How commission works | Save on commission | Delaware housing market | Best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Delaware is 5.44%, which is higher than the national average of 5.37%.
To sell a house in Delaware worth $348,989 — the median home value in Delaware — you’ll pay about $18,985 in realtor fees.
Realtor commission is usually the largest cost you'll face when selling your home — but you don't have to pay the full 5.44%.
Clever Real Estate could help you save thousands on commission by pre-negotiating 1.5% listing fees with full-service Delaware realtors from top brokerages.
On that same $348,989 home — you'd pay just $12,500, up to 34% less than paying average rates.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
How real estate agent commission works
Average listing commission | 2.72% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.72% |
Total average commission | 5.44% |
There are usually two real estate agents involved in a home sale:
- The seller's agent (also called the listing agent), who represents the home seller
- The buyer's agent, who represents the person buying the home
Based on our research, the average commission rate for listing agents is 2.72% of the final home price and 2.72% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.44%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in Delaware?
In Delaware, home sellers pay real estate commission fees out of the final sale proceeds for both agents involved in a deal. Offering to pay for the buyer's agent's commission is an incentive for agents to show your home to their clients.
If you'd like to save on commissions, Clever can connect you with a top listing agent in your area. You'll pay just 1.5%, keeping more money in your pocket at the end of your sale.
How to save on realtor fees in Delaware
Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 5.44% is the average in Delaware, rates typically fall between 4.71% and 6.17%. You can save money by negotiating a lower rate with your listing agent or by working with brokerage that has a discounted commission model.
Listing commission range | 2.35%– 3.08% |
Buyer's agent commission | 2.36%– 3.09% |
Total commission range | 4.71%– 6.17% |
Tips for negotiating realtor commission in Delaware
Whether you’re selling a chic condo in Wilmington, a vacation home in Rehoboth, or an investment rental in Dover, you should always try to lower your real estate commission rate.
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in Delaware depends on two main factors: your situation and the housing market.
Factor | You may have an easier time negotiating low rates if... |
|---|---|
Your situation |
|
The Delaware housing market |
|
While your personal situation will obviously vary, Delaware real estate market conditions will affect all home sellers in your area.
In general, in a seller's market — where home sellers have more leverage than buyers — a listing agent's job is easier and they may be more willing to lower their commission rates. The opposite is usually true in a buyer's market.
» LEARN: Find our top tips for negotiating lower commission fees
To judge the current state of your real estate market, look at these three factors:
- Months of inventory ⓘ
- Sale to list price ⓘ
- Home value trends ⓘ
If every factor points to Delaware being a seller's market, then you may be in a good position to negotiate a lower commission rate with your agent. If market conditions are mixed or favor buyers, it may be more challenging to persuade your realtor to accept a cheaper fee.
The current state of the Delaware real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 1.0 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 99.01% of their listing price | Seller's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 31.68% year over year | Seller's market |
Low commission real estate companies in Delaware
Negotiating a lower rate with a professional negotiator can be hard! In many cases, home sellers can save just as much (or more!) by selling with a low commission real estate company.
These are some of the top discount and flat-fee MLS services in Delaware.
The top discount real estate companies in Delaware
Discount real estate companies typically offer full-service support for a reduced commission percentage or flat rate. How they create those discounts will depend on the company's model, with some creating more risks and trade-offs than others.
Clever Real Estate
Get Started💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. $3,000)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,625
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.9/5 (1,995 reviews)
Clever is a quick, easy, and free way to find a top-rated local agent. And, unlike many similar companies, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts on your behalf, so you can save thousands without sacrificing on service.
- Clever offers a free, nationwide agent-matching service that partners with full-service local agents from conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX.
- You get multiple agent matches so you can interview, compare marketing plans, and choose the best fit.
- Clever pre-negotiates low rates on your behalf — you get full service for a low 1.5% listing fee.
- If you buy with Clever, you could get cash back after closing.
- You may not get matched with an agent from your preferred real estate brokerage.
- Agents may not provide premium services like drone photography and professional home staging.
Clever has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 1,844 reviews.
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Redfin
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. fees vary)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,550
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
3.7/5 (301 reviews)
Redfin offers real savings and is a proven brand. But sellers could compromise on service — especially agent experience and availability.
- If you buy and sell with Redfin, you'll get a 0.5% listing fee discount.
- Redfin gives its listings premium placement in its popular home search app.
- If finding the right agent is a top priority, you'll have limited options — Redfin only has a few agents in each of its markets.
- Redfin agents handle more customers at once than the average realtor, so they may not be able to provide as much personalized service.
Redfin has a 3.7 out of 5 rating (301 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Redfin is available in 80+ U.S. markets (see all locations).
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
The top flat fee MLS listing services in Delaware
Flat fee MLS services list your home on your local MLS for a low fee, often around $200–$2,000. The trade-off is that you'll have to handle almost the entire home-selling process yourself.
Simple Choice Realty
Simple Choice RealtyPrice Range
$399-$1,399
Number of Photos
50
Listing Term
6 months
- Simple Choice Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS services, operating throughout most of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
- Listings typically go live on MLS within one business day
- Cancel anytime with no fee
- Required state disclosures included
- Free listing changes
- Requires buyer’s agent commission of at least 2% (but no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer)
- Additional agent assistance included in premium packages
$399 - MLS Listing Only
| $699 - Contract Review
|
Additional, a-la-carte options include: 12-month listing on MLS, customized sign, combination lockboxes, adding of your contact info on Zillow, Realtor.com Weekly Report, expedited listing (entered on the MLS same business day), listing on multiple MLSs
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Free MLS listing changes
- No buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Additional assistance from a licensed agent (in premium packages)
Cons
- Minimum 2% buyer’s agent commission required
- Does not cover all of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
As of August 11, 2020, Simple Choice Realty has an average rating of 5/5 based on 29 reviews on Zillow, as well as an A rating on Angie's List.
- Zillow: 5/5 (29 reviews)
- Angie's List: A
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupPrice Range
$399-1,999
Number of Photos
25-50
Listing Term
12 months up to until sold
- Flat Fee Group is a national network of independent brokers that offer flat-fee MLS services in Delaware
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded to you
- Contracts, disclosures, and addendums included
$399 - Premium
| $699 - Contract Review
|
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Buyer inquiries forwarded directly to you
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
Cons
- No home valuation included (except Full Service package)
As of August 7, 2020, Christopher Carr, the Delaware Flat Fee Group broker, has a 5-out-of-5-star rating on Zillow (24 reviews).
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$199
Number of Photos
Listing Term
6 months
- Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, licensed in Connecticut, that connects you with Delaware brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- You set buyer’s agent commission
- MLS photo upgrade available for $50
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
- $199 - MLS Listing package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 6 Photos
- Free state disclosures
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
MLS photo upgrade available for $50
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Free state disclosures
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
- Limited coverage in rural areas
As of August 11, 2020, no third-party reviews exist for Flat Fee Realty. We will update when this information becomes available.
FSBO.com
FSBO.comPrice Range
$395
Number of Photos
20
Listing Term
6 months
- FSBO.com is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with licensed brokerage MLSmart Realty, LLC. MLSmart Realty then refers you to a regional Delaware broker who will list your home on your local MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Set your own buyer’s agent commission (FSBO.com recommends 2-3%)
- Edit or cancel anytime
$395 - Delaware Flat Fee MLS
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 20 MLS Photos
- FSBO.com Listing
- Unlimited photos on FSBO.com
- Video Upload on FSBO.com
Pros
- Set your own buyer’s agent commission
- Edit or cancel anytime
Cons
- Only one package to choose from
- No home valuation included
As of August 12, 2020, FSBO.com has an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 26 reviews on Zillow and an A+ rating with Better Business Bureau.
Note: As a referral service, the reviews and service quality of your local FSBO.com broker may vary. Be sure to research your broker before signing a listing agreement.
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$225-399
Number of Photos
6 to max allowed
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Delaware brokers and agents who will list your home on your local MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Draft your listing, upload photos, set your price, and sign MLS contracts via Houzeo’s online dashboard
- Autofills listing details using publicly available info about your home to expedite the listing process
- Home valuation not included in service
- Does not require that you offer buyer’s agent commission
- Listing is typically live within 24 hours of submission
$225 - Bronze
| $399 - Gold
|
Pros
- Free cancellation anytime (no refunds)
- Freedom to specify any buyer’s agent commission
- Listings typically go live within 24 hours
Cons
- Limited coverage in rural areas
- “Free changes” only apply to listing’s price, status, and property description; $10 for additional changes
As of August 7, 2020, Houzeo has an average rating of 4.8/5 based on 21 reviews on Google.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat fee MLS services.
Learn more
Delaware, the second-smallest state in the Union, punches well above its weight class, offering a ton of history, some of the best beaches on the East Coast, a thriving economy, and extremely business-friendly policies.
The economy is spearheaded by a huge pharmaceutical and chemical industry — Delaware is often referred to as the Chemical Capital of the World — and has excellent job growth fueled by robust population growth.
Delaware housing values have risen steadily over the past decade, and currently sit just above the national average. Minuscule inventory should keep demand high, and the state’s appeal looks like it will continue to grow, making Delaware one of the rare states that’s equally attractive to sellers and buyers.
If you want to save thousands of dollars in listing fees on your Delaware home sale, Clever has pre-negotiated a low 1.5% commission rate with top-rated real estate agents in Delaware. Contact Clever today to get started on your commission savings!
Methodology
We gathered our commission rate data from a survey of 630 of our partner agents. The survey asked about standard local rates for both listing and buying agents.
Additionally, we utilized the following data from Zillow and Realtor.com:
- Home values, list prices, and sale prices: Based on Zillow data as of January 2023
- Sale prices and sale-to-list ratios: Based on Redfin data as of February 2023 (unless specified otherwise)
- Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of February 2023