📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Ohio is 5.81%, which is higher than the national average of 5.37%.
The good news is you might not have to pay the full 5.81%. 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 Ohio real estate commission, including how to save, tips for negotiating with agents, and next steps if you need to sell your home.
» JUMP: How Ohio commission works | How to save | Next steps | FAQs
How Ohio real estate commission works
Average listing commission | 3.19% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.62% |
Total average commission | 5.81% |
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 3.19% of the final home price and 2.62% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.81%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Realtor commission in Ohio: Key takeaways
Commission rates are negotiable
Realtor fees are not set in stone. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss rates with your agent before signing a listing agreement. Learn how to negotiate commission rates with your agent.
Most agents work solely on commission
Ohio realtors typically only get paid when the deal closes. Your listing agent splits the 5.81% commission with the buyer's agent, who is paid for bringing a financially-capable buyer to the table.
Ohio sellers are in a strong position to negotiate right now
OH home buyers have fewer listings to choose from: Housing inventory is down 26.1% over the past year. Fewer listings also means more competition among agents for new clients, which may force agents to lower rates to be more competitive.
» MORE: What is realtor commission?
How to save on realtor fees in Ohio
Here are strategies that can help you get a lower commission rate than the Ohio state average of 5.81%.
Shop around for the best value
Selling your house is a huge financial transaction, so it's smart to interview a few realtors from different brokerages in your area. Shop around to measure each agent's experience, service, and personality versus their commission fee.
Knocking even a fraction of a percentage off your rate could save you thousands. But remember that price isn't everything: Choosing a less experienced agent because they charge the least could end up costing you a lot more than you save, in terms of the final sale price.
Sell your house with a discount real estate broker
A discount real estate brokerage may be a good fit if savings are your top priority.
Discount brokerages offer built-in savings, with no negotiating required. Rates are significantly lower than the typical 3.19% listing fee in Ohio – and the best ones provide the same level of service provided by conventional realtors.
Top discount real estate brokerages in Ohio in 2022
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).
» COMPARE: See our full breakdown and top picks for discount brokerages in 2022
Try negotiating with your agent
Realtors are more likely to reduce their commission rate if they're confident they can sell your home fast and for a high price.
Ohio market conditions are favorable for negotiating commission rates right now, but no two houses or neighborhoods are the same. You’ll have a better chance of securing a lower rate if you meet one or more of the following criteria.
Your home is in good condition: Well-maintained homes make for desirable listings that attract more interest from buyers and sell quickly, with fewer issues or complications.
Signs of a well-kept home include:
- A healthy lawn and landscaping, which adds to the home's curb appeal.
- A roof with no leaks or damaged shingles.
- Properly-working appliances.
- No funny odors or signs of mold – especially in the basement or bathrooms.
Your home carries a high value: A $500,000 listing at a 2% commission rate earns your agent much more than a $200,000 listing at a 3% rate – for roughly the same amount of work.
You'll be a repeat customer: Agents are more likely to offer you a discount if you also use them to purchase a new home – a "list-buy" deal earns double the commission for your agent.
You can send more business their way: Referrals are invaluable to realtors, as they cut down the amount of time and money spent to find new customers.
If you have family, friends, or acquaintances who need help buying or selling a home, consider offering to pass along their contact information to gain leverage in negotiations.
⚡Quick tip: Listing agents may be more willing to offer a lower rate if they know you’re shopping around. Most would rather take a slight hit on their fee than lose your business entirely. Let agents know you are interviewing multiple candidates – they might just offer a lower rate up front to be more competitive. |
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Next steps
Thinking of selling your home but don't know where to start? Here are some next steps.
Start interviewing local agents: Set up some listing appointments to compare agents. During this initial meeting, the agent visits your home to discuss its estimated value, lay out their marketing strategy, and provide a quote for their fee.
Here's why it's smart to sit down with a few agents before signing with one:
- Meeting with agents is free with no obligation, so there’s zero risk on your end.
- While conducting interviews, you can compare pricing and features to find the best fit for your specific needs.
- Learn more about your local market from an expert: Agents will be able to tell you what nearby homes are selling for, how fast they’re going under contract, and more.
- Get a walk-through of the home sales process from start to finish, with tailored advice for marketing and selling your property.
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).
Read more about selling your home: Still learning about the process and weighing your options? Check out these additional guides for home sellers in Ohio:
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 March 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
Ohio realtor commission FAQs
Sellers are responsible for paying realtor fees, which get deducted from the sales price at closing. In most cases, the seller pays the buyer's agent fee as compensation for bringing a "ready, willing, and able" client to the table.
Ohio real estate agents earn an average of $65,317 a year, lower than the national average of $82,898, according to ZipRecruiter. However, average earnings vary significantly by location, with agents earning more in Akron ($74,967) and Columbus ($73,895) than other cities.
Ohio real estate agents charge an average of $6,565 per sale. Commission is split between the two agents involved in the sale, but not always evenly: Ohio listing agents earn slightly more per sale than buyer’s agents, according to our research.