Buying or selling a home is a huge decision. Not only is this typically a major time investment, but there are financial investments to be made as well. That’s why more and more people are using flat fee MLS services as a way to save money.
The MLS is the central database for real estate listings. Websites like Zillow and Trulia all use MLS data and present it in a user-friendly way. So, if you want your home listed on one of these major real estate aggregators, then it’s important to get a proper MLS listing.
What is a Flat Fee MLS Service?
It’s exactly what it sounds like. A service that lists your home on the MLS for a flat fee.
How is a Flat Fee MLS Service Different from a Realtor?
Traditionally, a realtor knows the market, gets your home listed on the MLS, and answers your questions throughout the home sale process.
Sounds great, right? It certainly can be. That’s why it’s so common to go with a traditional realtor. All this comes at a price though. Realtors earn a commission on every home sale they broker. This means that a portion of the transaction value goes to the realtor(s) handling the deal. The agents for the seller and the buyer typically split the commission, which is, on average, 5–6% of the sale price.
That means if your home sells for $300,000 then $18,000 of that money goes to the realtor(s). For a $400,000 sale, that figure jumps to $24,000. We’re not talking loose pocket change here.
As the seller, you end up paying the buyer’s agent their full 3% commission. But when it comes to the seller-side agent fees you can really save money with a flat fee MLS service.
The difference between a realtor and a flat fee MLS service depends on the listing service.
The BlueMatch Difference
BlueMatch is a flat fee MLS service with a twist. BlueMatch lets you list your home in the MLS, giving you access to all the major real estate websites for free. Yes, you read that correctly: Free.
In fact, BlueMatch gives you access to all its core services for free. That includes things like a professional listing, document management, contract management, title assistance, and even a remote closing. To sweeten the pot, there’s no binding contract for these services and you can cancel at any time.
A Hybrid Approach
If you read the section above about realtors and the services they provide, it all probably sounded pretty good until you got to the price tag. There’s just something about having someone on your side who’s been in the trenches before and has the skills and knowledge to advocate for you’re and your home sale.
In addition to its free, core services, BlueMatch offers an upgrade option. For a 1% commission, you get access to a licensed realtor that guides you through the home sale process. That’s a savings of 67% on seller-side commission.
Real Savings for You
Some quick math shows that with a BlueMatch upgrade, a $300,000 home sale would have a total commission worth $12,000 (3% for buyer agent is $9,000, 1% for BlueMatch agent is $3,000). That’s an extra $6,000 in your pocket!
To learn more about BlueMatch’s core flat fee MLS listing services and how you can save money on your next home sale, visit The BlueMatch Difference.
