How commission works | How to save on commission | The best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Illinois is 5.24%, which is less than the national average of 5.37%.
The average Illinois real estate commission is 5.24% and the seller typically covers this fee, which gets deducted from their sale proceeds at closing. It translates to roughly $13,226 in realtor commission to sell a home worth $252,399 (the typical home value in Illinois).
The good news is you might not have to pay the full 5.24%. Home sellers can use discount real estate brokerages to save on commission. Discount brokers offer built-in commission savings, and often provide similar services as conventional realtors.
Here's what to know about Illinois real estate commission, including how to save, tips for negotiating with agents, and next steps if you need to sell your home.
» JUMP: How Illinois commission works | How to save | Next steps | FAQs
How Illinois real estate commission works
| Average listing commission | 2.68% |
| Average buyer's agent commission | 2.56% |
| Total average commission | 5.24% |
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 2.68% of the final home price and 2.56% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.24%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Key takeaways about realtor commission in Illinois
Most Illinois agents work 100% on commission and only get paid when the home sells. Commission is taken out of the proceeds upon a successful sale.
Rates are not set in stone, they’re negotiable. You’ll typically hash out your commission rate with your listing agent before signing an agreement.
Illinois sellers are in a good position to negotiate right now. It's currently a seller's market in Illinois, and that's unlikely to change this year.
Commission covers a wide range of services, including completing real estate listing paperwork, professional photography, marketing expenses, hosting open houses, and negotiating contracts.
» MORE: What is realtor commission?
How to save on Illinois real estate commission
Here are strategies that can help you get a lower realtor commission rate than the Illinois state average of 5.24%.
Shop around for the best value
We recommend interviewing multiple agents to find the best balance of "right fit" (experience, service, personality) versus price. Selling your house will likely be the largest financial transaction of your life, and knocking even a fraction of a percentage off your rate could save you thousands.
But remember, the most important thing is finding the right fit for the job. Choosing an agent because they offer 1% less than the other guy could end up costing you a lot more than you save, in terms of the final sale price.
| ⚡Quick tip: Most agents would rather take a slight hit on their fee than lose your business entirely. If they know you’re interviewing multiple candidates, they may offer a lower rate upfront to be more competitive — or match a competitor’s price if you have a quote in hand. |
Sell your house with a discount real estate broker
If savings are your top priority, consider hiring a discount real estate brokerage. Discount brokerages offer built-in savings, with no negotiating required. The rates are usually significantly lower than the average 2.68% listing fee in Illinois — and the best provide the same "full-service" experience as conventional realtors.
Top discount real estate brokerages in Illinois in 2022
Clever Real Estate
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💰 Avg. Savings
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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 1,710 reviews.
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Redfin
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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 3.8 out of 5 rating (425 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Redfin is available in 80+ U.S. markets (see all locations).
Redefy
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
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Redefy’s flat fee could offer big savings. But hands-off service and non-refundable upfront fees make it a hard sell over other, less risky options.
- Flat $3,500 listing fee is an excellent value for higher-priced homes
- Agents provide more in-person services than some similarly-priced low commission brands
- Redefy charges an upfront, non-refundable $500 fee (most companies don't make you pay anything until your house sells)
- Your agent will not host an open house for you
Redefy has a 4.7 out of 5 rating (318 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
Redefy is available in the following areas: CO, FL, GA, IL, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA.
REX Real Estate
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
💰 Avg. Savings
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
REX’s promise of huge savings is misleading. Its advertising misrepresents the significant risks of its pricing model and marketing approach. And its high minimum fees mean that many sellers won't save anything.
- REX's approach is incredibly risky — but if the gamble pays off, you could save about 50% on realtor fees
- Like other full-service brokerages, REX agents provide in-person services and support
- REX's 2.5% listing fee doesn't save you much — many full-price agents charge similar rates
- REX doesn't list your home on the MLS, so up to 90% of buyers may not even know it's for sale
- This risky marketing strategy seems likely to fail, so you may not save anything on commission
REX has a 4.7 out of 5 rating (1,021 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
REX is available in the following areas: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, NV, NJ, OR, PA, TX, WA, DC.
» COMPARE: See our full breakdown and top picks for discount brokerages in 2022
Negotiate with an agent
Current market conditions in Illinois are favorable for negotiating a lower rate with a local realtor. The time to negotiate commission is at your initial meeting, before a listing agreement is signed.
You have a better chance of securing a lower rate if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
Homes in your neighborhood sell fast: A faster sale means a quicker paycheck for your agent and a higher return on their time and money invested. Illinois homes typically sell in 53 days — but varies by local market.
The home is in great shape: Agents love to list homes that are well-maintained, as it attracts more buyers and reduces the risk of a buyer backing out of a contract due to a poor home inspection.
Key signs of a kept-up home include: a roof with no leaks or missing shingles; clean gutters; properly working appliances; and no moisture issues or funny odors in the basement or crawl space.
It's a high-priced property: The higher the home sale price, the more commission in your agent's pocket – even with a lower rate. Agents usually care more about their total money earned than the actual percent commission on paper.
You're also buying a home: A list-buy deal means double the commission for your agent, who may offer you a discount on one of the transactions (if you ask for it).
You can provide referrals: You can add value to a realtor's business by referring friends, family, or acquaintances. It's less time and money the agent has to spend on marketing to find new clients.
» MORE: How to negotiate realtor commission
Sell the house yourself
Listing your home for sale by owner (FSBO) means you avoid a real estate agent entirely. You'll do all of the heavy-lifting, from marketing and showing the home, to negotiating with buyers.
While you can potentially save thousands by not working with a realtor, it's only a viable option if you meet the following criteria:
- The home will be easy to market and sell: It’s fairly priced, in good condition, and in a location with high demand — or you already have a buyer lined up.
- You are knowledgeable and comfortable with the home-selling process: You've done all of the research, or have some past real estate experience.
- You can take on a full-time job with odd hours: You don't mind answering phone calls past normal working hours and working on weekends.
- You can handle your emotions well: You’re comfortable in negotiations and can deal with potential setbacks, like if your home doesn't sell right away or falls through while under contract (which is rare, but happens sometimes).
- You understand the legal risks: The legal aspects of selling a home are complex and high-stakes. You’ll need to understand Illinois’ disclosure laws and be comfortable filling out the required legal paperwork (or have a good real estate attorney to help you).
» MORE: How to sell your house by owner in Illinois
Next steps
Thinking of selling your home but don't know where to start? Here are some next steps.
Start interviewing local agents: If you want to figure out how much the commission will be when you sell, reach out to a few local agents and set up some listing presentations.
During a listing presentation, the agent will typically come to your home and give you a free comparative market analysis (home valuation), layout their marketing strategy, and provide a quote for their fee.
Interviewing agents is free with no obligation, so there’s no risk. We recommend talking to several agents to compare pricing and get the best fit and value.
To get started, check out our guide on the best ways to find real estate agents — or you can sign up for Clever’s free agent matching service below to connect with top realtors in your area right now (and save on commission).
Connect with top local agents who can help you get a great deal on a new home. Eligible buyers also earn cash back after closing.
Read more about selling your home: If you’re still learning about the process and weighing your options, check out these additional guides for home sellers in Illinois.
- 8 Steps to Selling a House in Illinois
- How Much it Costs to Sell in Illinois
- Learn About Illinois Real Estate Transfer Taxes
Explore realtor alternatives: There are other ways to sell your house besides listing with an agent. Learn more below.
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 July 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
Illinois realtor commission FAQs
What percentage do most Illinois agents charge?
Illinois real estate agents earn an average of 5.24% per sale, which is often split between the listing agent and buyer's agent. The fee covers every expense of selling a home, including professional photography, marketing the property online, and hosting open houses.
How much do realtors make in Illinois per sale?
Each realtor earns an average commission of $6,600 on a $252,400 home sale, assuming a commission rate of 5.24% that is split evenly between the listing agent and buyer's agent. Agents don't keep all of that – part of the commission goes toward marketing the property, and part of it may be split with the agent's brokerage.
Do real estate agents split commissions?
In most cases, the commission is split down the middle between the listing agent and the buyer's agent, although the actual percentages are determined by the seller prior to listing the home. In Illinois, the average commission split sees 2.68% going to the listing agent and 2.56% going to the buyer's agent.