSBO is the buyer’s agent commission. Since you’re not working with a local real estate agent, you’ll need to negotiate this fee with the buyer’s agent if they have one. Typically, this commission is around 2-3% of the home’s sale price.

Before listing your home on an FSBO website, gather essential information about your property. Take high-quality photos, write a compelling description, and determine a competitive asking price. This information will be vital for attracting prospective buyers and ensuring a smooth real estate transaction.

Consider a 1% Listing Broker

You can also check out SimpleShowing’s 1% Listing Fee that will give you the agent support you need while still saving you thousands and avoiding the hassle of selling FSBO. If you opt to hire a local agent, consider negotiating the listing agent commission to a rate of 1%, 1.5% or 2% instead of the prevailing rate of 3%.

How to List a Home on the MLS

Real estate commissions stink! This is an unfortunately reality when selling a home. We’ve all faced the regret and even anger when paying thousands of dollars in Realtor fees once the sale closes. In fact, agent commissions easily account for the vast majority of closing costs for a seller.

Since only licensed agents have access to the local MLS, it’s difficult to avoid agent fees altogether, but there are a few options that will help you save on commission when using an agent, or even sell without an agent altogether.

MLS For Sale By Owner Listing & Other Options

Whether you decide to do FSBO (for sale by owner), flat fee, limited listing or full service, here are the four options for listing and selling a property:

1) List with a Discount Brokerage

Example: SimpleShowing, Redfin

Listing commission = 1.0 – 1.5%

Discount brokers provide the benefits of a real estate agent without the hefty Realtor commissions. Tech-enabled brokers in particular have more creative commission models, which saves you money in the long run. We think this is the best value and recommend it for most sellers, because you get full support and substantial savings.

2) List with a “Flat Fee” MLS Provider

Example: Freedom MLS

Listing commission = 0.5 – 1.0%

Flat fee MLS brokers charge a low flat rate up-front to put your house on your local MLS. The typical charge can range from $100 – $500, but once your home is listed, they typically provide no additional support. In other words, you’ll need to handle pricing, negotiation, paperwork, photography and inspection.

3) List with a Large, National Brokerage

Example: ReMax, Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, etc.

Listing commission = 3%

Most first-time home sellers opt to go with their neighborhood agent or a friend/family member that works for a large, corporate brand. But, as we can attest, the logo on the yard sign has very little influence on getting your home sold. And trying to negotiate commission rates with big, corporate brokers can be challenging.

4) Don’t List on the MLS (For Sale By Owner)

Example: FSBO.com, Zillow

Listing commission = 0 – $500

If you avoid the MLS, you’ll need to rely on word of mouth and free real estate portals like Zillow. Keep in mind that selling FSBO allows you to avoid the listing agent commission (ordinarily 1-3%), however, you may still need to compensate the buyer agent if one is involved in the transaction.

Our Recommendation: List on MLS with a Discount Real Estate Broker

Of these four options, we recommend a discount real estate brokerage. When using a company like SimpleShowing, you’ll pay just 1% in listing fees to get MLS access, photography and agent support.

What Is A Discount Real Estate Broker?

Discount real estate brokers and low commission agents offer reduced listing fees compared to large, corporate brands like Keller Williams.

Many discount brokerages are regional, rather than national. As a result, they often only serve a handful of markets – which is the only true downside. For example, SimpleShowing serves Florida, Georgia and Texas – with plans to expand to more states.

How a Discount Broker Listing Works

Discount agents are typically part of an independent, regional brokerage that allows them flexibility and creativity in terms of their fees. However, the process for listing and selling is largely the same as a large, corporate brokerage.

A discount real estate agent will provide negotiation support, help you price and market your home, provide free photography and help with legal docs.

What It Costs

Discount brokers typically charge a more seller-friendly, lower commission structure. In the illustration below, the seller would pay a total commission of 4% with a discount broker versus 6% with a big, national brand.

Most discount brokers will also provide more flexibility with buyer agent commission as well. In other words, you may want to only offer a 2% commission to the buyer agent.

How to Get Started

The most common reason sellers decide to sell without an agent (FSBO) is to eliminate costly listing agent fees. However, these sellers often don’t consider all of the work agents put into selling a home. This includes tasks such as marketing the home, filtering buyers, drawing up contracts, negotiating offers, and much more. While it may be worth saving the money, the stress from navigating the process on your own may be overwhelming.

With SimpleShowing, sellers can save thousands with our 1% listing fee that automatically lowers total commission to just 4%! Not only that, but you will get the same exceptional services and features of a big firm brokerage. That means you can lower your selling costs and get MLS access, without having to do all the work on your own.

To see if we operate in your market, request an instant online home valuation.

FSBO Companies in Georgia

When you’re selling a home, you have two options: hire a real estate agent to handle the sales process for a hefty commission or list the home “for sale by owner” (FSBO).

Nearly 20% of home sellers choose the FSBO option, and about 2 of 3 successfully complete a sale without the assistance of an agent, while saving a bundle in agent commissions – about $11,000 on average. While the FSBO route has its benefits, it is highly recommended to understand what you’re getting into before you put your home up for sale on your own or decide to list with a “flat-fee” brokerage.

Types of FSBO and Flat Fee Companies in Georgia

FSBO: You manage your own sale — without the help of an agent to handle pricing, photography, paperwork, and negotiations.
Flat-Fee MLS: This is similar to FSBO, however your property gets listed on the local multiple listing service.
Discount Broker: This option is comparable to an MLS listing, but you get the help of an agent for a reduced commission rate.

If you’re still interested in finding more about FSBO, Flat-Fee MLS or Discount Broker listing options in Georgia, keep reading. We’ve prepared a list of the best options, whether you’re located in Atlanta, south Georgia or the the north Georgia mountains.

Ranking of the Top 6 For Sale By Owner, Flat Fee and Discount Brokers

6) Fizber

Fizber has been around for 15 years and is known as the tech-oriented FSBO platform that offers handy additional features, such as advanced marketing, 3D virtual tours, online brochures, and other marketing materials that can help you sell your property like a true professional.

5) FSBO.com

FSBO.com has been in operation since 1997. They have built a known web domain that has staying power with one of the largest volumes of online traffic.

FSBO.com offers two service tiers. Their basic listing option includes a year long customizable listing, complete with unlimited photo uploads. Their upgrade package is $399 and gets your home listed on the MLS.

4) Zillow

Zillow is the largest real estate portal and also has the most mobile app and website traffic. In fact, most of the other providers offer a mobile app.

That said, Zillow offers zero listing support. Sellers looking to list their home for sale on Zillow can expect to get a Zillow listing and a “Zestimate,” which is Zillow’s home valuation tool. If you’re looking for extras, such as contract guidance or negotiation support, Zillow’s platform likely isn’t your best option. One downside is that listing on Zillow does not allow your listing to be distributed via the local MLS.

3) Homecoin

Homecoin is available in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

It offers one of the lowest rates, only $95. All additional services are sold á la carte. Homecoin does not offer tiered service plans or premium options such as broker support.

Homecoin is ideal for experienced FSBO sellers who know exactly what services they need and for those that are seeking a bare-bones offering with no agent support. If you want a lock box or yard sign, Homecoin does not offer these type of add-ons.

2) USRealty

USRealty claims to have assisted over 25,000 owners in selling their home to date. They offer four listing service options, starting with a free service and increasing in price to $249.

Their higher tier package is ideal for the homeowner who would like assistance with every step of the listing and sale process. It includes a yard sign and even a broker review of any offers received.

1) SimpleShowing

Based locally in Alpharetta, SimpleShowing charges $0 up front and a 1% listing fee at closing. In 2022, sellers saved $9,300 on average by listing with SimpleShowing instead of a large, national brokerage like ReMax or Keller Williams.

The 1% Listing Fee includes:

listing on the MLS and 50+ real estate sites
professional photos
digital marketing of your listing
dedicated real estate agent
pricing/home valuation help
contract and negotiation management

Conclusion

Selling FSBO or through a low commission brokerage like SimpleShowing may be a wise decision if you already know the rough value of your home, you’re an experienced seller, or if you live in a hot area where homes are selling quickly. Learn more about discount brokerages and how they differ from FSBO providers.

To get an idea of how much your Georgia home might be worth, check out our free home valuation tool.

10 Reasons Why For Sale By Owner Fails

Selling for sale by owner or “FSBO” has become a popular choice for those wishing to save on listing agent fees. While sellers may be able to benefit from less selling expenses, there are a few downsides to selling FSBO.

If you are considering taking the risk and selling your own home, here are 10 reasons why for sale by owner fails. Avoiding these common mistakes will hopefully lead you to home selling success.

Reasons FSBO Fails

1.) Incorrectly price their home

Pricing homes correctly is something experienced real estate have trouble doing sometimes. Understanding the housing market and how to price homes accordingly takes experience. This is experience that many FSBO sellers lack. It is very common to find FSBO sellers overpricing their homes and hindering their chances of selling.

There are many factors to consider when pricing such as comparable sold properties, comparative active properties, current inventory and much more. If you do plan to sell FSBO, seek out a knowledgeable appraiser to look at your home. They will be able to verify the price you are considering listing at, as well as help you determine what your home is currently worth. You can also use online home valuation tools to get a rough idea of the value.

2.) Failure to prepare property for sale

As you can probably imagine, preparing a home for sale plays a crucial role in its selling success whether you are selling FSBO or not. This is an area many FSBO sellers fall short in. It’s easy to want to get your home listed, but don’t rush into it.

Consider any improvements or maintenance projects you need to make. This could include decluttering the home, cleaning the floors, completing neglected repairs, replacing outdated fixtures/features, freshly painting rooms, or improving curb appeal. As a seller, you want to show off your home in its best light. Therefore, take time to prepare your home so that buyers can see it in its full potential. You’ll be amazed at how much quicker you can sell.

3.) Not screening for legit buyers

Learning how to screen buyers is a skill that takes realtors time to learn. When looking for potential buyers, it’s important to have a list of questions or information to ask for to make sure you are not wasting your time with unqualified buyers. Unfortunately, many FSBO buyers don’t know what questions to ask or how to ensure a buyer is qualified. In addition, many sellers overlook the potential home selling mistakes that can arise during this process.

One suggestion for FSBO sellers is to have a good connection with a local mortgage consultant who will be able to help you determine if a client has been pre-approved or pre-qualified (there is a difference). Also, if the buyers have not been approved, you already have a helpful resource for them to complete the process.

4.) Lack of marketing experience

Real estate marketing has changed and many FSBO sellers are struggling to keep up. Putting your home in front of buyers is crucial if you are looking to sell. However, many sellers don’t know where to start when it comes to marketing their home. While placing an ad for your home on a listing site like Zillow is a huge start, there is more that needs to be done to optimize your success.

While many listing sites accept FSBO listings, there are just as many that do not. This limits exposure and requires sellers to find new ways to market their home. This is one area where having a realtor is beneficial. Realtors have the marketing tools at hand to provide the exposure that FSBO cannot. This includes marketing plans, MLS listings, and personal industry connections.

5.) Not always available for inquiries

FSBO sellers don’t often realize how much work realtors put into what they do. A substantial chunk of this work involves being readily available to handle inquiries from buyers. Because most FSBO sellers have full-time jobs and other obligations besides selling their home, it can be difficult to find the time or availability to do this.

In real estate, it is important to be timely with your responses. If you are not quick to respond to a buyer inquiry, they will move on to the next potential property. The last thing you want is to miss out on a lead because you couldn’t answer your phone or respond to an email quickly enough. Staying on top of home inquiries and showing requests is key to finding the right buyer.

6.) Putting pressure on potential buyers

Selling your home FSBO is challenging and can bring about a lot of pressure. However, it is important not to project that pressure onto potential buyers when they are looking at your home. Real estate agents do a good job at allowing their buyers to make decisions for themselves without any personal biases.

However, this is hard when selling FSBO. When you are selling your own home, it’s easy to want to try and sell potential buyers on your home. Unfortunately, the seller’s own biases towards your home might put unintentional pressure on the buyer. Instead, try to give buyers space to view your home without feeling like they are going to hurt your feelings if it isn’t the right fit for them.

7.) Shortcomings in negotiating deal

Nearly all home sales involve negotiation on some level. Real estate agents are trained on how to read contracts and understand what the buyers/sellers are getting into. These contracts are filled with various timelines, contingencies, clauses, and more that the average person may not be able to understand at first glance.

In other words, contracts are much more than just the price the buyer is offering.There are also other factors in the contract that may need to be negotiated. If you don’t know what to negotiate, or how to negotiate in general, you may find yourself agreeing to things you shouldn’t be agreeing on. Don’t let yourself get taken advantage of.

8.) Uncertainty on how to handle inspections

As a seller, you should expect buyers to request an inspection of your home. Some home’s aren’t always as they appear. Buyers want to know what they are getting into before buying. While this concept seems simple enough, many FSBO sellers are not sure how to handle this part of the transaction.

More than likely, there is going to be a problem that is discovered during an inspection. How you handle this news says alot about you as a seller. First things first, there is no need to get upset by a negative inspection. Instead, make the mandatory inspection fixes or try to negotiate a solution with the buyer. Your willingness to work with the buyer will be appreciated.

9.) Unwilling to pay the buyers agent

Just because you are selling FSBO doesn’t mean you are cleared from paying the buyer’s agent commission. The majority of home buyers work with buyer’s agents to help them find a home. If you are unwilling to pay the buyer’s agent fee, you will be severely cutting your chances of selling your home successfully.

Selling FSBO is challenging as is. If you have potential buyers that are providing you with great offers, don’t count them out because they are working with a buyer’s agent. You are already saving money on not paying for a listing agent, so paying the buyer’s agent commission shouldn’t be an issue. You might pay more than you want, but you will ultimately sell your home which is the main goal.

10.) Don’t understand closing timeline

The selling process doesn’t end once a purchase offer is accepted. Before you can officially close, there is a list of tasks that must be completed. While real estate agents are familiar with the closing timeline, those selling FSBO are likely not going to be as familiar with how this works. Those selling FSBO need to know what to expect from the closing process.

Conclusion

Studies show that only 11% of sellers actually succeed in FSBO. And according to research, FSBOs sell for less than the selling price of other comparable homes; FSBO homes sold at a median of $225,000 last year, significantly lower than the median of agent assisted homes at $345,000.

Why are there so many for sale by owner fails? Selling your own home may seem simple enough, but there is a lot more that goes into the process of preparing, listing, marketing, negotiating, and closing on a home that many sellers don’t think about.

If you do decide to go in alone, remember to do these things – prep and stage your home, consider innovative ideas for marketing, screen buyers and support your asking price with solid data.

If going in alone seems too daunting, consider a low-commission brokerage that offer sellers a low 1% listing fee. With SimpleShowing’s listing service, home sellers receive experienced agent support, MLS listings, professional photos,and much more. Our real estate agents will handle the paperwork and negotiation while you enjoy the thousands of dollars you just saved!

Ready to sell your home? Contact us today to learn more about our process.

Listing FSBO on Zillow: Is it Worth it?

Listing a home for sale by owner (FSBO) on Zillow has become a popular option among many sellers looking to avoid working with a realtor and save on commission fees. With that being said, listing your home FSBO with Zillow can come with potential legal costs or hidden costs. The process can also be time consuming and have homes sitting on the market for longer periods of times than they would with a traditional listing agent.

Listing FSBO on Zillow, or any real estate site for that matter, means that you as the seller are responsible for every aspect of the selling process. This includes everything from crafting your own listing, taking photos, scheduling showings, fielding offers, negotiating with buyers, handling transaction paperwork and much more.

While the conditions that come with selling FSBO might seem overwhelming, listing on Zillow can help alleviate some of the financial and mental stress. If you are wondering if listing FSBO through Zillow is worth it, here is everything you need to know and consider beforehand.

What is Zillow?

Those who have ever bought or looked into buying a home are probably familiar with the company Zillow. As the nation’s leading online real estate marketplace, Zillow offers a wide array of products and services. Most importantly though, the platform serves as a massive real estate database for millions of properties within the United State.

Unlike similar real estate websites, Zillow is open and available to the public. This includes agents, buyers, sellers, or anybody else who may be interested in real estate. The website offers information on the status of a home’s listing whether it is for sale, for rent, pending sale, or currently off-the-market. Users can view a long list of listing information, look up estimated property values with a Zillow “Zestimate”, and research current market conditions.

How much is it to list FSBO with Zillow?

One of the biggest draws to listing through Zillow is that it is free for sellers to publish their own FSBO listing. Zillow makes most of its money by charging agents money to connect them to buyers and sellers who are not currently working with a real estate agent. Essentially, the site uses your listing as free advertising to draw in motivated agents and make money for themselves. So yes, Zillow is free. The reality is that you and your data are the product. Learn more about listing for free on Zillow or Trulia.

Because your home’s information is out on Zillow and passed along to third-part companies, you will definitely receive plenty of calls. Unfortunately, as an FSBO listing, most of these calls will be from listing agents looking to convince you to list with them. If a listing agent manages to convince you to list with them instead of FSBO, you will obviously lose the savings benefits of selling FSBO. And if you go in alone without an agent and without Zillow, you’ll be marketing your home offline – which is a huge hassle that requires advertisement design, contract management and independently navigating the negotiation process.

Pros and Cons of Listing FSBO with Zillow

While there are certainly benefits to listing your home for sale by owner with Zillow, there are also some reasons it may not be the best idea. Here are a few pros and cons to consider before making any decisions.

Pros:

Since Zillow facilitates all FSBO listings, there is no need for sellers to have to use a real estate agent. No real estate agent equals money saved.
Listing FSBO on Zillow is completely free for sellers. This means you can list your home and save money doing so.
Being the leading real estate site in the nation, sellers will have tons of exposure for their home. When listing FSBO, your listing will also be automatically syndicated to Trulia.com, the second largest real estate site which is also owned by the Zillow Group.

Cons:

While sellers will definitely get lots of exposure with Zillow, they will also be competing with thousands of local listings. Most of these listings will be working with experienced agents who will likely have much more real estate and negotiating knowledge. This gives the competing listing the upperhand.
Millions of people may browse Zillow every month, but very few are actually seriously looking to buy. An agent would be able to screen inquiries on your behalf, saving you time and finding the right buyers. With Zillow, you will have to do this yourself.
Because Zillow uses listings to advertise for buyers agents in its network, it is likely that a buyer is going to find your home. This buyer will most likely be working with a realtor meaning you will be responsible for paying the buyer agent commission.
You will face tons of calls from realtors convincing you to list with them instead of FSBO. Zillow knows that FSBO sales rarely work out, In fact, research shows that 70% of FSBO sellers end up listing with an agent. Selling FSBO, you essentially become a lead for Zillow to make a profit from.

Is Listing on Zillow Worth it?

Yes, listing with Zillow is worth it as there is really no harm for the seller. Zillow Group, Zillow’s parent company, owns several other popular real estate sites including Trulia.com. These two large sites alone account for over a third of the entire real estate market. Plus, because listing on Zillow doesn’t cost the seller anything, it is a great opportunity to reach a potentially massive audience of interested buyers.

However, it is important to place emphasis on the word “potential”. Only about 30% of Zillows traffic represents buyers who intend to buy a house. The rest are either agents using the site, or people browsing for entertainment or research purposes. While you have the potential to reach a mass audience, the audience you reach might not be the one you are looking for to sell your home.

Alternative to listing a home FSBO on Zillow

While listing your home FSBO on Zillow is technically free, it also comes with its non-financial costs. In the end, you will likely not find much success in selling if that is your only strategy. That is why it’s always a good idea to consider other alternatives on the market.

For most home sellers, the reason they choose to sell FSBO is to save on realtor fees. In most real estate transactions, sellers are required to pay a 6% sellers commission fee that is split between the buyer and listing agents. Luckily, there are ways to get all the benefits of a full-service agent while saving on high commission fees on both the buyer and seller side. It’s important to learn who pays the buyer agent commission, so that you can be informed when either listing or buying.

Low-commission or discount brokerages are a great middle ground between a listing with a traditional agent and listing through Zillow. When selling with SimpleShowing, sellers pay a reduced 1% listing fee, lowering total commission to 4%! Not only that, but sellers will receive professional photos, MLS listings on dozens of real estate listing sites. Of course, sellers will also have guidance from our expert agents to manage showings, negotiation, and paperwork.

If you are planning to sell your home soon, there is no harm in claiming your home as FSBO on Zillow as long as you are aware of the process involved. However, if you would like to sell faster and with the help of expert guidance, contact our team at SimpleShowing today. Feel free to use our free Home Valuation or check out our Home Selling Guide.