The best flat fee MLS services | Other ways to save | Additional resources
If you’re selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Chicago, hiring an Illinois flat fee MLS service can help you increase your listing’s visibility to potential buyers.
The average commission rate for full-service listing agents in Illinois is approximately 2.7%. Based on the median sale price for Chicago homes — which as of October 31, 2023 was $305,000 — that translates to about $9,150.
In contrast, you'll pay between $79 and $795 to list your home with flat fee MLS companies in Chicago. The most basic flat fee real estate packages will offer little more than a listing on the MLS, but more comprehensive packages could include additional services like help with negotiations and paperwork.
That being said, using a Chicago flat fee MLS company to sell FSBO comes with additional costs in terms of time, energy, and your final sales price. You'll have to manage your own sale — from scheduling showings to drafting contracts. And, FSBO homes usually sell for an average of 34.5% less than agented properties.
If using a flat fee MLS company is still the right choice for your sale, we've picked some of the best flat fee MLS services in Chicago.
But, if you're not ready to sell FSBO, one of your best options is to work with a discount real estate company like Clever. With Clever, you'll only pay 1.5% to list your home instead of the typical 3%. And, you'll get full-service support from a great Chicago realtor so you can sell for top dollar!
💰 SAVE: Get full-price service for half the typical commission
The best Chicago flat fee MLS companies
Every Chicago flat fee MLS service is different. When evaluating the following options, be sure to read the fine print. Look at things like the length of the listing term, fees to change your listing, how many photos you can add, and more.
» MORE: Find out how to evaluate flat fee MLS services
MLS Town
MLS TownPrice Range
Number of Photos
Listing Term
MLS Town is a licensed Chicago real estate brokerage that specializes in flat fee MLS listing services.
Your listing will be live within 24–48 hours.
4 Month Package: $175
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4-month MLS listing
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1 exterior photo
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Unlimited listing changes
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Unlimited open house postings
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Sales contracts and required forms
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No cancellation fee
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Lead forwarding
12 Month Package: $295
4 Month Package, plus:
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12-month MLS listing
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25 photos
Pros
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There's a basic MLS service for experienced sellers.
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There are lots of à-la-carte options.
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You get unlimited listing changes and open house postings.
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Buyer leads are forwarded to you.
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There's no cancellation fee.
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You set the buyer's agent commission.
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The company offers a money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service agent referred by MLS Town.
Cons
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You get only one exterior photo with the base package.
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There's no built-in home valuation.
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Add-ons cost an additional fee.
As of June 3, 2023 MLS Town has 5/5 stars across 59 Google reviews.
Prello Realty
Prello RealtyPrice Range
Number of Photos
Listing Term
Prello Realty is a licensed Illinois real estate brokerage that specializes in flat fee MLS listing services
Add-ons include signs, lockboxes, brochure boxes, and more.
The company doesn’t offer full coverage in Illinois. See the company website for details on specific MLS access.
MLS Basic Package: $295
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6-month MLS listing
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25 photos
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Phone and email support
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Lead forwarding
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Unlimited listing changes
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Unlimited open house postings
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Yard sign
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Contracts and disclosures
MLS Plus Package: $495
Includes MLS Basic Package, plus:
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12-month MLS listing
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25 professional photos
MLS Pro Package: $795
Includes MLS Plus Package, plus:
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Listing until sold
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Professional wood post yard sign
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Showing appointment service
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Lockbox
Pros
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The company offers a money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service agent referred by Prello Realty.
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Buyer leads are forwarded to you.
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You get unlimited listing changes.
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You get unlimited open house postings.
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You set the buyer's agent commission.
Cons
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There's no built-in home valuation or market analysis.
As of June 3, 2023, Prello Realty has an average rating of 4.6/5 stars based on 31 Google reviews.
Mentor Listing
Mentor Listing RealtyPrice Range
Number of Photos
Listing Term
Mentor Listing Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in flat fee MLS listing services in Indiana and Illinois.
Basic: $299
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6-month MLS listing
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1 photo
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Contracts and disclosures
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Phone and email support
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Lead forwarding
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Unlimited open house postings
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Broker support and assistance
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Unlimited listing changes
Standard: $349
Includes Basic package, plus:
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6 photos
Premium: $399
Includes Standard package, plus:
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25 photos
Pros
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Listings can be renewed for additional months for $99.
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On all plans, you get unlimited listing changes, lead forwarding, unlimited open house postings, and broker support.
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There's no cancellation fee.
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Add-ons include signs, lockboxes, market surveys, flyers, and full representation.
Cons
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The Basic package includes only one photo.
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The only difference between packages is the number of photos allowed.
National flat fee MLS services in Chicago
Didn't find a great option in local flat fee MLS companies? These national brands operate in the Chicago area, too.
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
Number of Photos
Listing Term
Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat fee MLS referral service that connects you with brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate.
MLS Package: $159
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6-month MLS listing
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6 photos
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Unlimited listing changes
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Lead forwarding
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State disclosures
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Minimum buyer’s agent commission of 2%
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Cancel anytime
Pros
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The photo upgrade add-on allows you to list with up to 25 photos.
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There's no cancellation fee.
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You get free state disclosures.
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Buyer leads are forwarded to you.
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A refund is available within 30 days of purchase.
Cons
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There's a $50 fee for the photo upgrade.
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There's no built-in home valuation or market analysis.
As of June 3, 2023, no third-party reviews exist for Flat Fee Realty. We will update when this information becomes available.
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
Number of Photos
Listing Term
Houzeo is a flat fee MLS referral service that connects you with brokers and agents who will list your home on your local MLS for a pre-negotiated rate.
On Houzeo's online dashboard, you can draft your listing, upload photos, set your price, and sign MLS contracts. To expedite the listing process, the company autofills listing details using publicly available info about your home.
Bronze: $329
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3-month MLS listing
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6 photos
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Used when selling land or lot
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intelliList listing management
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Cancel anytime
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Listing changes ($25 each)
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Open houses ($25 each)
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Custom yard sign ($49)
Silver: $399
Includes Bronze package, plus:
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6-month MLS listing
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Max photos allowed by MLS
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Unlimited listing changes
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Unlimited open houses
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Houzeo mobile app
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Houzeo showings
Gold: $379 + 0.5% at closing (min. $999)
Includes Silver package, plus:
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Houzeo Offers platform
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Federal and state disclosures
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Rush service (draft in 12 hours)
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Personal concierge
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Call forwarding service
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Virtual basic service with licensed broker
Platinum: $349 + 1% at closing (min. $999)
Includes Gold package, plus:
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12-month MLS listing
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Listings on additional MLS
Pros
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You can cancel for free anytime (no refunds).
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You choose the buyer’s agent commission.
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Listings typically go live within 24 hours.
Cons
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There's limited coverage in rural areas.
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Free listing changes apply only to the listing price, status, and property description. It costs $10 for additional changes.
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A home valuation isn't included.
As of June 3, 2023, Houzeo has 4.9/5 stars across 1,270 reviews on Google.
Alternatives to flat fee MLS services in Chicago
To sell your home for a fair price, it’s important to weigh all of your options before making a final decision. A Chicago flat fee MLS company may make the most sense for your sale, or one of these options may work better.
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Work with a low-commission real estate agent. A low-commission real estate agent will list and sell your home for a discounted rate (as low as 1.5%) while offering the same services as a traditional agent. This can add up to thousands of dollars of savings on the sale of your home.
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Sell to an iBuyer. Selling to an iBuyer will be a quick transaction. But iBuyers typically offer under market value for homes, and most charge at least a 5% service fee. iBuyers have strict criteria for the homes they purchase and are more common in metro areas.
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Sell to a cash buyer. Some traditional buyers make cash offers, but often cash offers come from "we buy houses" companies and are much lower than market value. If you need to sell quickly, companies that buy houses for cash can offer a fast closing.
For most sellers, though, working with a company like Clever is the best way to maximize your savings while selling your home for top dollar.
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!
