If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Chicago, 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 Windy City is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Chicago homes, as of January 2020, that translates to about $7,050.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Chicago are in between $79 and $795. Nationwide, 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 Chicago 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 Chicago.
Top Chicago Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
MLS Town
MLS TownPrice Range
$175-$295
Number of Photos
1-25
Listing Term
4-12 months
- MLS Town is a licensed, Chicago real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- You set buyer’s agent commission (MLS Town recommends 2.5%)
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited listing changes and open house postings
- Listing is live within 24-48 hours
- Offers money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service agent referred by MLS Town
- $175 - 4 Month package
- 4-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 1 exterior photo
- Unlimited open house postings
- Unlimited listing changes
- Free sales contracts and required forms
- No cancellation fee
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- $295 - 12 Month package
- Same as 4 Month package, plus:
- 12-month listing on MLS
- 25 photos
A-la-carte services include yard signs, lockboxes, professional photography, floor plan, and appointment setting
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes and open house postings
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- No cancellation fee
- Offers money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service agent referred by MLS Town
Cons
- Only 1 exterior photo in base package
- No built-in home valuation
As of January 20, 2020:
5-out-of-5-star rating on Google (28 reviews)
Prello Realty
Prello RealtyPrice Range
$295-795
Number of Photos
25
Listing Term
6 months up to until sold
- Prello Realty is a licensed, Illinois real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- You set buyer’s agent commission (Prello Realty recommends 2.5% to 3%)
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited listing changes
- Unlimited open house postings
- Contracts and disclosures
- A-la-carte services include signs, lockboxes, brochure boxes, and more
- Offers money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service agent referred by Prello Realty
$295 - MLS Basic Package
| $495 - MLS Plus Package
|
A-la-carte services include signs, lockboxes, brochure boxes, and more
Pros
- Offers money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service agent referred by Prello Realty
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited listing changes
- Unlimited open house postings
Cons
- Doesn’t offer full coverage in Illinois — see website for details on specific MLS access
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
As of August 11, 2020, Prello Realty has an average rating of 4.6/5 based on 30 reviews across Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
Mentor Listing
Mentor Listing RealtyPrice Range
$299-$399
Number of Photos
1-25
Listing Term
6 months
- Mentor Listing Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services in Indiana and Illinois
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- No cancellation fee
- Unlimited open house postings
- Broker support and assistance
- As of January 23, 2020, Mentor Listing Realtor is a member of MLSs in 62 counties in Indiana and 10 counties in Illinois
- A-la-carte services include signs, lockboxes, market surveys, flyers, and full representation options
- $299 - Basic package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 1 Photo
- Contracts and disclosures
- Phone/Email support
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited open house postings
- Broker support and assistance
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- $349 - Standard package
- Same as Basic package, plus:
- 6 Photos
- $399 - Premium package
- Same as Standard package, plus:
- 25 Photos
A-la-carte services include signs, lockboxes, market surveys, flyers, full representation options, and listing renewal
Due to Indiana state laws, listing agent is required to attend closing, and an additional $200 is due at closing
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- No cancellation fee
- Unlimited open house postings
- Broker support and assistance
Cons
- As of January 23, 2020, Mentor Listing Realtor is a member of MLSs in 62 counties in Indiana and 10 counties in Illinois
- Only 1 photo in base package
- Additional $200 closing fee in Indiana
As of January 23, 2020:
- 4.3-out-of-5-star rating on Google (5 reviews)
- A+ rating on Indiana Better Business Bureau
- 5-out-of-5-star rating Facebook (2 reviews)
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Chicago
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$199
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 Illinois 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.
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$199-399
Number of Photos
6 to max allowed
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Illinois 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
$199 - 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 10, 2020, Houzeo has an average rating of 4.8/5 based on 21 reviews on Google.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Chicago
The Chicago real estate market is steady. According to Zillow, the median home value stayed the same over the past year and is expected to increase by 3.1% in the next year. 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