If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Idaho, hiring a flat-fee MLS service can help you increase your listing's visibility without breaking the bank.
The average commission rate for full-service listing agents in the The Gem State is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Idaho homes, as of November 2019, that translates to about $8,580.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Idaho are in the $99 to $425+ range. The most basic plans can be as low as $50 to $99, while more comprehensive services range upwards of $1,000 to $3,000.
It's important to remember that every Idaho flat-fee MLS service is different. When evaluating offerings, be sure to read the fine print: look at things like the length of the listing term (and how much it costs to extend); whether there's a fee to make changes to your listing; how many photos are allowed; the policy on buyer's agent commission; and more.
>> LEARN more about flat-fee MLS services and how to evaluate them.
To help you make the right choice, Clever has picked some of the top flat-fee MLS services across the state of Idaho.
Top Idaho Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
Congress Realty
Congress RealtyPrice Range
$299
Number of Photos
4
Listing Term
6 months
- Congress Realty is a licensed brokerage in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- Free comparative market analysis (upon request)
- You set buyer’s commission (Congress Realty recommends 3%)
- Listings typically go live in 1 business day
- Free, unlimited changes
- Your phone number displayed on the MLS listing
- $299
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 4 photos
- Downloadable contracts, addendums, and disclosure forms
- ShowingTime showing scheduling and feedback service
A-la-carte services include: more photos, open house advertisements, listing renewals, professional photography, yard signs, lockbox, and more.
Pros
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find the buyer
- Free, unlimited changes
- Wide variety of a-la-carte services
- Home buyer rebates if you buy with Congress Realty (in states where available)
Cons
- May not cover every part of your state
- Fewer photos than other comparable flat-fee MLS services
As of January 14, 2020:
- 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Yelp (9 reviews)
- 4.9-out-of-5-star rating on Zillow (17 reviews)
- A+ rating with Better Business Bureau
Lowe's Flat Fee
Lowe’s Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$299-$425+
Number of Photos
10-25
Listing Term
6 months up to until sold
- Lowe’s Flat Fee Realty is a licensed, Idaho real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing and discounted real estate services
- Comparative market analysis (CMA) only available with Premium and Realtor Assist Plans
- You set the buyer’s agent commission (no commission if you find a buyer)
- Listing goes live within 24-48 hours of completing paperwork
- Cancel listing anytime
- Free listing and price changes
- $299 - Basic Plan
- 6-month listing on MLS
- 6-month listing on FlatFeeIdaho.com
- Syndication to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 10 photos
- Double-sided yard sign (upon request, stand and frame not included)
- Forms, contracts, and legal paperwork (downloadable)
- Free listing changes
- Lockbox ($40-$200)
- $399 - Premium Plan
- Same as Basic Plan, plus:
- 12-month listing on MLS
- 12-month listing on FlatFeeIdaho.com
- 25 photos
- CMA and pricing assistance (available upon request)
- Free combo lockbox (upon request)
- $425+0.5% at closing - Realtor Assist Plan
- Same as Premium Plan, plus:
- Unlimited listing on MLS (until home sold)
- Unlimited listing on FlatFeeIdaho.com (until home sold)
- Following services available upon request:
- Marketing suggestions
- Follow-up and feedback from showings
- Additional CMA for price adjustments
- Negotiation assistance
- Contract review
- Vetting buyer’s financing pre-qualification
- Inspection follow-up and addendums
- Closing assistance
Pros
- Work directly with a local broker, not a referral service
- Free listing changes
- Cancel listing anytime
- Full refund if you decide to sell with a full-service agent Lowe’s Flat Fee Realty refers you to
Cons
- CMA only available for Premium and Realtor Assist Plans
As of January 14, 2020:
- 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on Google (32 reviews)
- 3.5-out-of-5-star rating on Yelp (3 reviews)
- A+ rating on Better Business Bureau with a 5-out-of-5-star customer rating (1 review)
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Idaho
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupPrice Range
$349-$399+
Number of Photos
10-25
Listing Term
6 months up to until sold
- Flat Fee Group is a national network of independent brokers that offer flat-fee MLS services in Idaho
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Contracts, disclosures, and addendums included
- $349 - Showcase
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- Up to 10 photos
- Listing support
- Contracts, addendums, disclosures
- Sign
- Electronic lockbox (additional fee)
- $399 - Premium
- Same as Showcase package, plus:
- 1-year listing on MLS
- Up to 25 photos
- Combo lockbox
- Comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Virtual tour link
- $399+0.5% at closing - Full Service
- Same as Premium package, plus:
- Unlimited listing on MLS (until sold)
- Open house announcements
- Contract review and offer advice
- Counteroffers preparation
- Negotiation assistance
- Closing cost estimate
- Follow up through closing
- Phone/Email support
- Digital signatures
- Full agency representation
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
Cons
- No comparative market analysis in Showcase plan
As of January 22, 2020:
- Roger Lowe, the Idaho Flat Fee Group broker, has an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau with a 5-out-of-5-star customer rating (1 review)
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$299
Number of Photos
6
Listing Term
6 months
- Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, licensed in Connecticut, that connects you with Idaho 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 $79
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
- $299 - 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 $79
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 January 22, 2020:
- 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Facebook (4 reviews)
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$99-$395
Number of Photos
6-24
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Idaho 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
- $99 - Bronze
- 3-month listing on MLS
- 6 Photos
- $25 for each listing change
- Syndicated to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and more
- $295 - Silver
- 6-month listing on MLS
- 24 Photos
- Syndicated to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and more
- 10 free listing changes
- Open Houses included in 10 free changes
- Select and communicate with Escrow Agent
- $395 - Gold
- Same as Silver plan, plus:
- Federal and state disclosures forms
- eFile Federal & State Disclosures
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
- $30-50 for changes to photos and additional open houses
As of January 1, 2020:
- 4.7-out-of-5-star rating on Google (15 reviews)
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Idaho
The Idaho real estate market is increasing rapidly. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 9.4% over the past year and is expected to see an increase of 5.5% in 2020. To realize your home's full value (or ideally more), it's important to weigh all of your options for selling before making a final decision.
- Flat-Fee Real Estate Agents
- Discount Real Estate Agents
- Low-Commission Real Estate Agents
- 1% Commission Real Estate Agents
- Sell to an iBuyer